Job summary
PLEASE NOTE - Interviews and stakeholder interviews are planned to be held on 9th February and 11th February. In case you are shortlisted, you will be required to attend interviews on these dates.
We are looking for an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join Haringey GP Federation as a Board-level leader, driving operational excellence across all our services. This pivotal role will turn strategy into high-quality delivery, ensuring the Federation is a trusted NHS system partner, responsive to member practices and aligned with the NHS Long Term Plan, Integrated Care System priorities, and place-based care models.
Working closely with the CEO, senior leadership team, member practices and external partners, you will provide strong operational grip, lead complex multi-service delivery, and ensure the organisation is safe, well-governed, financially disciplined and scalable.
We are seeking a leader who can hold the operational line, enable teams to thrive, foster integration, and deliver under pressure while maintaining compassion, integrity and system credibility.
Main duties of the job
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a Board-level executive leader, accountable for the operational performance, quality, resilience and integration of all Haringey GP Federation services.
The role exists to translate strategy into consistent, high-quality delivery, ensuring the Federation operates as a credible, trusted system delivery partner within the NHS that is both responsive to member GP practices and aligned to the NHS Long Term Plan, Integrated Care System (ICS), and Neighbourhood Health models of place-based care.
Working in close partnership with the CEO & senior leadership team internally, alongside Primary Care & Place leaders and member practices externally, the COO will provide clear operational grip, lead complex multi-service delivery, and ensure the organisation is safe, well-governed, financially disciplined and scalable.
This is a pivotal role for a leader who can hold the operational line, enable clinicians and teams to thrive, foster integration and deliver under pressure while maintaining compassion, integrity and system credibility
About us
Haringey GP Federation is a dynamic and growing organisation working in partnership with GP practices across the diverse borough of Haringey, north London. Formed in 2016 by local GPs, we now work alongside over 30 practices within seven Primary Care Networks to help deliver high-quality, accessible healthcare to our local communities.
Our role is to support and enable general practice by developing and delivering services that complement core GP work, creating opportunities for shared learning and innovation, and helping practices respond to the evolving needs of patients and the wider health system.
We work in close partnership with practices, clinicians and system partners to co-design services, pilot new approaches, and build capacity across primary care. Through clinical programmes, workforce development and operational support, our aim is to add value in ways that are practical, respectful and aligned with the priorities of our member practices. Were proud of the strong relationships weve built across the health and care system grounded in mutual respect, shared goals, and a commitment to delivering excellent care together.
Our work has been recognised nationally, including commendations at the HSJ Awards for our leadership and service delivery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic focus
The COO role is intentionally focused on four core priorities:
1. Operational Grip & Assurance
- Ensuring consistent delivery, performance stability, and Board confidence supported through an integrated performance report with a focus on health outcomes, inequalities, accessibility quality, patient experience and financial efficiency.
2. System Integration, Co-design & Credibility
- Enabling the Federation to operate effectively across organisational boundaries as a Place & System integrator through working in partnership across health, care and voluntary sector partners alongside local residents.
3. Workforce & Operating Model Alignment
- Ensuring services are delivered through sustainable, well-designed operating models that support staff and clinicians utilising a multidisciplinary approach with robust clinical supervision and alignment to Neighbourhood Models of care and emerging Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.
4. Scalable Delivery & Readiness for Growth
- Building repeatable, resilient operational systems that support service mobilisation, transformation, and expansion.
Purpose
The COO holds executive accountability for operational delivery, including:
- Day-to-day performance and service delivery
- Operational quality, safety, and assurance
- Workforce-operating model effectiveness
- Operational financial control and productivity
- System integration and escalation
The CEO retains overall accountability for organisational strategy, external positioning, and corporate leadership, delegating operational authority to the COO as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic focus
The COO role is intentionally focused on four core priorities:
1. Operational Grip & Assurance
- Ensuring consistent delivery, performance stability, and Board confidence supported through an integrated performance report with a focus on health outcomes, inequalities, accessibility quality, patient experience and financial efficiency.
