Associate Chief Operating Officer

HCA Healthcare UK; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking an Associate Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) for IVF Services to join their senior leadership team. This role involves providing strategic and operational leadership across fertility services, ensuring exceptional patient outcomes and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in healthcare operations and a track record of delivering operational improvements. This position offers the opportunity to work with a dedicated team focused on patient care and innovation, alongside a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Private Healthcare Insurance

Pension contribution

Season Ticket Loan

Group Life Assurance

Critical illness cover

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay

Corporate staff discounts

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in healthcare operations, ideally in IVF services.
• Proven track record of service growth and high-quality patient outcomes.
• Strong understanding of healthcare regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for IVF services.
• Drive operational excellence across patient pathways and clinics.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and governance.
• Support financial performance through budgeting and cost control.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Operational improvement

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Commercial acumen

Leadership and communication skills

Job description

Job Title: Associate Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) – IVF Services

Location: London / The Lister Hospital and The Portland Hospital

Full time – 37.5 hours per week

Permanent

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

We’re looking for an Associate Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) – IVF Services to join our senior leadership team, based across our fertility services. Our IVF services sit at the heart of patient‑centred reproductive care, combining clinical excellence, innovation and compassion to support patients and families through every stage of their fertility journey.

As ACOO for IVF Services, you’ll provide strategic, commercial and operational leadership across all fertility and assisted reproduction services, ensuring exceptional patient outcomes, regulatory compliance and sustainable business growth. You’ll work closely with the CEO, IVF Medical Directors and senior leaders to deliver world‑class fertility services that place patients, consultants and clinical teams at the centre of everything we do.

As an Associate Chief Operating Officer – IVF Services you’ll lead the operational and strategic delivery of IVF services across multiple sites, driving efficiency, quality, innovation and growth. You’ll oversee clinical, laboratory and administrative pathways, optimise capacity and workforce productivity, and ensure outstanding patient and consultant experiences, all while maintaining the highest regulatory and governance standards.

Above all else, we’re committed to the care and improvement of human life. It’s this guiding vision that influences everything we do at HCA UK. From the CEO to the colleagues on the floor, we all have a part to play in delivering exceptional care to our patients. Others may think this is just a leadership role within IVF services, but to us, you’ll be part of a wider team with a unique sense of purpose – one that helps improve lives every single day.

What you’ll do:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for IVF services, partnering with the CEO and IVF Medical Directors to deliver the long‑term vision and service strategy
• Drive operational excellence across patient pathways, laboratories, theatres and clinics, optimising capacity, cycle throughput and clinical performance
• Lead service development projects including digital transformation, new treatment models, satellite clinics and capital investments
• Ensure full compliance with HFEA, CQC and all regulatory requirements, acting as an executive lead for governance, risk, inspections and business continuity
• Support financial performance through robust budgeting, cost control, benchmarking, data‑led decision making and revenue growth initiatives

What you’ll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within healthcare operations, ideally including IVF, fertility or complex clinical services
• Proven track record of delivering operational improvement, service growth and high‑quality patient outcomes
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks (HFEA, CQC, clinical governance and quality standards)
• Commercial acumen with experience in budgeting, financial planning, productivity and performance management
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence at executive and consultant level

Why HCA UK?

Originally founded over 50 years ago by Dr Thomas Frist, HCA has gone on to become one of the world’s leading healthcare providers. In the UK, we’re one of the largest providers of privately funded healthcare and have invested over £500 million in the latest treatments, technology, techniques, medication and facilities.

Being part of a large, multi‑site, established healthcare group means we can offer unrivalled opportunities for career progression, alongside working conditions that prioritise both your mental and physical wellbeing.

By caring for our employees, we empower them to provide exceptional care for our patients. That’s why we offer a host of flexible benefits that reflect the invaluable contribution they make every day. As an Associate Chief Operating Officer for IVF Services you’ll be eligible for:

• 25 days holiday each year (plus bank holidays), increasing with service, with the option to buy or sell leave
• Private Healthcare Insurance for treatment at our leading hospitals
• Private pension contribution which increases with length of service
• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work scheme
• Group Life Assurance from day one
• Critical illness cover
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• Corporate staff discount for all facilities, including Maternity packages at The Portland
• A comprehensive range of flexible health, protection and lifestyle benefits
• Discounts with over 800 major retailers

Culture and values

At HCA UK we believe exceptional care starts with our people. We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each of us brings, because when you feel seen, heard and supported, you can be at your best for our patients and each other.

Our mission is simple: above all else, we’re committed to the care and improvement of human life. To achieve this, we live by four core values:

• Unique and Individual – valuing everyone as an individual
• Kindness and Compassion – treating people with empathy and care
• Honesty, Integrity and Fairness – acting with absolute integrity
• Loyalty, Respect and Dignity – treating one another as valued members of the HCA UK family

Reasonable adjustments

We believe everyone should feel comfortable bringing their full self to work. As a Disability Confident committed organisation, we’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements and provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace.