Job summary
- Main area
- Director
- Grade
- Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 297- 8056521
- Employer
- Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Town
- Gateshead
- Closing
- 18/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Chief Operating Officer
Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible
IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.
All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.
Job overview
Closing date for application: Thursday 18 June at midnight
Shortlisting: Friday 19 June
Interviews: Friday 26 June
This is an important moment to join Gateshead Health. With a new five-year corporate strategy, a strong alliance of regional partners and a clear focus on delivering safe, high-quality care, our next Chief Operating Officer will play a central role in shaping how our services are delivered for our communities.
This role provides the opportunity to influence at organisational, system and regional levels, working as part of a clinically led, values-driven organisation with a committed, compassionate and talented workforce.
If you share our commitment to safe, compassionate and high-quality care, and want to help shape the future of Gateshead Health, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Chief Operating Officer who can:
- provide visible, credible and compassionate operational leadership across hospital, community and diagnostic services
- lead delivery of safe, high-quality and effective services, with a strong focus on patient experience and timely access to care
- drive operational performance, improvement and transformation across urgent and emergency care, elective care and community pathways
- work with clinical and corporate teams to support productivity, financial sustainability and the best use of our resources
- build strong relationships with staff, patients, partners and system colleagues to improve services and reduce health inequalities
- contribute as a key member of the executive team, bringing sound judgement, operational expertise and thoughtful challenge
- be ambitious for Gateshead, our people and the communities we serve
Working for our organisation
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.
Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.
We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.
We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached recruitment pack which contains the job description and responsibilities for this role.
Person specification
Knowldge and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • High level of education to Master’s level qualification in a related subject or equivalent/proven ability and experience.
- • Recent track record of continuous personal and professional development
Desirable criteria
- • Doctorate level qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- • At least 12 months experience working at Executive level (albeit this may not be specifically as an Executive Director) in a similarly complex organisation or system
- • Experienced, compassionate and inclusive leader with significant operational experience and responsibility for meeting a wide range of service and business performance targets.
Desirable criteria
- • Recent experience of board or just below board level in an acute trust
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Sean Fenwick
- Job title
- Chief Executive
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0191 445 6044
- Additional information
For a discussion about this role, please contact Dr Sean Fenwick, Chief Executive, via Kirsty Forster at [email protected]
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