About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and inspirational leader to join our senior leadership team as Deputy Chief Operating Officer (DCOO). Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will play a key role in delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred and financially sustainable services across the Trust.
Working closely with senior clinical and operational colleagues, you will lead operational performance, service improvement and transformation programmes, ensuring services remain responsive to the needs of patients, staff and local communities.
As a member of the Trust's leadership team, you will support the delivery of strategic objectives, drive performance across emergency, elective and cancer pathways, and champion innovation, quality and continuous improvement.
We are looking for a collaborative, values-driven leader with a strong track record of operational excellence in a complex healthcare environment. You will be passionate about improving patient outcomes, developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of quality, safety and staff engagement.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of Sherwood Forest Hospitals and make a lasting impact on the care we provide.
Candidates shortlisted for interview will be invited to attend on 5th October 2026.
Main duties of the job
Key areas of responsibility include:
Provide strategic and operational leadership across emergency, elective and cancer pathways, ensuring safe, effective patient flow and delivery of performance standards. Act as Gold Commander in the absence of the Chief Operating Officer. Support and challenge divisional teams to deliver high-quality, safe, patient-centred services and achieve operational, quality and financial objectives. Lead service transformation, innovation and continuous improvement programmes to enhance patient care and organisational performance. Drive achievement of national targets, CQC standards, contractual requirements and annual operational plans. Work collaboratively with partners across the Integrated Care System (ICS) and Provider Collaborative to improve services and outcomes for patients. Promote a positive, inclusive and transparent culture that supports staff engagement, accountability, leadership development and continuous learning. Ensure effective business planning, capacity planning and resource management to support sustainable service delivery and financial efficiency. Develop high-performing teams through strong leadership, coaching and performance management. Support the delivery of the Trust's strategic objectives, translating priorities into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
About us
We are an award-winning NHS Foundation Trust working alongside health and social care colleagues across the county to provide acute and community healthcare services to more than 420,000 people across Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood, and parts of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
We put the patient at the heart of everything that we do and it is our aim to make sure that every patient is treated as we would want a member of our own family to be treated. At the same time, we expect our staff to be caring, kind and courteous to each other and to look out for each other. We believe that we are truly a clinically-led organisation.
We are proud that our Trust colleagues have voted us the best acute Trust to work for in the East Midlands for seven years running in the National NHS Staff Survey, while the Care Quality Commission has rated our Trust as 'outstanding' for care and our King's Mill Hospital as the only 'outstanding' NHS-run hospital in the East Midlands.
Not all of our roles are eligible for sponsorship to find out which roles are eligible for sponsorship please refer to the shortage occupation list found here:
Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK
Home Office guidance has changed as of the 9th April, anyone that requires switching visa type may not be eligible for sponsorship even if the role is on the shortage occupation list.
Job description Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more details, please read the attached job description and person specification documents.
Person Specification
Knowledge Essential
Substantial senior (at Agenda for Change Band 8d or above or equivalent) operational management experience at senior manager level within the Acute Sector Experience of working with system partners to improve services Significant financial and staff management experience Experience of strategic thinking at a senior level and working with senior managers and leaders Experience of managing competing workloads concurrently Experience of developing and implementing policies which enhance patient experiences Experience of delivering patient services Knowledge of key national NHS policy and strategies
Qualifications Essential
Educated to master's level or equivalent academic or healthcare professional qualification Leadership training/qualification or equivalent experience Evidence of continuing professional development Member of a clinical and/or management professional body Significant additional role related and personal development training commensurate with a very senior management post
Abilities and personal qualities Essential
Well-developed and credible leadership and motivational skills including the ability to set out a clear direction, inspire others and assume command Excellent interpersonal skills Patient focused Excellent planning and organisational skills Ability to grasp critical issues and distil them into clear and manageable priorities Demonstrate an understanding of key performance indicators/productivity metrics affecting an FT's overall performance Ability to forge credible relationships and influence a wide range of individuals across organisations and beyond boundaries Ability to communicate at all levels verbally and in writing in a manner which is clear, fluent and persuasive Ability to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, displaying credibility, influence, and political acumen with a customer focus approach to problem solving Effective manager of people within diverse departments and experience of recruitment, career development and performance management Uses financial and physical resources effectively through effective budgetary controls across a range of services, procurement and capital projects Persuasive negotiator with ability to influence at Board level Ability to facilitate change including deployment of service modernisation techniques and change management skills to effectively plan and implement projects and work streams Ability to lead a team ensuring it is customer focused and delivers a high-quality service Demonstrate professional credibility and personal integrity Demonstrate ability to make sound judgements and decision making even when decisions may be unpopular Self-motivated and committed with the ability to work on own initiative Ability to use IT packages Understanding of working with confidential information Understanding of Corporate Governance Committed, proactive and innovative Effective Team worker Creative thinker and problem solver Ability to travel across sites and region
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Kings Mill Hospital
Mansfield Road
Sutton-in-Ashfield
NG17 4JL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)