Chief Operating Officer

Cochrane; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cochrane is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to drive the next phase of its organisational transformation. This senior role reports to the CEO and acts as a trusted deputy, ensuring a financially sustainable and digitally enabled operating model across global functions.

The COO will lead People & Culture, finance, governance, risk, PMO, IT and corporate services, strengthening systems and processes to enable strategic impact and sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Senior executive or operational leadership experience in a complex, mission-driven organisation.
• Strong financial acumen with budgeting, forecasting, investment appraisal and multi-million-pound resource management.
• Track record of leading organisational transformation and operating model design.
• Ability to work effectively with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and Governing Board, and deputise as required.
• Strong people leadership, judgement and communication skills; ability to build trust and make difficult decisions.
• Experience of digital transformation, systems integration, data-informed decision-making and responsible use of AI.
• Commitment to Cochrane’s mission, independence, equity, scientific integrity and global collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational delivery across People & Culture, finance, governance & risk, PMO, IT and corporate services.
• Strengthen operational infrastructure for grant management and fundraising; ensure clear reporting and financial oversight.
• Guide resources toward mission impact and long-term sustainability.
• Translate strategy into disciplined delivery and ensure continuity of executive leadership.
• Support senior leaders with evidence-informed decision-making and pace with care.

Skills

Senior executive leadership

Financial acumen

Transformational leadership

Executive deputising

People leadership

Digital transformation

Mission alignment

Job description

Location: UK-based within a remote working based organisation, with regular travel to Cochrane’s London office and further afield, as required.

Interview dates: expected to be held remotely on 5th & 7th October 2026

Cochrane is a global, independent network committed to producing trusted evidence to support better health decisions. We are entering an important period of transformation as the evidence ecosystem changes rapidly, with growing demand for timely, living, interoperable and decision-ready evidence.

Cochrane is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help lead the next phase of its organisational transformation. This is a senior executive role for a strategic, financially astute and values-driven operational leader who can strengthen how Cochrane works, delivers and sustains its global impact.

The Chief Operating Officer will play a central role in ensuring Cochrane has the operating model, systems, financial discipline and organisational capability needed for this future. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Operating Officer will act as a trusted partner and formal deputy to the CEO, deputising for the CEO as required and providing continuity of executive leadership across the organisation.

The Chief Operating Officer will lead Cochrane’s core operational functions and ensure that the organisation is financially sustainable, well governed, digitally enabled and equipped to deliver its future strategy.

The opportunity

The successful candidate will lead operational delivery across People and Culture, finance, governance and risk, the Project & Procurement Management Office, IT and corporate services. They will also strengthen the operational infrastructure that supports grant management and fundraising, ensuring that systems, processes, reporting, financial oversight and delivery coordination are clear and effective.

This is a role for someone who combines strategic judgement with disciplined execution. The Chief Operating Officer will need to lead change with pace and care, support senior leaders to make evidence-informed decisions and ensure that Cochrane’s resources are focused on the areas of greatest mission impact and long-term sustainability.

We are looking for someone who brings

• Senior executive or operational leadership experience in a complex, mission-driven organisation.
• Strong financial acumen and direct experience of budgeting, forecasting, investment appraisal and multi-million-pound resource management.
• A track record of leading organisational transformation, operating model design, process improvement and sustainable change.
• The ability to work effectively with, and deputise for, the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and Governing Board, translating strategy into disciplined delivery and providing continuity of executive leadership.
• Strong people leadership, judgement and communication skills, with the ability to build trust while making difficult decisions.
• Experience of digital transformation, systems integration, data-informed decision-making and responsible use of AI.
• Commitment to Cochrane’s mission, independence, equity, scientific integrity and global collaboration.

Inclusion statement

Cochrane is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and from those who share our commitment to trusted evidence, collaboration, equity, independence and public benefit.

Cochrane is proud to hold Level 3 Leader status as a Disability Confident Employer. Candidates who meet the criteria for the role and who share that they have a disability, will be eligible for a guaranteed interview.