Deputy Operations Manager (Op NOVA)

Deputy Operations Manager (Op NOVA)

Care after Combat
Location: Newark, Nottinghamshire / Hybrid
Salary: £38,000
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Travel: Occasional travel across England, including prisons and partner locations
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: Friday 30th October

Interviews: Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th November

Care after Combat is looking for an experienced Deputy Operations Manager (Op NOVA) to support the effective day-to-day management and delivery of our Op NOVA service across England.

Reporting to the Operations Manager (Op NOVA), you will directly line-manage and support our network of Regional Coordinators, helping ensure services are delivered safely, consistently and effectively.

This is a hands-on operational management role, combining people management, service coordination, performance monitoring, quality assurance and day-to-day problem solving.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day delivery of the NHSE Op NOVA commissioned service.
• Directly line-manage and support the Regional Coordinator team.
• Provide regular supervision, coaching and performance management.
• Monitor staff workload, caseload pressures, wellbeing and operational capacity.
• Coordinate operational cover for absence, vacancies and reduced capacity.
• Monitor service performance against agreed targets, standards and KPIs.
• Review operational data and identify emerging issues, gaps or areas for improvement.
• Support quality assurance, case-record standards and data quality.
• Ensure Regional Coordinators work consistently within agreed Op NOVA processes and referral pathways.
• Support effective working relationships with prisons, HMPPS, probation, NHS partners, the Forces Employment Charity and other relevant organisations.
• Identify operational risks, safeguarding concerns or service-delivery issues and escalate them appropriately.
• Contribute to internal and external reporting, contract reviews, audits and assurance activity.
• Deputise for the Operations Manager when required.

Overall accountability for the NHSE OpNOVA commissioned service strategy, contract performance and senior stakeholder relationships remains with the Operations Manager.

About you

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Experience of managing operational service delivery.
• Experience of directly line-managing and supervising staff.
• Experience of supporting geographically dispersed or remote teams.
• Strong organisational and people-management skills.
• Experience of monitoring service performance and addressing delivery issues.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and operational pressures.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence using service data, case-management systems and performance information.
• Sound judgement and effective problem-solving skills.
• An understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and operational risk.
• An understanding of issues affecting veterans in the justice system.

Experience within veterans’ services, justice, health, social care, commissioned services or the charity sector would be advantageous.

Experience of Salesforce, Outcome Star or similar case-management systems would also be beneficial.

Working arrangements

The role is based primarily at Care after Combat’s headquarters in Newark, Nottinghamshire, with occasional hybrid working.

Regular attendance at Newark will be required, alongside occasional travel across England to support Regional Coordinators, attend meetings and engage with operational partners.

The role may involve visiting prisons and other secure environments. Some evening or weekend working may occasionally be required.

Pre-employment checks

The successful candidate will be required to undergo:

• an Enhanced DBS check; and
• NPPV2 Police Vetting.

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and a supporting statement explaining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications, so early applications are encouraged.

Care after Combat is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive and supportive working environment. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process where required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Newark-on-Trent NG24 2TN