Head of Operations

Reference: RCN02651

Salary range: £79,482 - £89,238 per annum*

Basis: 35 hours per week, Permanent

Location: Bury St Edmunds Office with hybrid working

There is more to the RCN than you might think. We’re a trade union with a membership of over half a million nurses, midwives, nursing support workers and students. We support their practice, represent them, lobby on their behalf, and develop them. We exist to make a positive difference – to the working lives of our members and ultimately to standards in patient care. Our employees are drawn from many walks of life – we are nurses, marketers and communicators, administrators, IT professionals, policy and finance experts, lawyers… together we are so much more. We couldn’t do what we do without our people.

We're accredited with Investors in People Silver Standard. Our people are our greatest asset, and we want people who can contribute to our purpose in line with our values.

As our Head of Operations for our Eastern Regional team, you’ll use your enthusiasm, positive thinking, and your management skills to support our local team. You will promote integrated working between the professional and trade union elements of RCN work and liaising and working with other RCN staff and departments as appropriate.

As the Head of Operations, you will be a key member of the regional management team and key to managing the overall service delivery of the region and ensuring the effective provision of advice, support and representation to RCN members. An inclusive leader, you’ll role model RCN values and ensure the region works to challenge the discrimination our members experience in the workplace.

You’ll be responsible for the line management of Senior RCN Officers and overseeing the work and development for RCN reps and activists in the region. The regional management team lead on member and activist recruitment and retention.

Every day will be filled with possibilities as you find new ways to manage and support the development of your team. Taking care of our members will be your primary role, but you’ll also see the possibilities that new members can bring. A key part of what you do will be to suggest innovative approaches to grow our membership.

An experienced manager, you will need knowledge of contemporary nursing, health & social care issues as well as knowledge of best practice in relation to employment practices, equality and diversity, human rights and equal opportunities.

The ability to foster strong professional relationships and encourage close collaboration between departments is at the heart of this leadership role.

To succeed at the Royal College of Nursing all you need to do is think bigger, better and brighter. And with an attitude like that, anything’s possible.

What we offer you

We expect you to look after our members. And we expect you to be rewarded for it. We offer an impressive range of benefits, a broad range of learning development opportunities and an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. We offer annual leave up to 32 days plus bank holidays and three additional days for the Christmas break plus generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages.

*We offer a competitive pay structure with annual pay progression until you reach the top of the salary scale. We normally offer new employees the first point of the salary range, although you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary depending on your skills, experience and current salary.

We are a diverse organisation and understand everyone has different needs and many of our employees enjoy flexible working enabling them to deliver results whilst having a good work life balance. Our hybrid working model allows for up to 60% of your working time to be carried out from home. At least 40% of your working time will be spent working in person.

Our selection process

Please click the ‘apply now’ button to submit a CV and answer the supporting questions online demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this role. You may not be shortlisted if you don’t. Please ensure your CV is in a simple format with minimal tables and sections. Any identifying information in your application will automatically be anonymised for shortlisting purposes. We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We may hold our interviews and assessments in person or by video call. If you foresee any problems, please let us know.

Equal opportunities for everyone

Equity, diversity and inclusion are a priority for us and we aim to foster an inclusive environment so our people can bring their authentic selves to work. This is integral to our mission to enable you to support our members and ensure their voice is heard by all UK governments to get the best outcomes for them and their patients. As a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Contact details

For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact Sheila Marriott Regional Director at [email protected].

For more information about the recruitment and selection process please contact [email protected].

Closing date: 11.59pm on 16 April 2025.

Selection dates: 30 April 2025 in person at RCN UK HQ, in London.