National Head of Ambulance Operations

Hybrid 

Full Time/Permanent

Closing Date: 4th January 2026

Our offer to you 

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive: 

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping 

 
About Us 

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,400 employees and over 28,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning.  As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future.  

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, and Young Responders programmes). 

Job Summary 

As Head of Ambulance Operations, you’ll provide strategic leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality, sustainable and cost-effective ambulance services nationwide. You’ll shape the future of our Ambulance Operations by developing new service offerings, driving balanced growth, and ensuring your teams deliver safe, patient-centred care every day.

You’ll build strong relationships across the Health and Social Care sector, represent St John Ambulance at a senior level, and bring the vision, energy and influence needed to lead our services into new market opportunities.

About You 

• Educated to Level 7 (master’s level) or equivalent experience, with ongoing professional and personal development and Level 3 safeguarding competency.
• Extensive experience operating within a regulated healthcare environment.
• Proven leadership of large, diverse staff and volunteer teams, building collaborative, high-performing cultures.
• Demonstrated ability to lead major change programmes and manage complex organisational development.
• Strong track record in managing significant commercial operations (circa £15m+ turnover).

About the Role 

• Lead the design, implementation and evaluation of the Ambulance Operations strategy, reporting performance to senior leadership.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders across the Health & Social Care and regulatory sectors to drive opportunities and engagement.
• Ensure high-quality ambulance service delivery, providing subject matter expertise to senior leaders and directorates.
• Oversee budget creation, management and cost-effective delivery, while supporting teams to plan, tender, and implement new services.
• Provide strategic oversight of operational performance across all stations and contracts, ensuring excellence in patient experience, clinical standards, safety and KPI achievement.
• Set and assure core standards for Ambulance Hubs, championing quality, patient safety and compliance with CQC-regulated activity.

• Offer visible, values-driven leadership, fostering improvement, collaboration and compassionate culture across teams

   

Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply) 

If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here 

For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply: please apply below 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.   At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women’s groups.  We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and engender a sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.    

'St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role'. 

Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.