Chief Operating Officer

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading emergency healthcare provider in London seeks a Chief Operating Officer to oversee operational services and deliver outstanding care. The ideal candidate will have senior leadership experience within the ambulance sector or health systems, demonstrating strong financial judgement and a commitment to public service. This critical role involves collaboration with various health partners to improve patient outcomes and manage a dedicated workforce. Join us to make a difference in the lives of millions of Londoners.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering complex services at scale.
• Understanding of frontline delivery in healthcare settings.
• Commitment to public service, equality, and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Lead all operational services to ensure safe and effective care.
• Support staff to improve performance, resilience, and productivity.
• Shape partnerships across London's health and care system.

Skills

Operational leadership

Collaboration

Financial judgement

Crisis management

Education

Experience in ambulance service or health system

Board level credibility

Job description

Chief Operating Officer, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Chief Operating Officer, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

United Kingdom

We are the world’s busiest emergency ambulance service.

Our vision is to deliver outstanding emergency and urgent care whenever and wherever needed for everyone in London, 24/7, 365 days a year.

We are the busiest emergency ambulance service in the UK serving one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse cities. We provide emergency and urgent healthcare that is free to patients at the time they receive it.

We are the only NHS provider trust to serve the whole of London and the nine million people who live in, work in or visit the city.

We cover an area of 620sq miles and have more than 8,000 people who work or volunteer for us – rising to 10,000 when including bank staff and students.

We answer around two million 999 calls a year and our crews attend more than 3000 emergencies a day. Our 24-hour 111 integrated urgent care services London answer around two million calls a year.

We play a leading role in integrating access to emergency and urgent care in the capital and are striving to ensure patients receive the right response, in the right place, at the right time.

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the newly created Board role of Chief Operating Officer at the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust. I am delighted that you are considering joining us at such a significant moment for our organisation and for urgent and emergency care across London.

London Ambulance Service is unlike any other NHS trust. As the only pan London provider, we serve more than nine million people across one of the most diverse, complex and fast-moving cities in the world. Every day, our teams respond to thousands of 999 and 111 calls, working with partners across health, care and the emergency services to deliver care when it is needed most. The scale, pace and visibility of our work bring real challenge, but also a profound sense of purpose and public service.

Responsibilities

The Chief Operating Officer role is central to our ambition to deliver outstanding care for a world class city. As a full member of the Trust Board and Executive Leadership Team, you will lead all operational services, supporting our people to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care while continuing to improve performance, resilience and productivity. This is a role that calls for sound judgement, clarity of thinking and the ability to lead through complexity, while remaining grounded in our values of Caring, Respect and Teamwork.

We are looking for a leader who combines operational credibility with humanity and openness, someone who understands the realities of frontline delivery at scale, who values collaboration and inclusion, and who is committed to building a culture where people feel supported, listened to and able to perform at their best. Strong partnerships across London’s health and care system are essential to our success, and you will play a key role in shaping how we work with others to improve outcomes for patients and communities.

This is a demanding role, but also a uniquely rewarding one. You will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of millions of Londoners, to support and inspire a remarkable workforce, and to help shape the future of urgent and emergency care in the capital.

Qualifications

We are looking for a senior operational leader with ambulance service experience and a strong track record of delivering complex services at scale, either from within the NHS or an international health system. While you may be either an established or aspirant executive, you will bring credibility at Board level, sound financial and operational judgement, and the confidence to lead through challenge and change. Above all, you will share our commitment to public service, equality and inclusion, and to leading with integrity, compassion and purpose.

Application Process

If you are motivated by public service, energised by challenge, and believe you could make a meaningful contribution to our journey, I warmly encourage you to apply. I look forward to meeting you through the process and to hearing the perspective and experience you could bring to London Ambulance Service.

Quoting the relevant role reference number: A041543

Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)

A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application) *

Right to work checks

If you are successfully shortlisted, our partner, Yoti, will contact you to complete an online right to work check. This is a quick and secure process, ensuring that all necessary legal requirements are met before proceeding further in the recruitment process.

Monitoring

One of Alumni Global’s and LAS’s objectives is to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.

Candidate adjustment

If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.

Closing date: Friday, 6 February 2026

Final Interviews: Friday, 20 February 2026 - TBC

Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.

Please take note of the reference number found under section “How to apply”. This is needed for us to process any application.

Pascal Heward, Consultant and Thomas Patterson, Managing Director whose details are at the bottom of this page.