Deputy Chief Operating Officer | North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

The Deputy Chief Operating Officer will contribute to delivery of University Hospitals Tees strategic plan, by working in partnership with the Clinical Policy Group, Clinical Service Unit teams and external organisations and commissioners, to achieve University Hospitals Tees corporate objectives and to make a positive contribution to the provision of health services across the local health economy.

The post holder will deputise for the Chief Operating Officer and work closely with the Clinical Service Units teams to ensure the safe and effective day to day operations of the organisation are maintained. The Deputy COO may be required to attend UHT Board to update on associated programmes of work.

Lead Planned/Unplanned/Community programmes ensuring there is a transformational approach that supports this, alongside a programme that ensures efficient use of UHT resources.

As Planned/Unplanned/Community lead, work with system partners to ensure system wide transformational agenda.

Play active role contributing to the overall development & implementation of UHT long term vision, strategic direction and governance arrangements.

Develop and direct relevant policies & strategies in support of UHT aims & objectives

Lead on operational organisational change & development activity to equip the Clinical Service Units to perform effectively.

Be responsible for assessing the impact of policy and strategy decisions on the delivery of local health services and for designing and delivering implementation plans that maximise benefits & maintain compliance.

To be responsible in partnership with the COO, Medical Director, Service Directors, Ass. Chief Operating Officers and Deputy Chief Nurse – Strategy and Transformation for development and implementation of the Clinical Services 5-year strategic plan and business development plan including the production of an annual operational centre business plan which sets out target outcomes, quality standards and revenue growth.

Highly complex judgement skills are required as the deputy COO will need to consider a number of clinical services which may have opposing demands and competing priorities

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, including those who first language is not English.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Please refer to the job description and person specification that is attached to this vacancy

This advert closes on Thursday 19 Nov 2026