Regional Operations Manager in Chelmsford, Essex

This is a newly created leadership role with a growing care provider, offering the chance to shape and drive operational excellence across a focused portfolio of homes in the Essex area. With a full package of around £75–£80k (with some flexibility) and potential bonus, this is an opportunity for an experienced regional operator to make a visible impact from day one. You’ll join an expanding organisation that values quality, innovation, and specialist dementia care.

About the Role:  
You will oversee a regional portfolio of under 10 care homes in and around Essex, ensuring they deliver consistently high-quality, person-centred care and strong commercial performance. Working closely with home managers and senior leadership, you will provide strategic direction, operational oversight, and performance management to support sustainable growth. This is a hands-on role where you will be expected to hit the ground running and drive improvement across the region.

Key Responsibilities:  
* Lead and manage the operational performance of a portfolio of under 10 care homes, ensuring delivery of high-quality care and strong regulatory compliance.  
* Provide clear leadership, coaching, and support to home managers, building a high-performing and accountable regional team.  
* Develop and implement regional operational plans aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives, including quality, occupancy, and financial targets.  
* Monitor and analyse key performance metrics, addressing underperformance and driving continuous improvement across all homes.  
* Oversee quality assurance processes, audits, and action plans, with a particular focus on dementia care standards and best practice.  
* Collaborate with senior leadership to support expansion plans, including integrating new homes into the portfolio and stabilising performance.  
* Represent the organisation at external events such as Care Expo and other sector forums to stay abreast of industry developments and promote the brand.  
* Ensure effective communication and collaboration between regional operations, clinical, and support functions to optimise service delivery.

Key Requirements:  
* Proven experience in a regional or multi-site operations management role within the care home or wider health and social care sector.  
* Strong track record in strategic planning, operational leadership, and delivering performance improvements across multiple sites.  
* Demonstrable experience of leading and managing teams, including coaching and performance management of home managers.  
* Solid understanding of regulatory frameworks and quality standards within care homes, including CQC requirements.  
* Evidence of working within or closely with dementia care services, with a strong focus on quality and person-centred outcomes.  
* Ability to analyse complex performance data, identify trends, and implement practical action plans at pace.  
* Comfortable working in a fast-paced, expanding environment, with the ability to hit the ground running and take ownership quickly.  
* Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable Skills:  
* Experience managing a portfolio of care homes specifically within the wider South East region.  
* Background in turnaround or improvement projects for underperforming services.  
* Exposure to attending and presenting at sector events such as Care Expo or similar conferences.  
* Experience working within organisations undergoing growth or restructuring, including integration of new services.  
* Familiarity with digital care systems and data-driven quality improvement tools.

Qualifications:  
* Relevant professional qualification in health and social care, nursing, social work, or a related field (e.g. NVQ Level 5 in Health & Social Care) 
* Management or leadership qualification (e.g. Level 5/7 in Leadership & Management, ILM, or equivalent) strongly preferred.  
* Evidence of ongoing professional development in dementia care, quality improvement, or care home management.  
* Full UK driving licence and ability to travel regularly across the South East region.

If you’re an experienced regional operations leader with a strong quality or dementia background and ready to step into a high-impact role with real autonomy, we’d like to hear from you. Apply now to help shape the next phase of growth for this expanding care provider.