Chief Operating Officer

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our Executive Team and Board (non-voting) at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. This pivotal role is instrumental in driving high-quality, equitable, and sustainable healthcare services for our population across the Trust, the BSW Hospitals Group, and the wider Integrated Care System. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to shape strategy, enhance performance, and deliver outstanding, patient-centred care within a complex and evolving health system. As a system leader, you will operate across organizational boundaries to achieve shared priorities, improve population health outcomes, and reduce health inequalities.

The COO will spearhead the Trust's operational agenda, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and efficient services while fostering transformation and system collaboration. You will provide strategic, Board-level leadership in performance, governance, and service delivery, ensuring the attainment of operational targets, quality standards, and regulatory compliance. This includes leading capacity, patient flow, and service performance across all specialties, working in close partnership with clinical, operational, and finance colleagues to deliver sustainable, high-value services.

The BSW Hospitals Group is a formal partnership between Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17,600 colleagues and a budget of £1.6 billion, the Group is dedicated to providing the best possible care to over 1 million people. We are committed to creating a healthcare system that works collaboratively with patients, reduces disparities in access, experience, and outcomes, enhances the experience of our colleagues, and addresses shared challenges such as sustainability and finances. Every improvement within our Group will be guided by what yields the greatest benefit for our colleagues, patients, communities, and partners.

We foster a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is valued, differences are celebrated, and diversity strengthens us. We are committed to supporting your professional growth and well-being, offering opportunities to thrive and advance your career. We prioritize staff well-being and even offer access to a swimming pool.

Discover the benefits of living and working in Bath, explore our RUH staff benefits, and learn about our commitment to future healthcare through the Dyson Cancer Centre and our dedication to research.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver operational performance aligned with national and local priorities.
• Lead service transformation and redesign initiatives across clinical and corporate functions.
• Oversee business continuity and emergency preparedness planning.
• Drive the execution of Cost Improvement Programmes (CIPs).
• Lead the development and implementation of annual and three-year business plans.
• Represent the Trust as a key leader within the BSW Hospitals Group and the broader system, influencing and delivering shared priorities, pathways, and care models.
• Achieve operational alignment and service optimization across the Group, promoting consistent standards, shared workforce strategies, and efficient resource utilization.
• Champion continuous improvement in quality, efficiency, and innovation.

Additional Information

Interviews for this role are scheduled for the week commencing July 13, 2026.

Contact Information

For further details or informal visits, please contact Katie McClean, Executive Assistant to the Managing Director, at katie.mcclean1@nhs.net.