Chief Operating Officer

Job overview

Healthcare is becoming more connected.

Patients move between hospitals, community services, primary care and specialist teams. Improving care increasingly depends on organisations working together rather than working alone.

As part of the St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, and working closely with partners across South West London, we're strengthening the way we deliver care for the people and communities we serve. Backed by significant investment, evolving partnerships and ambitious plans for the future, this is a pivotal moment in our journey.

We're looking for an exceptional Chief Operating Officer to help shape what comes next.

Working alongside our Managing Director and Executive Team, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership across our clinical services, ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality care today while helping shape how services are designed and delivered for the future.

This is a role that combines strategic thinking with practical delivery. One day you'll be leading operational performance across a complex acute Trust; the next you'll be driving transformation, strengthening partnerships and creating the conditions for colleagues to deliver their very best.

If you're up for the challenge and motivated by improving services, developing people and bringing people together around a shared purpose, you'll find an opportunity to make a lasting impact - for our patients, our colleagues and the communities we serve.

Main duties of the job

Operational leadership and performance

Lead the operational delivery of all clinical services, ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality and compassionate care. You'll drive performance against key national and local priorities while ensuring the Trust remains resilient, responsive and prepared for future challenges.

Quality, safety & patient experience

Work alongside clinical leaders to continually improve the quality, safety and experience of care. You'll champion a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring services meet the highest standards of governance and patient care.

Strategic leadership & transformation

Lead the Trust's operational strategy and major transformation programmes, helping redesign services, improve patient pathways and deliver lasting improvements that support the future of healthcare across South West London.

Partnership & system working

Build strong relationships across the South West London Integrated Care System, working with partners, regulators and local communities to improve outcomes, tackle health inequalities and deliver more joined-up care.

People leadership & culture

Provide visible, compassionate leadership that empowers colleagues to succeed. You'll develop high-performing teams, nurture future leaders and foster an inclusive culture where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive.

Financial stewardship

Ensure sustainable service delivery through efficient resource use, protecting quality, safety and patient outcomes.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

So, why join us?

• Lead at one of the most significant periods of change in our organisation's history.
• Help shape services for more than 500,000 people across South West London and Surrey.
• Work alongside an experienced Executive Team committed to collaborative leadership.
• Play a key role in delivering a £500 million investment in healthcare infrastructure.
• Influence how care is designed, delivered and improved across a large and diverse health economy.

What we're proud of

• More than 7,000 colleagues delivering care across South West London and Surrey.
• Caring for over 500,000 people every year.
• Working as part of the St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group.
• Securing £500 million to build a new Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton.
• Strong partnerships that are helping shape more joined-up care across the health system.
• An Executive Team committed to collaboration, openness and continuous improvement.