Deputy Chief Operating Officer - Acute Services

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking an exceptional senior operational leader to take up the role of Deputy Chief Operating Officer for a fixed term until March 2028. This is a significant executive leadership opportunity at the centre of Scotland’s largest Health Board, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, person-centred and sustainable services for a population of 1.3 million people, while also providing regional and national services across the West of Scotland and beyond.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, who also holds Deputy Chief Executive responsibilities, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer will provide visible, confident and inclusive leadership across Acute Services. The post-holder will lead, direct and manage the Acute Services Division through an ambitious programme of reform and transformation, ensuring coherence across clinical and non‑clinical services and maintaining a clear focus on performance, quality, governance, staff experience and financial sustainability.

This role carries responsibility for leading NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Acute Services Division, which has an annual budget of approximately £2.15 billion and a workforce of around 22,000 staff. The Division delivers a substantial portfolio of acute district, regional and national services across major hospital sites, ambulatory care hospitals, specialist services and cross‑site directorates, including Women and Children’s Services, Regional Services and Diagnostics.

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across planned care, unscheduled care and cancer performance programmes, ensuring delivery against agreed trajectories and supporting the continued modernisation of services. They will also deputise for the Chief Operating Officer as required, ensuring continuity of leadership and a strong operational presence at Board, corporate and service level.

• Lead the strategic development and transformation of Acute Services, ensuring reform activity is aligned to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s priorities and annual delivery plans.
• Provide leadership across scheduled care, unscheduled care and cancer performance programmes, with robust monitoring, assurance and performance management arrangements.
• Ensure the delivery of safe, high‑quality, person‑centred services within agreed resources, maintaining strong clinical, staff and financial governance.
• Work collaboratively with Acute Directors, senior clinical leaders, Health and Social Care Partnerships, neighbouring Boards, universities, local authorities, staff‑side organisations and Scottish Government colleagues.
• Support service redesign and modernisation, driving improvements in access, outcomes, patient experience, efficiency and sustainability.
• Provide clear advice to the Board and senior stakeholders on matters relating to Acute Services, including performance, risk, service delivery and strategic change.

• You will be a highly credible senior leader with extensive experience of managing complex health services at executive or very senior management level. You will bring a strong track record of leading transformational change, improving performance and working across complex systems with multiple partners and stakeholders.
• Educated to degree level, with a relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience, you will demonstrate sound judgement, political awareness and the strategic, technical and interpersonal skills required to lead  will be confident operating in a high‑profile environment, including engagement with the Board, Scottish Government, elected representatives, staff‑side partners, media and public stakeholders.
• We are looking for a resilient,…