Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Urgent & Emergency Care) South West Acute NHS Trust Fixed-Term Contract | 12 Months | Band 9 Equivalent
A major South West Acute NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Urgent & Emergency Care) to provide senior operational leadership during a critical period of organisational change.
This is a high-profile executive leadership role focused on Urgent & Emergency Care performance, hospital flow and front-door operations , requiring a credible and highly experienced leader who can provide immediate operational grip and stability in a fast-paced acute environment. This is not a developmental opportunity. The organisation requires an established senior operational leader with a strong track record of delivering in pressured acute settings.
The Opportunity
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Deputy COO will lead operational oversight of key Urgent & Emergency Care pathways, with a particular focus on: Front-door operational performance Patient flow across the acute pathway Escalation management and operational command Ambulance handover performance Delivery against national urgent care standards Cross-system operational collaboration to improve flow and capacity This is a highly visible leadership role operating at pace, requiring resilience, credibility and the ability to work collaboratively across clinical and operational teams.
Candidate Profile
We are seeking a senior NHS operational leader with: Significant Band 9 / Deputy COO / Divisional Director level experience Deep expertise in Urgent & Emergency Care (UEC) and acute hospital operations Proven success managing: Patient flow Front-door demand Operational escalation Ambulance handover performance National UEC performance targets Experience operating in a high-pressure command-and-control environment A collaborative, confident and politically astute leadership style The ability to influence through others and work effectively across complex stakeholder groups
You will be a credible and visible senior leader who can quickly assess challenges, build trust and deliver operational improvement without disrupting established teams.
Role Requirements Significant on-site presence is essential – this role cannot be delivered remotely Typically 5 days per week on site Flexibility required in line with operational pressures, including occasional out-of-hours/weekend presence where necessary Immediate or short-notice availability highly desirable
Package Fixed-Term Contract Duration: 12 months Band 9 equivalent remuneration Salary circa £119,000 , with flexibility up to the top of the AfC for Band 9 for an exceptional candidate There is also an opportunity to transition into a permanent role.
Confidential Search This appointment is being managed on a strictly confidential basis . Due to the sensitive nature of the requirement, further organisational detail will be shared with suitably qualified candidates at the appropriate stage of the process….