Chief Operating Officer

For an informal conversation regarding the role, please contact Charlotte Winterburn, Executive Assistant, who will be able to facilitate discussions with Brent Kilmurray, Chief Executive.

Call: 01924 543617

Email

About the role

As Chief Operating Officer, you will be responsible for the daily and ongoing operational delivery of our operational plans. This is a highly influential role at the heart of our organisation and a key member of both the Executive Team and Trust Board.

The role reports directly to the Trust’s Chief Executive and you will work alongside executive colleagues to lead large-scale operational services, advise on clinical service improvements and ensure our services are fit for the future. You will lead five clinical divisions and the Division of Infrastructure.

We are now entering a new chapter, guided by a clear set of Trust priorities focused on what matters most: delivering outstanding patient care, supporting and developing our people, and creating a sustainable future for our services.

If you are an inspiring leader, who shares our values and can engage people at every level, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Closing date: 5pm, Tuesday 18 August

Interview and assessment dates: Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 September

Main duties

You Will Be The Executive Lead For

• The delivery of safe and sustainable clinical services and operational performance
• Operational delivery of non-clinical support services within the Division of Infrastructure
• Business continuity and emergency preparedness
• Workforce and service development related to the role
• Operational management of designated team/services.
  
  

Key Responsibilities Include

• Ensuring excellence in the delivery of the operational services for our patients
• Provide clear leadership and guidance to clinical divisions
• Act a role model and ambassador Promote effective professional leadership by coaching individuals to take appropriate decisions and support a teamwork approach.
• Work in collaboration with partners across the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System and local Places to ensure high quality, sustainable and effective services for our patients
• Ensuring the day-to-day delivery of clinical operations across the organisation
• Act as the Trust’s lead for community services ensuring hospital services are aligned with community services
• Professional and line management clinical and non-clinical directors
• Input into the strategic developments to enhance the Trust and its position within the Place.
• In conjunction with divisional teams and external partners, identify options for innovation in care models that support effective use of skills, develop person centered care and improve outcomes for patients
• Form strong and trusted relationships with partners to capitalise on the Trust’s status as an Anchor institute, bringing value to the local system and population to address the wider determinants of health.
  
  

Qualifications

Essential person specification requirements

• Educated to Master’s degree level in management and leadership or equivalent post graduate
• Evidence of ongoing management and leadership development
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
  
  

Experience

• Significant director level experience in a complex NHS trust.
• Recognised leader with influence and personal credibility that extends across the public sector.
• Significant and recent acute hospital experience as a Director on the Board or deputising for the Director and with demonstrable experience of leading teams across a variety of clinical disciplines.
  
  

Knowledge and awareness

• Knowledge of polices and best practice within relevant areas of responsibility and accountability
• A strong understanding of governance frameworks
• Understanding the political agenda for Health and Social Care
  
  

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Capacity to think strategically and take a whole system approach
• Change management skills
• Ability to analyse and solve complex problems including options appraisals
  
  

Personal attributes

• Leads with compassion and integrity
• Strives to do things right first time
• Understands and respects cultural needs and differences
• Inclusive leader
  
  

Be part of MY team

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Application Guidance

We understand that more applicants are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

Application Tips

If you need help with your application, take a look at the tips on our .

Our Benefits

• Access to the NHS pension plan
• Generous holiday allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with 5 and 10 years of service
• Exceptional employee health and wellbeing services
• Extensive benefits and support, including:
• Onsite nurseries and childcare salary sacrifice scheme
• Home electronics scheme
• Cycle to work scheme - subject to eligibility criteria
• Car lease salary sacrifice scheme - subject to eligibility criteria
• Working carers support and advice, carers network and carers passport
• Flexible working options and family and carer-friendly policies
• Established staff networks, including LGBTQ+ and Race Equality
• Career progression, training and support
  
  

Skilled worker sponsorship

You can find out more about skilled worker and health and care visas on our .