Chief Operating Officer: Sponsorship Available

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Job summary

Health Innovation Wessex (HIW) is pleased to offer a rare opportunity to join one of England’s leading health innovation organisations as Chief Operating Officer at a pivotal moment for the NHS, life sciences sector and the wider health and care system.

This is a 23-month fixed-term vacancy.

Main duties of the job

About you

We are seeking an ambitious, strategic and inspirational leader with a track record of delivering organisational success in complex and dynamic environments.

You will be a credible executive-level leader who combines strong operational expertise with a passion for innovation, transformation and partnership working.

You will bring:

  • Significant Board or senior executive-level leadership experience within health, life sciences, research, innovation, public sector or similarly complex environments.

  • A strong understanding of the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the NHS, including productivity, prevention, digital transformation, AI adoption and population health.

  • Experience of leading large-scale programmes, organisational transformation and performance improvement.

  • Outstanding partnership-building and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across organisational and sector boundaries.

  • Experience of developing and leading high-performing, inclusive and values-driven teams.

  • Commercial awareness and experience supporting business growth, strategic partnerships and organisational sustainability’s

  • Exceptional communication, analytical and decision-making capabilities.

  • A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for patients, populations and communities.

  • Experience within innovation, life sciences, research translation, healthcare transformation or economic development would be particularly advantageous.

Person Specification

Qualifications / training required

Essential

  • Masters level qualification or significant specialist relevant experience in field
  • Bachelor’s degree level qualification
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Project Management qualification i.e. Agile or Prince2
  • Management/ Leadership qualification

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential

  • Deep and extensive knowledge of innovation landscapes to support best in class ambitions
  • Detailed and sound knowledge of corporate governance and Board assurance
  • Knowledge of NHS, higher education and industry sector structures and cultures
  • Deep knowledge of programme and project management methodologies and best practice, and their application within health and care innovation landscape
  • Demonstrable experience and understanding of working within a complex and changing landscape, across organisational boundaries
  • Experience working at Board/senior management level in a complex environment; bringing about significant change in line with agreed strategic and operational objectives and influencing direction
  • Proven track record of successfully anticipating trends and changes that increase innovation and creativity and applying knowledge for organisational benefit
  • Experience and understanding of resolving challenging issues, translating highly complex information to effectively communicate at all levels
  • Experience of large scale operational management, including the interpretation of complex strategic plans and targets into operational structures and processes
  • Experience of effective people management

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).

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.