Senior Operations Manager
SKILLS
FULL DESCRIPTION
Senior Operations Manager
Operations Manager – Care Homes
Location - Multi-site along the M6 corridor, Northwest, North Wales, Northamptonshire
Our client, a seasoned, Pan European Real Estate and Hospitality fund is expanding and looking to bolster their operational function for one of the Group companies. As a business they are incredibly active and invest in a wide range of asset classes, taking them on and then building businesses and operations around them, one of which is Care Homes.
The Operations Manager will oversee the performance, quality, and compliance of a portfolio of care homes, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and person-centred care in line with regulatory standards. The role is responsible for supporting Home Managers, driving operational excellence, and ensuring commercial sustainability across the group.
Your Key Responsibilities
Operational Management
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of multiple care homes within the group
- Support and supervise Home Managers to ensure high standards of care and service delivery
- Monitor occupancy levels, staffing, and resources to ensure efficient operations
- Incident, complaint, and safeguarding escalation management
- Supplier and contractor management
- Lead on crisis management and provide hands-on support where required
Regulatory Compliance & Quality
- Ensure all homes meet and maintain standards set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Prepare for and manage inspections, audits, and action plans
- Drive continuous improvement in care quality, safety, and outcomes
- Ensure policies and procedures are implemented and up to date
Leadership & People Management
- Recruit, mentor, and develop Home Managers and senior staff. Building confidence and competence on operations, finance, and P&L empowering managers rather than executing on their behalf
- HR oversight at portfolio level — recruitment, retention, and performance issues that escalate beyond home level
- Foster a positive, values-driven culture across all services
- Support performance management, training, and succession planning
- Promote staff engagement, retention, and wellbeing
Financial & Commercial Performance
- Oversee budgets and ensure financial targets are achieved by Home Managers
- Monitor costs, including staffing, agency use, and general procurement
- Support fee setting, local authority relationships, and private client growth with key focus on driving occupancy, negotiating and increasing fee levels and shifting the resident mix toward a higher proportion of private payers vs. local authority funded
- Identify opportunities for service development and business growth
Stakeholder Management
- Build strong relationships with GP's, residents, families, local authorities, and private sources
- Represent the organisation in external meetings and forums
- Handle escalated complaints and safeguarding concerns appropriately
Reporting & Governance
- Provide regular performance reports to senior leadership
- Analyse KPIs including occupancy, compliance, staffing, and financial performance
- Ensure robust governance and risk management processes are in place
Ideal Candidate Experience
- Proven multi-site operational leadership experience within the UK elderly residential and/or nursing care sector
- Previous Registered Manager experience preferred, with strong working knowledge of CQC regulations and inspection frameworks
- Demonstrable track record of improving occupancy and increasing private-pay mix
- Strong commercial acumen, including experience managing P&L, budgets, and financial reporting
- Effective leader with the ability to hold operational teams accountable while coaching and developing them
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Willingness to travel across the Northwest, North Wales, West Midlands, and occasionally the East Midlands
- Strong cultural fit, with the ability to work closely with senior leadership and key stakeholders
Desirable
- Registered Manager experience
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent)
- Experience in turnaround or improvement projects
- Full UK driving licence
Key Competencies & Success Measures
Key Competencies: Leadership & decision-making, Regulatory and quality focus, Financial acumen, Problem-solving and resilience, Relationship building
Success Measures: Improved CQC ratings across homes, High occupancy and financial performance, Strong staff retention and engagement, Positive feedback from residents and families
Further Details
Up to £85,000 dependent on experience plus discretionary, performance-based Bonuses. This will be a role requiring you in the office and visiting sites, it will predominantly be Monday to Friday HQ based with some flexibility.
This is a super role and opportunity to work with a fast moving, highly motivated senior leadership team where you will have a significant role to play whilst being fast tracked to the next level.
For further information, please contact Grant Kaveney in confidence at GKR International. #LI-GK1