Job Overview University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Chief Operating Officer to work with us. Please see below for a detailed description of the role. Main duties of the job We are one of the largest trusts in the country, with a turnover of more than £1.3bn and providing services to over 1.9 million people in Hampshire, and nearly four million people for specialist children’s services from Southampton Children’s Hospital, one of the top three paediatric treatment centres in the UK. We are also a designated major trauma centre, one of only two places in the south of England to offer adults and children full major trauma care provision. As a leading centre for teaching and research, the Trust has close working relationships with the University of Southampton, the Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK. The Trust is consistently one of the UK’s highest recruiting trusts of patients to clinical trials and one of the top nationally for research study volumes as ranked by the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The role of Chief Operating Officer in our trust is a critical one and we are seeking a committed and inclusive leader who can play a visible leadership role in support of our vision of world-class people delivering world-class care. We are seeking someone who shares our ambition to deliver sustainable, inclusive and accessible healthcare for the future, and who champions our values in everything they do. If you believe that you have the experience, skills, and ambition to be an exceptional leader within our Trust, we would be delighted to receive your application. Working for our organisation Delivering high quality care against a backdrop of rising demand, increased acuity and finance and workforce pressures is a considerable challenge. However, we have good foundations on which to build. Our performance against government targets for elective recovery, as well as top quartile performance against most metrics for Emergency Department access, long-waiting patients on Referral to Treatment pathways, Diagnostics and Cancer performance place us among the best performing trusts in England in several areas. Many of the big challenges we face can only be solved in partnership with wider local partners, and we are committed to actively playing our part in delivering system-wide solutions. Equally, we will continue to focus on improving whatever is within our internal control, and to work collaboratively with our people to ensure our patients’ experience, safety and outcomes remain central to our decision-making and the actions of everyone at UHS. Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast. At UHS we're committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients. Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities Please refer to the attached candidate brief for details on the role and the application process through Odgers Berndtson. Applications should not be submitted via NHS Jobs or our careers site. The closing date for applications is Monday 17 February. For more information, please visit www.odgers.com/93182 or please call Donna Fendick 020 7529 6314 to arrange a further discussion in confidence about this opportunity. At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute. Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria Degree educated or equivalent experience Educated to a master’s degree or equivalent post-graduate qualification or equivalent level of experience Evidence of on-going personal and professional development Experience Essential criteria Significant senior management experience in an NHS acute Trust, operating at Board level Demonstrable track record of operational achievement and clinical transformation Proven ability of leading and embedding service and/or transformational change Experience of implementing systems improvement methodologies such as Lean and 6 Sigma Experience of the management of complex projects/programmes Experience of effective partnership working with internal and external stakeholders Experience of the management of large budgets Skills And Abilities Essential criteria Highly developed leadership, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to motivate, challenge and engage individuals and teams Committed to promoting and maintaining openness, inclusiveness and the highest of professional standards Strong delivery and execution orientation Effective at improving operational performance through fit for purpose processes and holding people account for delivery Able to make decisions and take charge of events through a performance management approach High performance level of work organisation, self-motivation, performance and flexibility in approach and attitude. Proven ability to influence and a strong commitment to the development of others. Ability to set out a clear strategic direction, inspire others and assume command, together with an ability to translate strategic objectives into deliverable operational plans Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role. Other Essential criteria Ability to develop effective working relationships with key partners and influence a wide range of internal and external colleagues to bring about positive change Credibility and confidence to contribute within a vibrant and diverse academic and professional environment Committed to the Trust’s values and principles. Highly resilient