2. System Integration, Co-design & Credibility
- Enabling the Federation to operate effectively across organisational boundaries as a Place & System integrator through working in partnership across health, care and voluntary sector partners alongside local residents.
3. Workforce & Operating Model Alignment
- Ensuring services are delivered through sustainable, well-designed operating models that support staff and clinicians utilising a multidisciplinary approach with robust clinical supervision and alignment to Neighbourhood Models of care and emerging Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.
4. Scalable Delivery & Readiness for Growth
- Building repeatable, resilient operational systems that support service mobilisation, transformation, and expansion.
Purpose
The COO holds executive accountability for operational delivery, including:
- Day-to-day performance and service delivery
- Operational quality, safety, and assurance
- Workforce-operating model effectiveness
- Operational financial control and productivity
- System integration and escalation
The CEO retains overall accountability for organisational strategy, external positioning, and corporate leadership, delegating operational authority to the COO as appropriate.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Senior executive or director-level operational leadership experience within:
- - NHS
- - Primary care
- - Community health or similarly complex, regulated environments
- Proven track record of:
- - Leading multi-service, multi-site operational delivery
- - Delivering performance improvement and service stability under pressure
- - Operating effectively across organisational boundaries
- Experience working at Board or equivalent senior governance level.
- Demonstrable experience of system working, partnership delivery, and integration.
- Strong understanding of:
- - NHS operating environment and priorities
- - Integrated Care Systems and place-based delivery
- - Primary care and community service models
- High level of operational competence across:
- - Performance management
- - Quality and safety
- - Workforce-operating models
- - Operational finance and productivity
- Ability to use data and insight to drive improvement and assurance.
- Highly developed leadership, influencing, and communication skills.
- Ability to lead decisively through complexity, ambiguity, and change.
Desirable
- Experience within a GP Federation, PCN, or place-based delivery model.
- Experience of service mobilisation, integration, or operational turnaround.
- Experience working within an NHS-adjacent limited company.
Practical requirements
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly, including working out of contractual hours occasionally
Personal attributes/skills
Essential
- Demonstrates compassionate, inclusive, and values-led leadership.
- Operates with integrity, accountability, and transparency.
- Balances pace, delivery, and safety with care and empathy.
- Builds trust and credibility with clinicians, staff, and system partners.
- Role-models Federation values and NHS principles.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
Desirable
- Formal leadership or management qualification.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Senior executive or director-level operational leadership experience within:
- - NHS
- - Primary care
- - Community health or similarly complex, regulated environments
- Proven track record of:
- - Leading multi-service, multi-site operational delivery
- - Delivering performance improvement and service stability under pressure
- - Operating effectively across organisational boundaries
- Experience working at Board or equivalent senior governance level.
- Demonstrable experience of system working, partnership delivery, and integration.
- Strong understanding of:
- - NHS operating environment and priorities
- - Integrated Care Systems and place-based delivery
- - Primary care and community service models
- High level of operational competence across:
- - Performance management
- - Quality and safety
- - Workforce-operating models
- - Operational finance and productivity
- Ability to use data and insight to drive improvement and assurance.
- Highly developed leadership, influencing, and communication skills.
- Ability to lead decisively through complexity, ambiguity, and change.
Desirable
- Experience within a GP Federation, PCN, or place-based delivery model.
- Experience of service mobilisation, integration, or operational turnaround.
- Experience working within an NHS-adjacent limited company.
Practical requirements
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly, including working out of contractual hours occasionally
Personal attributes/skills
Essential
- Demonstrates compassionate, inclusive, and values-led leadership.
- Operates with integrity, accountability, and transparency.
- Balances pace, delivery, and safety with care and empathy.
- Builds trust and credibility with clinicians, staff, and system partners.
- Role-models Federation values and NHS principles.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
Desirable
- Formal leadership or management qualification.
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.
