Deputy Chief Operating Officer
The closing date is 06 May 2026
We are seeking a fixed‑term (12 months) Deputy Chief Operating Officer to provide senior leadership for the effective day‑to‑day running of the QEH site.
Responsibilities:
1. Deputise for the Chief Operating Officer as required and support the COO in the delivery of all operational issues.
2. Ensure services are delivered in a safe, efficient and effective patient‑centred way at all times throughout the Trust and in accordance with national and local quality standards.
3. Monitor Trust operational performance targets and ensure requirements are met and understood at Directorate level.
4. Support the performance of Directorates in meeting targets, ensuring robust frameworks and systems are in place to monitor and manage them, maintaining a day‑to‑day overview of service delivery across the Trust.
5. Provide in‑depth expert knowledge of Department of Health and NHS rules and regulations.
6. Support Directorates in business planning, identifying changes and transformation opportunities, including financial targets and CIPs.
Previous applicants are not excluded.
The Trust reserves the option to close this advert early if sufficient interest is attracted.
Main duties of the job
1. Contribute to the annual capacity and demand model that reflects best practice and stretch targets.
2. Engender an environment where all staff are encouraged to make improvements to the service and deliver individual and Trust‑wide objectives.
3. Maintain an overview of service delivery across BSUH in association with the wider healthcare community.
4. Work with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure effective operational management of the Trust on a day‑to‑day basis and maintain achievement of key performance indicators.
5. Maintain continuous improvements to service delivery plans.
6. Plus additional duties as included in the job description.
About us
There's never been a more exciting time to join Team QEH. We are working on a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to build a new state‑of‑the‑art hospital due to open in 2031/32 and are carrying out one of the biggest pieces of digital transformation work we've ever undertaken.
Our new electronic patient record (EPR) will replace paper‑based records from 2026 and will lead to better, safer, joined‑up care at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and beyond.
We provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community‑based services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, North Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire.
We are an ambitious organisation that upholds our values of kindness, wellness and fairness. We strive for continuous quality improvement, recently demonstrated in our 2024 CQC maternity inspection rating our services as 'Good', and we are proud to be a place to learn and grow through recognised learning and apprenticeships.
We recognise and reward our 4,000 staff and volunteers, priding ourselves on a community atmosphere and positive team spirit. Our facility has approx. 530 beds across 33 wards and newly built education and training facilities, a range of modern award‑winning centres alongside a talented team ready to give you a warm welcome. We love working here and think you will too.
Person specification
Skills, abilities and knowledge
* Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
* Skilled in negotiation and influencing techniques including the ability to challenge and reality‑test others' positions constructively.
* Ability to present complex and sensitive information to large groups of staff at all levels (board and junior staff) both internally and externally and through a variety of media.
Qualifications/Training and Professional Development
* Master's degree relevant to the role or equivalent experience.
* Evidence of post‑qualifying and continuing professional development.
* Project management/Prince 2.
Experience
* Extensive senior‑level manager experience within a complex healthcare organisation.
* Evidence of meeting challenging targets.
* Understanding of current developments within the NHS.
* Previous experience of undertaking senior manager on call responsibilities.
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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHSFT
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