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Job overview
The Southwest Genomics Medicine Service (SWGMS) is at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge genomic testing and innovation across a diverse population from Gloucestershire to Cornwall.
Bringing together established genomic laboratories at North Bristol NHS Trust and Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, alongside the Genomics Medicine Service Alliance based in Exeter, SWGMS is a leader in whole genome sequencing, cancer diagnostics, and the integration of genomics into routine clinical care.
We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide operational leadership, strategic oversight, and system-wide delivery across this complex and high-profile regional service.
Main duties of the job
The Chief Operating Officer for the SWGMS will be expected to oversee the delivery of the SWGMS in line with the national strategic direction for the development of the service and all its functions. They will need to have experience in all aspects of change management and operational delivery at a senior level with extensive experience of Executive level engagement and stakeholder management. They will need to continually improve service delivery, maximising technological advances and capitalise on the opportunities to translate research into clinical practice to ensure the SWGMS remains a leader in science, research and innovation and delivery of genomic testing. They will be responsible for aligning the delivery of service provision to meet the ambitions of the NHS 10 year plan and realise the required left shift.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As COO, you will be accountable for the end-to-end operational delivery of SWGMS, ensuring alignment with national priorities and driving innovation, quality, and performance across the service.
Working at executive level, you will lead across organisational boundaries to embed genomics into mainstream clinical pathways, translating research and technological advances into improved patient outcomes.
This is a high-impact system leadership role, requiring strategic vision, operational excellence, and strong partnership working across NHS organisations, academia, and industry.
We are looking for an accomplished and credible senior leader who can operate confidently at executive level across a complex system.
Essential Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience in large-scale NHS operational delivery
- Proven track record of leading services across multiple organisations or systems
- Experience delivering major transformation, service redesign, or reconfiguration
- Strong experience of stakeholder engagement at executive and system level
Knowledge & Expertise
- Understanding of the national direction of genomic medicine and NHS policy
- Experience aligning strategy to measurable operational outcomes
- Knowledge of governance, quality standards, and regulatory requirements
Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong operational grip
- Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills
- Ability to lead across organisational boundaries and complex partnerships
- Passion for delivering patient-centred, high-quality services
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent senior leadership experience
- Evidence of continued professional development and leadership training
For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Person specification
Other
Essential
- Able to travel across multiple sites where required
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum of Masters degree or extensive experience in NHS operational delivery and Genomic services
Personal qualities
Essential
- Demonstrate participative leadership
- Innovative with strong quality focused approach, exceptional communication, interpersonal, negotiating and influencing skills
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
- Proven proactive approach to work
- Able to demonstrate commitment to continuous professional development
Nature of experience
Essential
- Proven experience of leading, developing and managing a large-scale service across multiple providers
- Significant experience in a senior leadership role and developing partnerships to deliver services
- Experience in services redesign, reconfiguration and consolidation
- Experience in developing and establishing new services, including a clear strategic vision and direction and translation into successful outcomes
- Experience in successfully supporting staff through large scale service change and service reconfiguration with knowledge of HR requirements and processes
- Experience of negotiating contracts with NHS, private and public sector partnerships
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Service and process improvement tolls and techniques
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to build effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including clinicians and partners
- Experience of working with Chief Executives at a regional level to ensure delivery and agile development of services
- Knowledge of national direction of travel for Genomic Medicine and demonstrate ability to lead across multiple diverse stakeholders
- Commitment and passion for patient-focused service with the ability to embed such an ethos at all levels of the organisation
- Ability to develop and maintain effective multi-disciplinary working relationships particularly during times of change
- Ensure that all staff managed by the postholder undertake individual performance appraisal, operate within the appropriate and required training plans, and contribute to workforce planning activities
- Ensure that managers and staff are treated consistently and fairly, feeling valued and supported to enable them to achieve their fullest potential in a working environment that is safe and stimulating to work in
Professional / Managerial / Specialist knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of appropriate legislation and its application to the running of a large and complex partnership
Desirable
- Up to date awareness of national policies and legislation affecting the NHS and genomic testing
- A good knowledge of the requirements and delivery of rare disease genomic testing and somatic genomic testing
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Southwest NHS Genomics Medicine Service Chief Operating Officer with North Bristol NHS Trust in Bristol, South West, England. It is listed as a Administrative and IT role. The advertised salary is Competitive salary depending on experience. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 05 Jul 2026.
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