Chief Medical Officer

UHCW; Coventry; On-site; GBP 161,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust seeks a dynamic Chief Medical Officer to lead medical education and professional practice across the Trust. You will ensure alignment with GMC guidance and maintain high standards in clinical governance while shaping strategy and driving improvement.

The post requires GMC/GDC registration, inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register, and an established track record of senior leadership in a large NHS organisation.

Qualifications

• GMC/GDC registration and GMC Specialist Register required.
• Sustained CPD and postgraduate management qualification (MBA or equivalent).
• Substantial leadership experience in a large health system.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership and education for the medical workforce.
• Act as Caldicott Guardian and Responsible Officer for confidentiality and information sharing.
• Lead for Medical Education, Research & Development, Quality and Innovation with legal obligations met.
• Proven track record of medical leadership at director/board level and strong communication skills.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Influencing

Change management

Education

MBA or related management qualification

Job description

Site University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Town Coventry Salary £161,021 - £212,718 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 30/11/2026

Job overview

Chief Medical Officer

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has a clear vision to be a ‘n ational and international leader in healthcare, rooted in our communities’. As one of the UK's largest teaching Trusts responsible for managing two major hospitals in Coventry and Rugby, we serve a population of over a million people. We aim to be exceptional in everything we do, and this is an outstanding opportunity to join an organisation committed to improvement and innovation.

Our values-driven organisational development programme, and our long established partnership with Virginia Mason Institute; focussing on improving services via lean methodology, are key to us achieving our vision of becoming a national and international leader in healthcare.

We are seeking an inspirational leader to join our executive team as we continue on this journey; leading from the front, shaping strategy and initiating change, you will play a critical role in helping us to be ‘More than a Hospital’. In return we can offer a unique opportunity to be part of an experienced Executive Leadership Team within an innovative organisation.

Main duties of the job

You will contribute across the full breadth of the corporate agenda and have responsibility for the professional leadership and education of the Trust’s medical workforce ensuring that Trust policy, procedures and practices align with GMC guidance on ‘Duties of a Doctor’, ‘Maintaining Good Medical Practice’ and ‘Maintaining High Professional Standards’

Acting as the Trust’s Caldicott Guardian and Responsible Officer, you will ensure that the required standards of confidentiality and information sharing are adhered to and Trust values are embedded in all aspects of medical and dental clinical and professional practice.

You will provide credible and visible leadership in managing a wide portfolio of Medical Education, Research & Development, Quality and Innovation being responsible for ensuring all relevant legal and statutory obligations are met.

A driven and influential leader, you will have a proven track record of successful medical leadership in a large complex organisation and demonstrate excellent communication and influencing skills. You will be experienced at Consultant and Deputy Chief Officer level, hold current GMC/GDC registration and inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register.

The post is offered on a full‑time basis and can include some clinical time by agreement with the Chief Executive Officer.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence® designated organisation – Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire.

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most relevant and appropriate care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Trust is actively working to achieve a diverse, gender balanced and representative workforce where diversity is actively valued and celebrated, including at Trust Board level. With this in mind, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds to ensure that our Board reflects the diversity of our communities and encourages diversity of thought.

Final Assessment / Interviews: Monday 30 th November 2026

For detailed description of the role and responsibilities, please refer to the attached candidate pack.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Current GMC/ GDC registration and inclusion of the GMC Specialist register Sustained record of continued professional development MBA or other postgraduate management qualification in a relevant field or substantial experience

Experience

• Comprehensive understanding of the NHS and its infrastructure Outstanding record of sound medical leadership in a complex organisation Successful track record as a credible Director/Deputy Director with Board Level exposure Excellent understanding of negotiation theory and practice and ability to achieve exceptional results Proven experience of change management
• Successful track record at Director level including exposure at Board Level within an Acute Hospital setting.

Skills

• Highly developed analytical and problem‑solving skills High level of work organisation, self‑motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude Excellent communication skills working with internal and external stakeholders Well‑practised ability to question, challenge and influence assumptions across professional and organisational boundaries Leader with personal and professional credibility and strong sense of integrity Ability to influence and operate effectively in a challenging environment Confident and able to inspire confidence in others Ability to cope with distressing and emotional circumstances in a sympathetic and understanding manner

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s values. Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience.

To ensure that we provide world‑class patient care, UHCW recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it. Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which can be accessed on the right side of this page under the job description. The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.

The Trust is committed to Equal Opportunities within the workplace. All vacancies will be considered for Job Share unless otherwise stated. All applicants who have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be interviewed. Where a post has an overwhelming response, this Trust may use random selection in order to reduce numbers to interview, any disabled applicants will automatically be guaranteed an interview and will be exempt from this process.

In submitting an application form, you authorise University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you, including Occupational Health data (inoculations and screening tests). This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third‑party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post.

UHCW NHS Trust, by virtue of its Green Plan, is committed to ensuring that the way we provide services minimises the impact on the environment and the future health of the public e.g. zero waste to landfill, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our recycling and reuse percentages.

If you are successful at interview you will receive a conditional offer of employment and we’ll ask you for information so that we can carry out pre‑employment checks. You must successfully complete all pre‑employment checks to progress to a final unconditional offer.

We must confirm the identity of our staff and their right to work in the United Kingdom. We will ask you to submit proof of your identity and right to work documents via a secure digital platform approved by the Home Office, named TrustID. Alternatively, you may be asked to attend our office with original documents.

Depending on you level of exposure with patients you may be required to undertake a Standard or Enhanced DBS. The cost of this check will be charged to you and will be deducted from your salary over the first 3 months of employment at the current rate.

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.