Deputy Head of Operations (Internal only)

About the role

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced professional to assume the role of Deputy Head of Operations in our senor management team.

The Deputy Head of Operations supports the Head of Operations in the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the UK radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution. This role ensures operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across all production and support activities.

Championing a strong safety culture across all sites, the Deputy Head of Operations ensures adherence to HSE and IRR regulations, promoting continuous improvement in workplace safety standards. They promote a robust quality culture by ensuring strict adherence to GMP standards and regulatory requirements, collaborating closely with QA, regulatory, and operational teams to drive continuous improvement in quality systems, enhance compliance, and ensure sustained audit readiness across the Radiopharmacy network.

The Deputy Head of Operations evaluates and enhances site performance through data-driven analysis, operational research, and proactive identification of improvement opportunities to support informed, strategic decision-making. They lead the harmonisation of operational and strategic processes across the national Radiopharmacy network, identifying and embedding best practices from individual RPUs to drive consistency, efficiency, and a culture of continuous improvement across all sites.

Supporting the Head of Operations in the successful delivery and execution of Radiopharmacy development projects, the Deputy Head ensures alignment with strategic objectives, timely implementation, and effective integration into operational workflows across the network.

They maintain high standards of financial governance by leading productivity initiatives, supporting robust financial planning, and ensuring effective budget management and cost control across the Radiopharmacy network.

Finally, the Deputy Head of Operations ensures appropriate resourcing across the UK RPU network to meet operational demands, while working collaboratively with AMR HR to implement strategies that support staff development, leadership growth, and talent retention, driving improved performance, engagement, and satisfaction across the Radiopharmacy workforce.

Please note that we will be interviewing throughout the duration of this advert. Therefore if you are interested in this role an early application is advised as we may close the advert prior to the advertised date.  

Roles and Responsibilities

The Deputy Head of Operations will collaborate closely with Site and Department Managers and QA teams to ensure continuous adherence to safety regulations, GMP standards, and compliance requirements. They will drive a culture of safety and quality across all sites by promoting proactive safety measures and embedding best practices to ensure ongoing operational excellence and audit readiness.

Supporting the implementation of new policies and procedures identified through regulatory inspections, internal and external audits, and safety engagement initiatives is a key responsibility. The Deputy Head will establish and lead a robust daily management system across the RPU network to drive operational visibility and accountability. They will develop and monitor site-level KPIs aligned to business objectives, enabling site teams to monitor performance, escalate issues early, and drive real-time decision-making to enhance service reliability and output.

The Deputy Head of Operations will implement best practices for all operational departments and functions, including the identification of appropriate training. They will promote a structured approach to continuous improvement by integrating lean principles into daily routines. Using KPI trends and performance data from the daily management system, they will identify improvement opportunities, reduce waste, and optimise processes, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and problem-solving across all sites.

Supporting continuous improvement strategies across production and quality control, the Deputy Head will identify opportunities for capital projects to increase the performance and resilience of the business with respect to safety, quality, and reliability. They will work with AMR HR to implement employee development programs, leadership training, and succession planning initiatives that align with long-term business objectives, focusing on enhancing team capabilities and employee satisfaction to foster a skilled and motivated workforce.

The Deputy Head of Operations will be regularly present at the UK RP sites to provide strong leadership and assistance to the Site Manager, gaining firsthand knowledge about all RP sites and potential challenges.

Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate will possess a degree in a relevant scientific discipline and have a strong background in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in this area. Extensive experience in GMP regulations and quality management systems, as required by UK regulatory authorities, is essential. The candidate should have demonstrable knowledge of radiopharmaceutical production systems and experience in delivering projects and driving continuous improvement procedures.

A proven track record in leading successful teams to ensure reliability and uptime metrics are achieved is crucial. The candidate must have the ability to lead and inspire teams, supporting learning and development strategies to provide opportunities for career progression within the RP network. General management experience and excellent knowledge of radiation safety regulations are also required.

Strong leadership and managerial skills with a focus on quality and patient outcomes are essential. The candidate should have the capacity to prepare strategies and generate ideas that will cope with changing environments and consider various future challenges. Excellent data interpretation skills, with a focus on data extrapolation to monitor trends, are necessary.

First-class written and verbal communication skills are required, along with confident decision-making based on evidence gained through the contributions of the wider team. The candidate should not be afraid to make difficult decisions and must possess excellent influencing skills and the ability to inspire others. A proactive communicator with the ability to present complex technical proposals to a diverse audience is essential. The candidate should also be commercially aware and results-oriented.

About us

Alliance Medical are Europe’s leading independent provider of imaging services. 

We combine service excellence and innovative imaging technologies to improve patient care and support NHS and independent organisations with their ongoing imaging requirements. Our approach has delivered consistent company growth for more than 30 years. 

We operate a robust pre-employment screening process for all roles which includes proof of professional registration and qualifications, DBS checking and occupational health assessments.

We live by our company values to ensure the highest level of patient care:  

Our Values 

Leaders, managers, and supervisors have a particular responsibility to be role models in terms of how they demonstrate these values themselves and how they engage their teams to work in this way. 

Collaboration: 

We work together and in partnership for all our patients. We respect expertise and combine it to achieve more. 

Excellence: 

We never compromise. We strive to deliver the very best in everything we do to ensure the highest quality of care. We treat our patients and each other with compassion, dignity and respect. 

Learning: 

Knowledge and understanding comes from learning.  At Alliance Medical we are committed to ensuring that each and every one of us keeps on learning and that we continuously look for improved ways of working. 

Efficiency: 

Efficiency in healthcare means more patients get better care. We constantly seek new ways to use the scarce resource of healthcare more intelligently so that more people can live longer, fuller lives. 

Openness: 

We act with transparency and honesty in everything we do, where staff are encouraged to speak up to ensure a safe and secure environment for our patients.