Job Description: Head of Operations

Job title: Head of Operations 

Particulars of Office: Full-Time (35 hours a week), Permanent, Pensionable 

Reports to: CEO

Why Join Safetynet Primary Care?

Our Mission: To deliver high-quality healthcare services for those who are socially excluded and who otherwise could not access care, promoting their wellbeing and advocating for an inclusive healthcare system.

Our Values: Quality, Transparency, Inclusivity, Respect for others, Innovation

Employee Benefits include: Group Healthcare Scheme, Pension Scheme, Annual Tax Saver Travel Scheme, Cycle To Work. 

Safetynet Primary Care

Safetynet Primary Care is a Medical Charity providing services to those in our society most in need of health care but without access to appropriate care. Safetynet innovatively removes barriers by bringing healthcare to homeless people, those in addiction and vulnerable groups in hostels and drop-in services and by providing a mobile health service to rough sleepers. Safetynet provide GP and nursing services in the Inclusion Health Hub 5 days a week.

A significant Migrant Health service has been developed, providing health assessment screening and GP clinics to vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. We advocate for an inclusive health system and work towards integration of our patient’s health care into mainstream services.

Safetynet Primary Care is an equal opportunities employer.

Job Summary

The Head of Operations is responsible for leading, shaping, and supporting all Safetynet Primary Care services so that they continue to meet unmet need, deliver high quality care, and remain true to Safetynet’s mission and values.

This is a senior leadership role that sits at the centre of Safetynet’s work with people experiencing homelessness, vulnerable migrants, and others who face barriers to mainstream healthcare. Reporting to the CEO and working as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Services provides the link between Safetynet’s strategic direction and the day-to day service delivery.

The role has organisation wide responsibility for the quality, safety, and development of services; for strong service governance; and for leading a multidisciplinary workforce that is values led, trauma informed, and responsive to complex need. The Head of Services ensures that Safetynet services are well planned, well-staffed, and well supported, and that service users experience care that is inclusive, respectful, and person centred.

Principal Duties & Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Service Development

• Lead the development, implementation, and delivery of Safetynet’s Services Strategy, ensuring alignment with the organisational strategic plan and mission.
• Translate strategic objectives into annual operational plans, clear service models, KPIs, and measurable outcomes that reflect Safetynet’s commitment to high quality, inclusive, trauma informed care.
• Identify gaps and emerging needs and lead the design of responsive, evidence‑informed services.
• Guide service change, including development, adaptation, and planned handover or closure of services as they mature or move into mainstream provision.
• Represent Safetynet in strategic fora, interagency networks, and partnership initiatives at local and national level.

Service Delivery & Operational Oversight

• Provide overall oversight of all Safetynet services, including clinics, outreach programmes, mobile services, and rapid response initiatives.
• Provide oversight of service budgets and resource allocation, ensuring funds are used effectively and in line with service priorities.
• Ensure services are safe, effective, person centred, culturally competent, and trauma informed.
• Coordinate services and pathways, so people can move through care easily without unnecessary barriers.
• Ensure consistent implementation of policies, procedures, and models of care across services.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and service coverage to support safe and responsive service delivery.
• Monitor service performance using quantitative and qualitative data, audits, incidents, inspections, and service user feedback.

Quality, Safety & Governance

• Provide leadership on service quality, safety, and improvement across Safetynet.
• Ensure services are properly governed, with clear accountability, effective oversight, and sound risk management.
• Oversee safeguarding, incidents, complaints, and learning processes, ensuring issues are addressed and improvements made.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, standards, funder requirements, and regulatory expectations, including accurate and timely service reporting.
• Lead service input into audits, inspections, reviews, reporting, and funding proposals.

People Leadership & Workforce Planning

• Provide leadership, supervision, and line management.
• Ensure effective supervision, performance management, recruitment, and professional development.
• Promote Safetynet values, and inclusion across all services.
• Support workforce planning to ensure services are appropriately staffed and skilled to meet current and future demand.

Partnerships & Advocacy

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with statutory bodies, funders, voluntary and community partners.
• Act as a senior representative and advocate for Safetynet’s services and patients.
• Support organisational advocacy through service insights, evidence and reporting.

Note

This Job Description outlines the current responsibilities of the role.  As the organisation frequently adapts its operations to meet the changing needs of its client group, the duties associated with this position may change.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree (Level 8 or equivalent) in health, social care, public health, human services, management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a senior service, operational, or programme leadership role within health, social care, NGO, or community services.
• Proven experience leading complex, multidisciplinary teams and managing managers.
• Demonstrated experience in service strategy development, operational planning, and organisational change.
• Strong knowledge of trauma informed, person centred, and evidence-based service delivery.
• Experience working with marginalised, vulnerable, or socially excluded populations.
• Experience managing budgets, performance frameworks, KPIs, and compliance requirements.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking combined with strong operational and delivery focus.
• Excellent leadership, people management, coaching, and change management skills.
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Highly developed communication, report writing, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to build trust, influence, and collaborate across internal and external partners.
• High levels of integrity, empathy, resilience, and alignment with Safetynet’s values.
• Confidence using data, management information systems, and reporting tools to inform decision making and demonstrate impact.

Desirable Criteria

• Postgraduate qualification in management, leadership, public health, social policy, or a related field.
• Knowledge of Irish health, primary care, homelessness, and social inclusion systems.
• Experience supporting, grant compliance, or commissioned services.
• Experience leading services through growth, restructuring, or system change.

Particulars of Office

Appointment: Full-time, permanent, pensionable, 6 months probationary period

Working Hours: 35 hours per week Monday - Friday

Annual Salary: The salary scale for this post is €60,007 - €78,007 per annum. Entry point to the scale will be determined in accordance with Safetynet Primary Care Pay Policy. 

Annual Leave: 25 days per annum 

Location: Mainly based at 60 Amiens Street, Dublin, with a hybrid working arrangement following successful completion of probationary period.