Director of Operations

Role overview

As Director of Operations for the NIHR London Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), you will be central to turning a £22 million pan-London research programme into practical results that benefit health, care and public policy. Working with more than 20 partner organisations, you will convert strategic plans into coordinated delivery, making sure research is well managed, governed and put into use for the benefit of London’s population.

The post sits within a highly complex network of NHS bodies, universities, local authorities and national organisations. Your work will involve defining and refining the ARC’s operating approach, keeping programmes on schedule and aligned with national expectations, bringing together varied stakeholders, monitoring performance, and ensuring the ARC drives innovation, partnership and measurable outcomes.

You will work closely with the Executive team and operate with considerable autonomy, helping to shape priorities, decide how resources are allocated and determine delivery methods. The role requires you to connect research themes, operational activity and partner organisations so that the programme remains focused, joined-up and moving at pace.

This is an opportunity to influence how research is put into practice and how large-scale health and care challenges are addressed. The post combines strategic influence with hands-on operational responsibility, with potential to inform future models of applied research collaboration nationally and internationally.

What you will do

The Director of Operations will lead delivery for the NIHR London ARC, ensuring the strategy is translated into coordinated, high-impact programmes across a broad partnership.

A major part of the job is designing and implementing the ARC operating model so that it aligns with NIHR priorities and partner strategies. You will lead delivery planning, review risks and opportunities for the organisation, and help position the ARC for sustainable future growth.

You will manage programme delivery and performance across research themes and functions, making sure milestones, outputs and impact measures are achieved. This includes putting in place strong performance frameworks, maintaining accountability, managing delivery risks, and promoting openness, continuous improvement and collaboration.

Working with senior leaders from the NHS, academia, local government and national bodies, you will build strategic relationships, represent the ARC in regional and national settings, and support joined-up working across sectors.

You will also take responsibility for governance, assurance and risk management, ensuring contractual and regulatory obligations are met. With delegated responsibility for financial planning and resource allocation, you will support value for money, sustainability and responsible use of resources. In addition, you will lead operational teams and support workforce development across a distributed partnership.

About the host organisation

The ARC is hosted by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, which delivers specialist services in areas such as heart and lung care, cancer and renal treatment, as well as community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark. The Trust has a long history of clinical and scientific excellence and, as part of King’s Health Partners, is one of England’s eight academic health sciences centres.

It is among the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the major local employers. Its values — Caring, Ambitious and Inclusive — shape how it works with patients, colleagues and partners.

The NIHR London ARC is a major pan-London initiative bringing together universities, NHS organisations, local authorities and partners from the voluntary and industry sectors. With more than 20 formal partner organisations and a London-wide reach, it offers a platform for system-level change at scale.

The ARC environment offers scope to work beyond traditional organisational boundaries and supports professional development, system leadership and the chance to influence large-scale change. The role provides experience at the intersection of operations, strategy and research, contributing to a programme with regional, national and international significance.

Additional information

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Ingrid Wolfe, ARC Co-Director, at Business-Support-Queries@kcl.ac.uk. Email enquiries will be forwarded to the appropriate member of the team.