Chief Operating Officer University Health Board

Chief Operating Officer – Swansea Bay University Health Board

Health Board Headquarters, Baglan Port Talbot (Pan‑Health Board remit across all SBUHB sites and localities)

JESP

September 21, 2026

SBUHB-COO-0826

We are looking for an exceptional leader with significant senior executive experience in operational management within a large, complex healthcare organisation. You will bring a strong track record of leading large-scale service delivery, improving performance, driving transformation, managing resources effectively, and building trusted relationships with partners, clinicians, staff and wider stakeholders.

You will be able to operate effectively at Board and system level, balancing strategic leadership with a relentless focus on operational performance, quality, safety, productivity and financial sustainability. You will demonstrate a strong commitment to compassionate leadership, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, ensuring services are responsive, efficient and deliver the best possible outcomes for the populations we serve.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for ensuring the successful system wide operational delivery, performance and continuous improvement of all clinical services provided by the Health Board, aligned to A Healthier Swansea Bay, the Health Board’s organisational strategy, and its mission of Better Health, Better Care, Better Lives

The clinical and operational services encompassed within the accountabilities for this post include primary care, community services, woman and children services, mental health and learning disability services, urgent and emergency care, planned care, cancer, diagnostics, secondary and tertiary hospital-based services, and relevant operational support services, including facilities

The role of COO incorporates the role of Executive Director for Primary, Community and Mental Health Services, with Board-level executive accountability for ensuring the Health Board meets its statutory duties in relation to primary care, community services, mental health and learning disability services

The COO will be accountable to the Board for operational delivery of clinical and clinical support services that underpin the strategic direction of the organisation, with a key focus on quality, safety, performance, financial sustainability, patient experience and outcomes. This includes clear executive accountability for the effective discharge of the Health Board’s responsibilities across primary, community and mental health services.

The COO will have leadership responsibility for effective day-to-day management of clinical services through the Health Board’s care group operating model. The Health Board is transitioning through the Organised for Success programme from four Service Groups to six thematic, clinically-led Care Groups, which will run in shadow form from January 2027 before going live on 1 April 2027.

As lead for operational performance and delivery, the COO will be responsible for contributing to the annual plan and Integrated Medium-Term Plan (IMTP) in the context of the Health Board’s Performance and Accountability Framework, financial recovery requirements and Welsh Government escalation expectations

The COO will hold a central delivery role around the executive table, providing grip, pace and visible leadership for operational recovery, financial improvement, improvement and transformation, de-escalation and the sustainable consolidation of performance improvements

The COO will work as part of a strong executive triumvirate with the Executive Medical Director and Executive Director of Nursing, providing integrated operational, medical and nursing leadership to support safe, high-quality and sustainable services

The COO will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the Health Board’s Delivery Unit, which acts as an organisational engine room for delivery, to ensure operational priorities are translated into clear actions, milestones, accountability arrangements and sustained improvement

Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the overall service improvement agenda, working with executive colleagues to ensure the organisation is prepared and able to deliver sustainable improvement, including in domains subject to enhanced oversight or escalation