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Job summary

Main area
Executive
Grade
Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
320-SNR-0230
Employer
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Derby Hospital
Town
Derby
Salary
Dependant on experience
Closing
19/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust logo

Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

With over 14,000 members of staff you can expect huge variety and new opportunities every day! Our staff go above and beyond and take pride in caring for our patients.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and human rights in employment and delivery of its services.  The Trust is committed to providing an environment where all employees, patients, carers and visitors experience equality of opportunity by means of understanding and appreciating the value of diversity.

As a Trust we promote an inclusive environment and welcome applications from a diverse pool of talent and backgrounds.  All individuals are valued and given every opportunity to succeed based on merit.

The Trust actively encourages applications from members of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. These groups are under-represented in our organisation, and it’s important to us that our workforce reflects the diversity of our communities as much as possible.

Armed Forces and Disability Confident guaranteed interview scheme

To further support the pledges in the Armed Forces Covenant and to make a positive contribution to support ex-armed forces personnel (veterans) make the transition to civilian life, the Trust has introduced a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification, to help them overcome barriers to find civilian employment. The scheme will operate for all external recruitment.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to both employing and retaining people with disabilities.  This commitment is to guarantee an interview for any candidate that has disclosed a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification.  Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 will be considered upon request.

if you are blind or visually impaired and require application material in an alternative format- such as Braille, large print, audio or accessible electronic formats or  you require support/adjustments with your application please contact the recruitment team on  01332 788466

Join us and help make a real difference to our Trust.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for; 

Job overview

Are you an exceptional operational leader ready for a highimpact, highprofile role at one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country?

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an ambitious, valuesdriven Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Deputy COO) to provide senior operational leadership across our hospitals and community services. You will play a central role in delivering highquality, safe and sustainable services while driving performance, transformation, and longterm strategic development.

Main duties of the job

In this senior leadership role, you will:
Deputise for the Chief Operating Officer across a broad operational and strategic remit.

Provide visible, compassionate and inclusive leadership that promotes a high‑performing culture.

Lead delivery of key national and local performance standards, including:
•    Elective care recovery
•    Cancer standards
•    Diagnostics
•    Urgent and Emergency Care

Ensure high‑quality, efficient operational delivery across Royal Derby Hospital and Florence Nightingale Community Hospital.

Oversee business continuity, emergency preparedness and the Trust’s winter planning.

Support long‑term strategic planning and the development of sustainable clinical and corporate services.

Drive continuous improvement through UHDB’s Always Improving approach, supporting productivity, quality and patient outcomes.

Build strong partnerships across Integrated Care Systems, provider collaboratives and national/regional bodies.

Ensure robust governance, financial sustainability, risk management and compliance with national frameworks.

Closing date for applications: 22 April 2026

Interview date: 30 April 2026

Working for our organisation

As seen across UHDB adverts, successful candidates can expect:
•    Professional and leadership development opportunities.
•    Ongoing support from recruitment to onboarding and beyond.
•    A wide range of staff benefits including the employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes and car schemes. 

Key facts about our Trust
UHDB is one of the busiest Trusts in England:

•    4,810 outpatient appointments per day
•    2077 Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatient attendances per week
•    1,115 A&E attendances per day
•    195 emergency admissions daily
•    57 operating theatres supporting 33,700+ planned surgeries annually
•    140+ elective procedures every working day
•    A research‑active University Hospital with a large portfolio of clinical trials. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer will work collaboratively with all professions and the Divisional Management Teams across UHDB, to identify and implement opportunities for improved productivity, efficiency, and clinical quality ensuring that we deliver efficient services and effective patient care.

The postholder will play a key role in ensuring the Trust delivers on the full range of performance targets, business planning, business continuity, service development and delivery and will help lead the development of a high performing compassionate and inclusive culture across UHDB

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience of leading and directing senior clinical and non-clinical teams in a complex environment
  • Successful track record in leading and supporting operational performance to achieve key performance indicators and challenging targets
  • Highly developed financial and business management skills and acumen
Desirable criteria
  • Significant proportion of senior management experience within the NHS
  • Track record of leading complex operational/change management projects

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to MBA in a healthcare/Business management or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • Educated to masters degree level

Planning & organisational skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to create and shape innovative strategic vision and plans for the best possible long-term benefit of patients, the organisation and health and care systems.

People management / Leadership

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrate the ability to create constructive and patient and staff focused teams across our organisations
  • Experience of working across multi-agency partnerships

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantCareLeaver CovenantAge Friendly EmployerNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

If we receive a high number of applications for this position we reserve the right to withdraw the post before the closing date, therefore it is advisable that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please ensure that you had read the Job Description and Person Spec and that you meet the criteria before applying.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Debbie Woolliscroft
Job title
EA to Executive Chief Operating Officer
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01332 786361
Additional information

For an informal conversation about the role, please get in touch using the contact details above.

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Recruitment Centre
Training Centre, Rehab Block, Level 3
Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
Derbyshire
DE22 3NE
Telephone
Recruitment: 01332 788466
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