NHS Scotland
Chief Operating Officer - Acute Services
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Salary: Executive and Senior Manager’s Cohort Grade H - £148,389 - £197,724 per annum (pro rata)
Tenure: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours
Location: JB Russell House, Gartnavel Royal Campus, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH
About The Opportunity
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking an exceptional, values-led executive leader for the role of Chief Operating Officer Acute Services. This is a significant opportunity to lead one of the largest and most complex acute services portfolios in Scotland, with responsibility for the delivery of safe, effective, person-centred and sustainable care across multiple acute sites and specialist services.
Reporting to the Chief Executive and operating as a key member of the Corporate Management Team, the Chief Operating Officer will provide visible strategic and operational leadership across Acute Services, ensuring delivery against Board priorities, national standards and the needs of the population of Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the wider West of Scotland.
Depending on experience, there may be an opportunity to take on additional responsibilities as Deputy Chief Executive. This would be remunerated accordingly but would not be determined through this recruitment process.
The Role
As Chief Operating Officer Acute Services, you will lead, direct and manage the Acute Services Division through a substantial programme of service change, recovery, remobilisation and modernisation. You will ensure cross-service coherence and the effective delivery of all clinical and non-clinical services in line with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s strategic priorities.
The post carries responsibility for the delivery of high-quality emergency and elective care, including unscheduled care performance, the scheduled care programme, local cancer standards and the coordination of West of Scotland cancer services. You will ensure robust arrangements are in place for clinical and care governance, performance and quality, finance, workforce and risk, with clear scrutiny and assurance at every level of Acute Services.
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Key Responsibilities
- Provide executive leadership for the strategic development, operational delivery and performance of Acute Services across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
- Lead major service change, reform and modernisation programmes, ensuring services are safe, sustainable, person centred and aligned to local, regional and national priorities.
- Deliver key scheduled care, unscheduled care, cancer, access, and quality and performance standards across acute sites and services.
- Ensure effective clinical, care, staff, financial and corporate governance arrangements are in place, with clear systems for scrutiny, assurance and risk management.
- Work collaboratively with Executive Directors, Acute Directors, clinical leaders, Health and Social Care Partnership Chief Officers, staff-side colleagues and external partners.
- Promote a positive, inclusive and values-led culture focused on quality improvement, staff wellbeing, patient experience and the effective use of public resources.
About You
We are looking for an accomplished senior leader with significant experience at Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer, Director or equivalent level within a large, complex organisation, preferably within the NHS or wider public sector. You will bring a demonstrable track record of success in operational leadership, strategic decision-making, performance improvement, major service change and partnership working.
You will be educated to degree level or equivalent, with post-graduate or equivalent qualification desirable, and will demonstrate the interpersonal, strategic and technical skills required to lead at scale. Your leadership style will be visible, credible, compassionate and inclusive, with the ability to earn the confidence and respect of colleagues, partners and stakeholders while delivering complex change in a demanding public service environment.
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Why NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde?
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is Scotland’s largest Health Board and one of the largest healthcare organisations in the UK.
We deliver a comprehensive range of acute district, regional and national services for a diverse population across Greater Glasgow and Clyde, working in close partnership with six Health and Social Care Partnerships, local authorities, universities, staff-side colleagues and national partners.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of acute services at scale, leading committed clinical and professional teams through a period of significant reform and improvement. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality care, improving outcomes, supporting staff and contributing to the wider strategic leadership and governance of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Informal Enquiries
Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- Telephone: 0141 201 4614
- email:
How To Apply
For further information, including the full job description and person specification, please refer to the Candidate Information Pack for the post.
Closing date: Sunday, 2nd Aug 2026
Interview date: w/c 24 August 2026
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of the diverse workforce we have.
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