Chief Operating Officer – UK Visa Sponsorship Available

EasyInfoBlog.com LLC; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Voting member of Trust Board

Executive leadership role

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working patterns

Job summary

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer to lead hospital and community healthcare operations, improving operational performance and patient services.

The post reports to the Chief Executive, oversees three clinical divisions and works with Lancashire and South Cumbria partners to drive transformational changes and high-quality care across the region.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent with postgraduate qualifications.
• Leadership development qualification (MBA/New Bevan/Aspirant Directors/Ready Now).
• Evidence of CPD and leadership development.
• Programme management qualification (e.g., Agile PM or PRINCE2).
• Significant senior strategic and operational experience at/near Board level in a large healthcare organisation.
• Experience delivering corporate and operational strategies.
• Understanding NHS constitutional standards and national planning priorities.
• Knowledge of financial management, planning, workforce management and performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for hospital and community healthcare services across the Trust.
• Oversee operational performance of three clinical divisions and their management teams.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve urgent and emergency care, elective procedures, cancer services and diagnostics.
• Lead the Trust’s annual operational plan and ensure compliance with NHS standards.
• Build strategic relationships with healthcare partners and commissioners locally and regionally.
• Collaborate with Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative and Place Partnerships.
• Drive capacity planning, workforce utilisation and resilience across services.
• Improve theatre productivity, outpatient services and admissions management.
• Lead initiatives to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and attendances.
• Monitor performance and implement corrective actions.
• Support in-year contract management with the CFO.
• Develop divisional leadership teams and succession planning.
• Maintain relationships with NHS England and CQC.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Healthcare operations

Stakeholder management

Performance improvement

Strategic planning

People leadership

NHS knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

MBA or NHS leadership programme

Postgraduate qualifications

Job description

Job title: Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Employer: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Location: Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY3 8NR, United Kingdom.

Salary: Advertised at around £100,000 – £200,000 per annum.

Employment type: Not specified in the supplied listing.

Work arrangement: Full-time, on-site a minimum of four days per week (37.5 hours weekly).

Job overview:

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and strategic Chief Operating Officer to lead its hospital and community healthcare operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for improving operational performance, overseeing three clinical divisions and strengthening partnerships with healthcare organisations across Lancashire and South Cumbria. The role presents a significant leadership opportunity to drive organisational transformation, improve patient services, address operational challenges and support the Trust’s ambition to deliver better healthcare outcomes for its communities. The successful applicant will report directly to the Chief Executive and serve as a voting member of the Trust Board.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership for the delivery of hospital and community healthcare services across the Trust.

Oversee the operational performance of three clinical divisions and their respective management teams.

Develop and implement operational strategies to improve urgent and emergency care, elective procedures, cancer services and diagnostic performance.

Lead the delivery of the Trust’s annual operational plan and ensure compliance with national NHS performance standards.

Build and maintain strategic relationships with healthcare partners, commissioners and other organisations at local and regional levels.

Lead collaboration with the Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative and local Place Partnerships.

Work with clinical leaders to develop healthcare service strategies and improve neighbourhood-based healthcare delivery.

Oversee capacity planning, workforce utilisation and operational resilience across hospital and community services.

Drive improvements in theatre productivity, outpatient services and patient admission management.

Lead initiatives aimed at reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and attendances.

Monitor operational performance, identify areas requiring improvement and implement appropriate corrective measures.

Ensure effective financial management of operational services in collaboration with divisional leaders.

Support the Chief Financial Officer with in-year contract management.

Develop and strengthen divisional leadership teams through performance management and succession planning.

Maintain effective relationships with regulatory organisations, particularly NHS England and the Care Quality Commission.

Lead emergency planning arrangements and ensure the Trust maintains effective business continuity and resilience plans.

Participate in the Executive on-call rota.

Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and the Trust’s values across all operational services.

Requirements

Master’s degree or equivalent, supported by relevant postgraduate qualifications.

Recognised leadership development qualification or programme, such as an MBA, Nye Bevan Programme, Aspirant Directors Programme or Ready Now.

Evidence of continuous professional and leadership development.

Relevant programme management qualification or experience, such as Agile PM or PRINCE2.

Significant senior strategic and operational management experience at or near Board level within a large and complex healthcare organisation.

Demonstrable experience developing and delivering corporate and operational strategies.

Proven ability to achieve organisational performance and financial targets.

Strong understanding of NHS constitutional standards and national healthcare planning priorities.

Detailed knowledge of financial management, operational planning, workforce management and performance improvement.

Experience working effectively with commissioners, patients, healthcare providers and other strategic partners.

Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to build, motivate and develop high-performing teams.

Strong strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing and interpersonal skills.

Ability to manage complex organisational challenges and make sound decisions in sensitive and demanding situations.

Strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and addressing health inequalities.

Experience leading organisational transformation and service improvement programmes is desirable.

Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies such as LEAN, Six Sigma or QSIR is advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive executive-level annual salary ranging from £100,000 to £200,000.
• Permanent, full-time executive leadership appointment.
• Opportunity to serve as a voting member of the Trust Board.
• Direct reporting relationship with the Chief Executive.
• Opportunity to lead major organisational transformation and healthcare improvement initiatives.
• Exposure to strategic partnerships across the Lancashire and South Cumbria healthcare system.
• Opportunity to influence the development of hospital and community healthcare services.
• Access to professional leadership development and opportunities for continuous professional development.
• Opportunity to work with experienced healthcare executives, clinical leaders and senior management teams.
• Flexible working arrangements may be explored, including compressed hours, flexitime and other working patterns, subject to service requirements.
• Opportunity to make a significant contribution to improving healthcare outcomes and reducing health inequalities.