Director of Operations

Director of Operations - NHS Blood and Transplant

High profile leadership role in a national organisation dedicated to saving and improving lives

Director of Operations

National Role

Grade ESM1: up to £131,300 plus NHS Pension and Benefits

As an essential part of the NHS, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) works to make the most of every donation – from blood and organs to tissues and stem cells. We are more than a healthcare organisation: we are also a complex supply chain, a biomedical manufacturer, and a trusted partner in research and innovation.

At our heart, we enable daily acts of generosity – from the thousands of blood donors who give their time every day, to the families who, in moments of profound grief, consent for their loved ones to become organ and tissue donors. It is for these donors, their families, and the patients they help that we strive to be the very best in everything we do.

The environment in which we operate is changing. We face increasing demand, evolving technology, and the need to deliver more efficiently and sustainably. This brings significant opportunities for transformation – modernising our operations, embracing digital innovation, and strengthening partnerships to ensure we remain resilient and future-ready.

Our ambition is clear: to save and improve even more lives by building a world where every patient receives the donation they need. To achieve this, we are focused on five priorities: growing and diversifying our donor base; modernising our operations; driving innovation into practice; collaborating with partners; and investing in our people and culture.

The Opportunity

As our new Director of Operations, you will play a pivotal role in enabling the delivery of this strategy, reporting into the Executive Director of Blood Supply and working closely with colleagues across our leadership team to support NHSBT through the next phase of our transformation. As Director of Operations, you will be leading large scale, complex services for an organisation dedicated to saving and improving thousands of lives each year. The role presents an exciting opportunity for manufacturing and testing automation and digital transformation.

The postholder will provide strategic and operational leadership across the supply chain, with accountability for delivering high-quality, efficient and resilient services at national scale.

The role requires balancing operational delivery with strategic transformation, ensuring NHSBT can meet current performance requirements while developing the capabilities required for future sustainability.

We are seeking an inspirational Director of Operations with a track record of operations leadership in complex operating environments, a proven background in working successfully in partnership across organisational boundaries and who can expand and build on our commitment to being an intentionally inclusive organisation.

This is a rare national leadership role with the potential to influence the lives of millions of people while shaping an organisation that combines purpose with innovation.

If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your leadership to a purpose-driven organisation at the heart of the NHS, please visit: be www.odgers.com/96417 or email your application to peter.mason@odgers.com

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment and help towards making NHSBT a great place to work for everyone. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, neurodiversity or other personal circumstances. We are particularly keen to hear from those currently under-represented in the organisation.

Closing date is Monday 27th July 2026