Job summary
The Deputy Chief Operating Officer is a pivotal senior leadership role at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB).
Working together with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Executive Committee and divisional triumvirates, the Deputy COO will drive improvement through open and visible leadership embedding our ethos of go, look and learn as part of our Quality Improvement journey.
The role of the Deputy COO will be to develop, direct and lead service improvement, performance strategies and improvement to support patient care through the fostering of appropriate oversight and assurance processes that support operational delivery.
As the Deputy COO, you will play a critical role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of our organisation. You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and implement strategies that enhance efficiency, productivity, and growth. Your leadership will be essential in driving operational improvements and ensuring that our high standards are consistently met.
There will be an opportunity to deputise for the COO across the full range of their duties.
Interview date: 8th July 2025
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
Ensure the Health Board is able to meet all national and local performance targets and work closely with Divisional teams to ensure standards are met and support Divisions in taking corrective action where necessary.
Liaise with regulators to provide assurance on performance recovery and associated transformational plans.
Managerially accountable for the effective operational management of services across the Health Board on behalf of the COO via day-to-day presence and visibility on main sites and by working across Divisions as appropriate.
Identify opportunities to improve value for money in the delivery of services and improvements in the use of scarce resources.
Support the Divisions to deliver the individual performance and financial targets outlined in their integrated operational plans, by effective prioritising and decision making about the use of capacity.
Identify and scope areas to target service improvement projects to improve operational delivery and performance.
Engage clinical staff at all levels in operational delivery processes to ensure that decision making considers clinical priorities and safety.
To participate in performance meetings with members of the Executive Team.
To deputise for the COO as appropriate
About us
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award-winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.
We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.
Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
- Postgraduate management qualification
- Master's degree or equivalent experience which would have been gained at senior management posts held within an NHS organisation.
- Extensive/in depth professional knowledge over a range of disciplines e.g., Clinical, research, HR, Finance, Governance, underpinned by specialist courses or equivalent experience. This level of knowledge would have been obtained over a significant period of senior management posts held within an NHS organisation
Desirable
- Meets all desirable criteria as per attached job description/person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of working at a senior level in a large complex organisation.
- Successfully introduced service improvement and proven success of managing highly complex organisational change, whilst also developing and maintaining high quality standards of care.
- Experience of working at an all-Wales level or wider NHS.
Desirable
- Meets all desirable criteria as per attached job description/person specification
Skills & Attributes
Essential
- Be able to prioritise workload and effectively manage highly specialised and complex competing demands
- Ability to work as part of a team but also accepting responsibility and accountability for performance
Desirable
- Meets all desirable criteria as per attached job description/person specification
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
- Postgraduate management qualification
- Master's degree or equivalent experience which would have been gained at senior management posts held within an NHS organisation.
- Extensive/in depth professional knowledge over a range of disciplines e.g., Clinical, research, HR, Finance, Governance, underpinned by specialist courses or equivalent experience. This level of knowledge would have been obtained over a significant period of senior management posts held within an NHS organisation
Desirable
- Meets all desirable criteria as per attached job description/person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of working at a senior level in a large complex organisation.
- Successfully introduced service improvement and proven success of managing highly complex organisational change, whilst also developing and maintaining high quality standards of care.
- Experience of working at an all-Wales level or wider NHS.
Desirable
- Meets all desirable criteria as per attached job description/person specification
Skills & Attributes
Essential
- Be able to prioritise workload and effectively manage highly specialised and complex competing demands
- Ability to work as part of a team but also accepting responsibility and accountability for performance
Desirable
- Meets all desirable criteria as per attached job description/person specification
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
