Great Western Air Ambulance Charity recruits for Head of Operations

The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) in the UK is in need of a new Head of Operations – could this be the right move for you?

Head of Operations is a new post for the charity and has been created in recognition of the fact that as it grows and becomes more complex, there is a need to enhance the leadership team. The new Head of Operations will report directly to the CEO and will be an integral part of the charity’s management team, deputizing for the CEO regularly, and having an influence on all facets of the charity’s operations. More information about the role can be found on the charity’s website.

The role

A spokesperson for the GWAAC explained more about how the charity works: “Our service is inextricably linked to many other organisations. Our Specialist Paramedics are employed by South

Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT), who also provide the clinical governance for our service. Our Consultant Doctors are employed in local hospitals or by the military, and our Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine trainees are placed with us through Severn Deanery. We take our patients to a number of different hospitals and seek to follow them up where possible. Our helicopter and pilots are provided by Babcock Mission Critical Services (Onshore). Managing these different partnerships will fall under the remit of our Head of Operations. The crew of clinicians are led by an Air Operations Officer and an Advanced Practitioner, employed by SWASFT, and a part-time Medical Director. These posts will have reporting lines to the Head of Operations, although there is no formal line management responsibility.”

GWAAC owns a purpose-built base, located at the M4/M5 junction in South Gloucestershire. The site currently has two tenants, including the National Police Air Service. The management of this 72-acre site, and relationships with tenants and neighbours, will be the responsibility of the Head of Operations.

About the charity

It is the youngest air ambulance in England and Wales, having formed in 2007 and taking its first flight in 2008. The charity is well supported by communities in Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset. One of the benefits of working with GWAAC is how much the public appreciate what the organization does. Whilst not everyone may know that its primary purpose is to provide critical care rather than patient transport, or that it is funded by charitable donations and not the NHS, everyone understands the need for the service.

Job title: Head of Operations

Salary: Up to circa £60,000 FTE, depending on skills, qualifications and experience

Location: Currently split between the office in south west Bristol (BS3 2JH) and Almondsbury base

Hours: 25 to 35 hours per week over 4 or 5 days

Reporting to: Chief Executive

Line management of: Facilities Manager

Key relationships: