Primary Care Operations Manager

Job summary

Principal Medical Limited (PML) is seeking an experienced and senior Operations Manager to lead the operational performance of a busy general practice site in Oxfordshire.

This is a substantive senior leadership role, carrying full accountability for the day-to-day running of the practice, workforce performance, financial oversight, and compliance. The postholder will have line management responsibility for the practice level management team, including the Deputy Operations Manager where in post.

Main duties of the job We are looking to appoint an experienced Operations Manager who is motivated, self directed, and committed to delivering high quality operational services in a complex primary care environment.

Payroll, Finance, Procurement, and HR Support are centralised, allowing this role to focus fully on operational leadership on the ground.

The postholder is accountable for overall practice performance, with direct line management of the practice level management team, working closely with clinical leads, PML central functions, and external partners.

Key responsibilities include: Accountability for day-to-day operational performance across all practice functions Direct line management of the practice level management team, including workforce planning, staff performance, and development, in partnership with PML's HR function Overseeing local financial performance, including budget monitoring and expenditure control, reporting into PML's finance function Ensuring compliance with CQC requirements, NHS contractual obligations, and PML governance standards Driving quality improvement and patient experience initiatives with clinical leads Managing and developing the wider operations team, supporting professional growth Leading practice level projects and change programmes, linking the site with PML central functions Sitting on the Primary Care Network Board, supporting PCN colleagues on behalf of the practice Contributing to federation wide operational development and shared learning

About us

PML is a successful not for profit, GP led organisation providing NHS community and primary care services to patients across Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. We have evolved as an NHS healthcare provider since 2004 and have grown significantly in recent years, now employing around 300 staff with a turnover of circa £16 million.

PML holds GMS contracts and operates as a GP federation representing approximately 50 GP practices covering around 650,000 patients. We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances, including people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

Job description

Job

responsibilities

We are looking for an Operations Manager who is able to provide senior operational leadership and hold full accountability for practice performance.

This includes leading a multidisciplinary non-clinical team, supporting clinical governance, overseeing financial and workforce functions in partnership with PML's centralised teams, and working in close partnership with PML's Transformation Directorate to deliver continuous improvement.

Where a Deputy Operations Manager is in post, the Operations Manager will provide leadership, delegation, and development of that role as part of the practice's senior team.

The right candidate will have experience managing their own operational portfolio, leading teams through change, and working within the regulatory and contractual frameworks that govern general practice.

Person Specification

Experience Essential Senior management experience in general practice, primary care, or the wider NHS Experience managing multidisciplinary teams including performance, development, and HR processes Budget management and financial oversight in a healthcare or public sector setting Experience working across organisational boundaries with multiple stakeholders Desirable Experience working within a GP federation or at scale primary care organisation Experience leading or contributing to transformation, change, or improvement programmes Skills and Abilities Essential Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams in a complex and pressured environment Strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to interpret performance data Excellent written and verbal communication skills including reporting to senior leadership Ability to manage competing priorities, work at pace, and deliver to deadlines Confident in leading difficult conversations and managing conflict constructively Ability to plan and deliver projects or workstreams with clear outcomes Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital tools used in practice management Knowledge Essential Strong working knowledge of GP operations including workforce, appointments, and compliance Familiarity with CQC standards and the inspection and registration framework Understanding of NHS primary care contractual frameworks including GMS, PMS, or APMS Understanding of information governance, data protection, and Caldicott principles Desirable Knowledge of QOF, enhanced services, and primary care performance metrics Familiarity with general practice clinical and operational systems such as EMIS, SystmOne, or Accurx Personal Attributes Essential Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in ambiguous or rapidly changing environments Committed to high standards of patient care and staff wellbeing Collaborative approach with the ability to build trust across clinical and non-clinical teams Proactive and self-directed, capable of identifying problems and acting without being prompted Alignment with PML's values of quality, sustainability, and community focused care

Qualifications

Essential Educated to degree level or equivalent experience Evidence of continued professional development in a relevant field Desirable Management or leadership qualification at postgraduate level or equivalent Project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or equivalent Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.