Chief Operating Officer @ The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Job summary

DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CARE TOGETHER

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join two ambitious NHS organisations at the heart of one of the most innovative provider partnerships in England.

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT) are seeking to appoint an outstanding leader to the role of Chief Operating Officer for Planned Care, providing leadership across our integrated provider partnership.

Reporting to the Group Chief Delivery Officer, the Chief Operating Officer will lead the strategic and operational delivery of elective care, diagnostics, cancer services, theatres, outpatient transformation, productivity and planned pathways across both Trusts. This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality services, while driving performance improvement, innovation and transformation at scale.

Indicated Interview Date: Monday 30th November

Main duties of the job

In 2026, both organisations launched a joint strategy called "Transforming Care Together" reflecting their shared ambition to improve outcomes for local communities through closer collaboration and integrated leadership.

Everything we do is aligned to our strategic priorities and our commitment to working as a group provider partnership while retaining the strengths and identities of both organisations. This is an exciting time to join us as we develop innovative models of care, improve productivity and performance, and strengthen services for the people of Wolverhampton, Walsall and the wider Black Country.

As Chief Operating Officer, you will be a key member of the group senior leadership team, working alongside executive colleagues and our operational and corporate teams to deliver exceptional operational performance, high-quality patient care and sustainable service improvement. You will be expected to:

• Provide visible and inspirational leadership.
• Lead large-scale operational transformation across multiple service areas.
• Drive performance against national and local priorities.
• Deliver improvement in quality, access and productivity.
• Develop strong partnerships across the Black Country Integrated Care System.
• Support the ongoing integration of services across both Trusts.
• Foster innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure services are delivered within agreed quality, workforce and financial frameworks.

About us

RWT and WHT have a combined workforce of 16,000 people and together serve a proud Black Country population of 600,000.

RWT is one of the largest acute and community providers in the West Midlands, serving communities across Wolverhampton, Cannock, South Staffordshire and surrounding areas. It operates New Cross Hospital, an 850-bed acute and specialist hospital; West Park Hospital; Cannock Chase Hospital; more than 20 community sites; Urgent Treatment Centres; and a growing portfolio of GP practices.

As the largest teaching hospital in the Black Country, RWT has strong university partnerships and supports the education and development of the next generation of healthcare professionals. The Trust is recognised for innovation including robotic surgery, virtual wards, digital transformation, same-day hip replacement pathways, advanced simulation training and investment in electronic patient records and sustainable healthcare.

WHT is an integrated provider of acute and community services. Centered on Manor Hospital with 460 beds, the Trust delivers a comprehensive range of acute, community and specialist services and plays a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. Driven by a strong focus on continuous improvement, quality and patient-centered care, Walsall has established a reputation for innovation and collaboration while working closely with partners across the Black Country Integrated Care System.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role offers a unique platform to shape healthcare delivery across the group and influence system-wide transformation at scale.

We are seeking an exceptional, values-driven leader who:

• Have substantial senior operational leadership experience within complex healthcare organisations.
• Are experienced in delivering significant performance improvement and service transformation.
• Have a proven track record of leading large multidisciplinary teams through change.
• Demonstrate strategic thinking alongside operational delivery expertise.
• Build strong and effective relationships with clinicians, colleagues and external partners.
• Lead with integrity, compassion and authenticity.
• Share our commitment to equality, inclusion and outstanding patient care.

Most importantly, we are looking for a leader who is passionate about improving services and outcomes for patients, staff and communities.

By joining our group, you will be part of organisations that:

• Employ more than 16,000 colleagues across acute, community and primary care services.
• Deliver care to hundreds of thousands of residents across the Black Country and surrounding areas.
• Lead nationally recognised innovation programmes in clinical care and digital transformation.
• Have ambitious plans for further integration, improvement and growth.
• Are committed to research, education and workforce development.
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Are investing significantly in sustainability and greener healthcare.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact at scale, helping to shape the future of healthcare delivery for current and future generations.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Development

Essential

• Relevant Masters qualification or equivalent demonstrable senior leadership knowledge and experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in leadership, operational management or service improvement

Experience

Essential

• Substantial senior operational leadership experience in a complex healthcare organisation, with accountability for service delivery and significant budgets.
• Evidence of improving access, operational performance and productivity while maintaining quality and patient safety
• Successful delivery of complex change across organisational or site boundaries, with measurable and sustained benefits
• Successful delivery of elective recovery, theatre and outpatient productivity, and cancer or diagnostic pathway improvement
• Experience of demand and capacity planning, performance recovery, workforce planning and financial management
• Experience of working with clinical leaders, executive teams, staff representatives and external partners to deliver shared objectives.
• Evidence of inclusive leadership, developing senior teams and responding constructively to staff and patient concerns

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours

Essential

• Understanding of NHS provider governance, operational planning, quality assurance and the relationship between service performance, workforce and finance
• Ability to analyse complex information, judge risk, prioritise competing demands and make timely decisions within delegated authority
• Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills, including explaining difficult decisions and providing clear assurance
• Commitment to public service, openness, patient involvement, equality and continuous improvementAbility to lead under pressure, maintain effective escalation and build constructive relationships across Planned and UEC care

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Address

Royal Wolverhampton and Walsall Manor Hospital

Wolverhampton

WV10 0QP

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)