Deputy Chief Operating Officer - Planned Care

Job overview

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced leader to join our senior operational leadership team as Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Planned Care at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

This is a senior operational leadership role with responsibility for the strategic and day to day delivery of planned care services, including Cancer pathways, referral to treatment performance, diagnostics and elective care recovery.

The post holder will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and wider Executive team to ensure high quality, safe and effective services for our patients.

You will play a pivotal role in leading transformation, improving performance against national standards and delivering sustainable improvements in patient access and experience.

Face to face interviews will be held at MKUH on Thursday 16 July 2026.

Main duties of the job

You will take a senior leadership role across planned care, shaping how services are delivered and performing across the Trust. This is a role where you can make a visible and lasting difference, leading improvements in referral to treatment, cancer pathways and elective access, and ensuring patients are seen at the right time in the right place.

Working alongside clinical and operational leaders, you will focus on improving patient flow, reducing waiting times and making the best possible use of capacity. You will be at the forefront of driving performance against national and local standards, with a clear line of sight to quality, safety and patient experience.

You will lead and support transformation across planned care, delivering service redesign and embedding continuous improvement in a way that is practical, sustainable and meaningful for teams and patients. This is not just about plans on paper, but about delivering real change at pace.

Equally important will be your ability to build strong, trusted relationships across the organisation and the wider health and care system. You will bring teams with you, developing high performing services, supporting leaders and creating a culture where people feel accountable, supported and motivated to deliver their best.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will be responsible for the operational performance and delivery of planned care services.

You will lead the planning and delivery of elective care services, ensuring the Trust meets key access standards and delivers high quality care. This includes oversight of referral to treatment pathways, cancer performance, outpatient services, diagnostics and elective activity.

You will work closely with Divisional teams and corporate functions to ensure effective use of capacity, improve productivity and deliver performance trajectories. You will also lead key transformation programmes across planned care, supporting service redesign and new models of care.

As a visible and credible leader, you will support and challenge teams, strengthen governance and help embed a culture of continuous improvement.

Communications and relationships

• Model clear, timely communication and maintain accountability to stakeholders across the Trust, ensuring consistent two-way engagement on priorities and performance. •    Build effective partnerships and engagement with internal and external stakeholders, influencing and negotiating to deliver integrated pathways and agreed service priorities.

Strategy   •    Hold corporate responsibility for delivery of the Planned Care agenda across the Trust and its contribution to MK Place and the Central East Integrated Care Board (ICB).

• Oversee planned care recovery strategy and trajectory to full achievement of NHS Constitutional Standards by 2029 and planned care implications from the 10 Year Plan, and its implications for transformation and capacity requirements.

Operational and performance management

• Ensure a robust annual planning cycle with Finance and Performance teams, aligning system plans and agreed activity levels for Planned Care, and providing constructive input and challenge.
• Lead, with the Associate Director of Performance, the interface between Informatics and clinical/corporate divisions to deliver clear, timely and actionable planned care performance reporting.

Financial Management

• Manage budgets within Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and relevant statutory and national requirements, in line with the annual financial plan.
• Monitor and control direct budgetary expenditure, investigating overspends and taking prompt corrective action.

Leadership and Management

• Act with appropriate autonomy to interpret national planned care policy and strategy, set goals and standards, making recommendation to the Executive Team and deputising for the COO when required.
• Create a supportive culture where people feel valued, empowered and able to deliver exceptional care together.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of responsibilities.