Deputy Chief Operating Officer - Acute Services

NHS Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking a highly credible Deputy Chief Operating Officer to lead the Acute Services Division on a fixed-term basis to March 2028. You will steer performance, quality, governance and financial sustainability across planned and unscheduled care, working with partner organisations and the Board to deliver ambitious reform at scale.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership, deputise when required, and drive

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading complex health services at executive level.
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience.
• Sound judgement and political awareness for senior leadership.
• Ability to drive transformational change across large systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation of Acute Services aligned to priorities and delivery plans.
• Provide strategic/operational leadership for planned, unscheduled care and cancer programmes.
• Deputise for the COO as required and ensure continuity of leadership.
• Governance, performance management and stakeholder engagement at Board level.

Skills

Senior leadership

Transformational change

Strategic thinking

Political awareness

Education

Degree level

Postgraduate qualification

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking an exceptional senior operational leader to take up the role of Deputy Chief Operating Officer for a fixed term until March 2028. This is a significant executive leadership opportunity at the centre of Scotland’s largest Health Board, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, person-centred and sustainable services for a population of 1.3 million people, while also providing regional and national services across the West of Scotland and beyond.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, who also holds Deputy Chief Executive responsibilities, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer will provide visible, confident and inclusive leadership across Acute Services. The post-holder will lead, direct and manage the Acute Services Division through an ambitious programme of reform and transformation, ensuring coherence across clinical and non‑clinical services and maintaining a clear focus on performance, quality, governance, staff experience and financial sustainability.

The opportunity

This role carries responsibility for leading NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Acute Services Division, which has an annual budget of approximately £2.15 billion and a workforce of around 22,000 staff. The Division delivers a substantial portfolio of acute district, regional and national services across major hospital sites, ambulatory care hospitals, specialist services and cross‑site directorates, including Women and Children’s Services, Regional Services and Diagnostics.

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across planned care, unscheduled care and cancer performance programmes, ensuring delivery against agreed trajectories and supporting the continued modernisation of services. They will also deputise for the Chief Operating Officer as required, ensuring continuity of leadership and a strong operational presence at Board, corporate and service level.

Key areas of focus

• Lead the strategic development and transformation of Acute Services, ensuring reform activity is aligned to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s priorities and annual delivery plans.
• Provide leadership across scheduled care, unscheduled care and cancer performance programmes, with robust monitoring, assurance and performance management arrangements.
• Ensure the delivery of safe, high‑quality, person‑centred services within agreed resources, maintaining strong clinical, staff and financial governance.
• Work collaboratively with Acute Directors, senior clinical leaders, Health and Social Care Partnerships, neighbouring Boards, universities, local authorities, staff‑side organisations and Scottish Government colleagues.
• Support service redesign and modernisation, driving improvements in access, outcomes, patient experience, efficiency and sustainability.
• Provide clear advice to the Board and senior stakeholders on matters relating to Acute Services, including performance, risk, service delivery and strategic change.

About you

• You will be a highly credible senior leader with extensive experience of managing complex health services at executive or very senior management level. You will bring a strong track record of leading transformational change, improving performance and working across complex systems with multiple partners and stakeholders.
• Educated to degree level, with a relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience, you will demonstrate sound judgement, political awareness and the strategic, technical and interpersonal skills required to lead at scale. You will be confident operating in a high‑profile environment, including engagement with the Board, Scottish Government, elected representatives, staff‑side partners, media and public stakeholders.
• We are looking for a resilient, inclusive and values‑driven leader who can inspire confidence, build commitment and create a clear sense of purpose. You will model visible and open leadership, foster collaboration and psychological safety, and support staff to deliver high‑quality care during a period of significant operational challenge and transformation.

Why NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the largest Health Board in Scotland and one of the largest in the UK. We serve diverse communities across Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and East Dunbartonshire, and provide specialist regional and national services for populations across Scotland. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to better health, better care, better value and a better workplace at exceptional scale.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of the diverse workforce we have. Applications are welcome from UK, EEA and non‑EEA candidates.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is one of the largest healthcare systems in the UK employing around 42,000 staff in a wide range of clinical and non‑clinical professions and job roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health care services to a population of over 1.15 million and a wider population of 2.2 million when our regional and national services are included.

All candidates must pass a Right to Work in the UK check.

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, we actively support applications from military personnel, recognising their valuable skills and experience.