Chief Operating Officer
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Darlington, DL2 2TSView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Salary
£100,000 to £200,000
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
19 October 2026
20 days leftJob description
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustChief Operating OfficerLocation: West Park Hospital, DarlingtonSalary: Attractive VSM As Chief Operatin...
We are seeking an accomplished operational leader with substantial experience in large and complex NHS or healthcare organisations. You will bring a successful track record of leading large-scale operational services and managing complex quality, workforce, financial and performance challenges. Experience leading across mental health, learning disability, autism, community services, or similarly complex pathways will be essential, alongside the credibility to influence at Board level and build strong relationships with clinicians, staff, partners and regulators. Above all, you will be a visible, values-led leader with the resilience, compassion and ambition to help deliver outstanding care and outcomes for our patients, carers and communities.
We want our Board to be as inclusive and diverse as possible, and we are keen to attract candidates who can bring diverse perspectives. We warmly welcome expressions of interest from the widest possible range of backgrounds, particularly those who are under-represented at board level in the NHS.
To learn more about this incredible opportunity, please contact our recruitment partners at Gatenby Sanderson:
Laura Cubillo-Aparicio, Niamh Blair, or Robin Staveley via
We are working in partnership with Gatenby Sanderson to manage the recruitment process for this role. All applications should therefore be submitted directly through Gatenby Sanderson. Please be aware that applications submitted via TRAC will not be considered.
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability and autism services to more than 2 million people across County Durham, Tees Valley, North Yorkshire and York. Our dedicated staff operate from more than 90 sites, working in partnership with patients, carers, communities and system partners to deliver high-quality care. Whilst we have made significant progress in improving our services, we remain rated 'Requires Improvement' by the CQC.
With a new Chair and Chief Executive, a refreshed Board, and a renewed focus on transparency, learning and improvement, we are committed to building a stronger, safer and more compassionate organisation. Guided by Our Journey to Change and our values of Respect, Compassion and Responsibility, we are determined to continue improving outcomes and experiences for the communities we serve.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to master's level, or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience gained through senior operational leadership, supported by evidence of externally accredited postgraduate leadership or management development
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification
- Evidence of significant continuing professional development
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed leadership, communication, negotiation and influencing skills
- Ability to communicate complex, sensitive and contentious information clearly and credibly
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex operational, financial, workforce and quality information
- Ability to make sound executive decisions under pressure
- Ability to provide grip, pace and clarity in complex and ambiguous situations
- Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to lead through change with compassion, credibility and resilience
- Ability to provide constructive challenge and hold senior leaders to account
- Ability to translate strategy into operational delivery and measurable outcomes
- Strong written and verbal presentation skills, including Board-level reporting
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of NHS operational delivery within a large, complex healthcare organisation
- Knowledge of mental health, learning disability, autism and community service delivery, including national priorities and operational challenges relating to access, urgent and emergency mental health care, crisis pathways, inpatient flow, discharge, safeguarding, restrictive practice, out of area placements, community transformation, health inequalities and partnership working
- Significant understanding of NHS performance, quality, safety, regulatory and governance frameworks
- Significant understanding of CQC requirements, NHS England oversight, national access standards and operational planning
- Extensive knowledge of service transformation, performance recovery, productivity, efficiency and improvement methodologies
- Knowledge of EPRR, business continuity, incident response and senior or executive on-call arrangements
- Understanding of financial management, workforce planning, business planning and risk management
- Strong understanding of partnership working across integrated care systems, local authorities, commissioners and provider collaboratives
Experience
Essential
- Extensive senior operational leadership experience in a large, complex NHS or other healthcare organisation
- Significant experience operating at or close to Board, Executive Director or equivalent senior leadership level within a large, complex organisation
- Experience of leading operational delivery across mental health, learning disability, autism, community or similarly complex multi-service pathways
- Proven experience of leading large-scale operational services and delivering measurable improvement
- Track record of managing complex operational performance, quality, workforce and financial challenges
- Experience of leading operational recovery, escalation and transformation in a complex environment
- Experience of providing assurance to Executive Teams, Board committees or equivalent senior governance forums
- Experience of working effectively with system partners, regulators, commissioners and external stakeholders
- Experience of leading and developing senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams
- Experience of managing significant risk, complexity and competing priorities
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
21 September 2026
Last checked
23 September 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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