Genomic Medicine Service Chief Operating Officer

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust; Park Central; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS foundation trust in the UK is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide strategic and operational leadership in genomic medicine. The role will drive integration into clinical practice and manage partnerships with Trusts and academic institutions. Ideal candidates will have proven leadership experience in healthcare and expertise in transformational change. This position is aimed at advancing genomic services for the region's population.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in healthcare or genomic services.
• Strong strategic and operational skills.
• Ability to drive transformation in clinical practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the C&S GMS.
• Establish positive relationships with partner Trusts and NHS England.
• Oversee performance, quality, and financial sustainability.
• Drive integration of genomics into mainstream clinical practice.
• Implement genomics within population health initiatives.
• Strengthen partnerships with academic and commercial partners.

Job description

An exceptional opportunity has arisen to join the Central & South Genomic Medicine Service (C&S GMS) as Chief Operating Officer (COO) – a senior leadership post within a newly established structure that will drive the next phase of genomic medicine delivery and development across the region. The role will commence from 1 April 2026, subject to the award of the new NHSE Genomics Contract, anticipated in January 2026.

Partners

• Birmingham Women's & Children's NHS Foundation Trust (lead provider)
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Together, these four organisations form one of the largest genomic networks in England, covering a population of more than 11 million across 12 ICBs and 42 NHS Trusts.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the C&S GMS, ensuring high-quality delivery of all non-clinical functions in line with the national service specification and 2026 contract framework.
• Work collaboratively with, and build positive relationships with, partner Trusts, regional leadership, and NHS England to ensure the service delivers measurable clinical and operational outcomes.
• Lead on service performance, quality, governance, risk management and financial sustainability within an outcomes-based, data-driven commissioning model.
• Drive transformation and integration of genomics into mainstream clinical practice – including rare disease, cancer and pharmacogenomics.
• Oversee the implementation of genomics within population health initiatives, ensuring robust data systems, equitable access, and operational alignment to deliver measurable improvements in prevention, early detection, and public health outcomes across the region.
• Strengthen partnerships with academic institutions, research organisations, and commercial partners to accelerate innovation, foster translational research, and bring new technologies and discoveries into clinical care.

About the Trust

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas. Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single-site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care. Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old. Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.