Director of Operations
Affinity Trust
Thame, Oxfordshire with national travel required.
c.£110,000 with a £5,720 car allowance
Since its inception over 30 years ago Affinity Trust has continued to grow and we currently support almost 1,000 children and young people, and adults with a learning disability or autism across England and Scotland. Our support is provided in people’s homes and communities, and a small number of care homes across a wide geographical spread of locations. With just under 2,500 dedicated employees, we are a large, values-driven not for profit organisation committed to person-centred support.
THE ROLE
Our previous Director of Operations has taken up a new opportunity as CEO of another organisation—an achievement we are proud of and one that reflects the strength of leadership Affinity Trust develops. Our Director of Quality & Improvement has recently left us for a career break, and we are grateful for their contributions in strengthening our quality and improvement framework. In the meantime, we have an experienced individual who has joined us as Interim Director of Quality & Improvement and who brings significant expertise in regulation and quality assurance, and we will undertake the permanent recruitment later in the year. We also re-established the roles of Director of People and Finance Director from the previous Corporate Services structure.
These changes represent a rare opportunity to join a refreshed and ambitious Executive Team, ready to shape the future of Affinity Trust together.
As an Executive Member of the Board the Director of Operations has a vital role in helping us achieve our goals. You will be responsible for leading operational delivery across all our locations. Key priorities will include ensuring regulatory compliance and consistently high standards of person centred support; embedding and maximising the benefits of our recent digital transformation ensuring we have a strong foundation for growth; continual improvement in operational productivity; building strategic relationships with external partners such as Local Authorities and ICBs to support growth and innovation and working with others such as the Director of Business Development to maximise growth opportunities and supporting those we support have a voice in the sector.
This is a role that requires regular presence across our locations, building strong relationships with colleagues and seeing first-hand how we support people. While there is flexibility to work from home, it’s essential that you organise your time to be visible, connected, and present in the right places—ensuring you’re leading effectively and meeting your and the organisation’s objectives.
We are looking for a collaborative and visible leader who has experience in leading and managing dispersed teams—bringing people together to work as One Team. You will be someone with strong people skills, patience, and resilience to engage and retain colleagues and ensure they feel supported and developed in the vital work they do every day.
How to apply
To make an application, please click on the apply now button below, with the following prepared:
- Your CV (maximum three sides)
- A supporting statement (maximum two sides) outlining why this role is the right next step for you, and how your experience aligns with the knowledge and criteria set out in the person specification.
We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about what you can bring to this important leadership role at Affinity Trust.
Closing date
Thursday 5th June 2025
Preliminary interviews
w/c Monday 23rd June 2025
Final Panel interviews
w/c Monday 14th July 2025