Director of Adult Specialist Care

The Opportunity

SDR is a specialist provider of bespoke person-centred services for adults with Autism Learning Disabilities and complex needs. We are entering an ambitious growth phase and this newly defined Director role sits at the heart of it.

You will take full ownership of our Adult Specialist Care division: holding the existing estate to consistently high occupancy low vacancy rates high standards of care quality and governance and Good or Outstanding CQC outcomes while building the commissioner relationships and service pipeline.

This is not a monitoring role. You will own the numbers EBITDARM realisation occupancy margins CQC ratings staff retention and you will be expected to act decisively when performance demands it. You will report directly to the COO and work closely with the Board of Directors.

The Challenge

Over the next three years you will be responsible for:

• Delivering new bespoke commissioned services
• Building and scaling the operational infrastructure to support a division that will more than double in size.
• Owning commissioner relationships across Local Authorities ICBs and NHS partners and converting them into contracts.
• Holding the division accountable to hard outcomes: occupancy and vacancy rates EBITDARM realisation and Good or Outstanding across every CQC-registered service.
• Building a culture that is ambitious values-led and focused on the quality of life of the people SDR supports

What You Will Do

Commissioner Relationships & Growth

• Own and drive SDRs new service commissioning strategy developing a robust pipeline from first contact through to contract award and service launch.
• Build deep enduring relationships with commissioners across Local Authorities ICBs and NHS partners acting as SDRs primary point of contact for new opportunities.
• Lead fee negotiations and contract discussions securing commercially sustainable terms. Represent SDR at sector forums commissioner events and stakeholder networks a credible and compelling ambassador for the organisation.

Operational & Financial Accountability

• Hold full P&L accountability for the ASC division owning EBITDARM realisation targets occupancy rates vacancy management and contribution margins.
• Ensure Good or Outstanding CQC ratings across the portfolio with services always inspection-ready.
• Lead annual fee review and uplift negotiations to protect and improve margins.
• Design and implement an organisational structure that scales effectively as the division grows.

New Service Delivery

• Oversee the full lifecycle of new service launches from mobilisation and recruitment through to CQC registration and handover.
• Bring rigorous programme management discipline to multiple concurrent launches ensuring services open on time and within budget.
• Continuously improve the tools processes and methodology used to mobilise new services at scale.

People & Culture

• Lead develop and retain a high-performing divisional leadership team Regional Managers Head of New Service Delivery and the wider ASC team.
• Be visible and present across services genuinely engaged with what is happening on the ground.
• Create a culture that is ambitious values-led and obsessed with delivering outstanding outcomes for the people SDR supports.

Who We Are Looking For

You are an experienced senior leader in health and social care who combines genuine

commercial drive with an unwavering commitment to care quality. You are equally at home

in a commissioners office in front of a Board and on the floor of a service.

You will bring:

• A demonstrable track record of building commissioner relationships and converting them into new service contracts with an existing network of senior LA ICB and NHS commissioning contacts.
• Proven experience delivering multiple new services concurrently from mobilisation through CQC registration to steady state.
• Strong P&L ownership experience including EBITDARM accountability financial modelling and fee negotiation.
• Deep knowledge of the bespoke specialist care market commissioning trends regulatory requirements and the competitive landscape.
• Senior multi-site operational leadership with a clear record of achieving and sustaining Good or Outstanding CQC outcomes.
• Experience of organisational design and scaling having built or restructured operational teams in a growing provider.
• Practical knowledge of Autism Learning Disabilities complex health/clinical needs and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
• Minimum Level 5 in Health and Social Care Management (Level 7/Degree or equivalent desirable). Full UK driving licence.

Why This Role

This is a rare opportunity to join an organisation at exactly the right moment established

enough to have real infrastructure and a strong reputation but early enough in its growth

journey that this role will genuinely shape what SDR becomes.

You will have real authority a clear mandate and direct access to the COO and Board. You

will not be navigating layers of bureaucracy to get things done. And you will be working in a

part of the sector that genuinely matters.

Our Values

You will embody and promote SDRs core values:

• Kindness Dignity & Respect:Treat everyone with kindness dignity and respect to create a fulfilling and rewarding work environment.
• Calmness:Approach challenges and decisions with calm and composure to deliver effective solutions.
• Creativity:Encourage and embrace creativity to find innovative ways to enhance service delivery.
• Responsibility:Take ownership of actions attitudes and outcomes while supporting career development and team growth.

Why join us

You will play a key role in shaping the next phase of growth for Adult Specialist Care with the autonomy to lead the division and the support of an experienced senior team.

To Apply

Please submit a covering letter (approx. 800 words) to and attached to this application or email setting out how your experience maps to the JD and challenges described above. We are particularly interested in concrete examples of commissioner relationships built process and organisational design services mobilised and financial targets owned.

For a confidential conversation about the role please contact Mark directly.

Required Experience:

Director