Area Director

About the role

Lead high-performing care homes, develop exceptional leaders and deliver outstanding quality, operational and commercial outcomes across a portfolio of services.

Introduction

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking care organisation committed to delivering outstanding care across a diverse portfolio of homes. Supported by long-term investment and a collaborative leadership team, you'll have the opportunity to develop high-performing Home Managers, improve quality and drive sustainable commercial success while making a meaningful difference to residents' lives.

About the role

Reporting to the Regional Director, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of care homes, ensuring each service delivers safe, high-quality, person-centred care alongside strong commercial and operational performance.

Working closely with Home Managers and central support teams, you'll coach and develop leaders, drive continuous improvement and ensure homes consistently achieve high standards of quality, regulatory compliance and resident experience.

You'll oversee performance across quality, occupancy, financial results, workforce planning and operational delivery, using insight and data to identify opportunities, manage risk and support homes to achieve sustainable success. You'll also build strong relationships with commissioners, local partners and stakeholders, representing the organisation as a trusted provider within your region.

About you

You're an experienced multi-site operational leader with a successful track record of leading care services through growth, improvement and change.

A visible and supportive leader, you're equally comfortable coaching Home Managers, driving commercial performance and leading improvement programmes. You use data to inform decisions, build strong relationships with stakeholders and create high-performing teams that consistently deliver excellent outcomes for residents and colleagues.

What you'll bring

Essential

• Significant senior operational leadership experience across multiple care services or a comparable multi-site, regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of CQC, Care Inspectorate and/or CIW regulatory frameworks, safeguarding and quality governance.
• Proven experience leading Home Managers or senior operational leaders to improve quality, performance and regulatory outcomes.
• Demonstrable success managing commercial performance, including occupancy, budgets, labour costs and operational efficiency.
• Experience delivering service improvement, managing inspections and leading organisational change.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical skills, using operational and financial data to drive performance and informed decision-making.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent senior leadership experience within health, social care or a similarly regulated sector.

Desirable

• Registered Nurse or relevant health and social care qualification.
• Postgraduate leadership, coaching or management qualification.
• Registered Manager experience.
• Experience leading regional improvement programmes or large-scale operational change.
• Experience using quality dashboards, audit systems or electronic care planning platforms.

Additional information

This is a field-based leadership role requiring regular travel across a portfolio of homes and participation in a regional on-call rota. The role involves working closely with operational, clinical and support teams, leading improvement initiatives, supporting services through periods of change and representing the organisation with commissioners and external stakeholders. An Enhanced DBS check and a full UK driving licence are required.