Chief Operating Officer

Objective of the role The Chief Operating Officer provides steady, visible leadership at the head of North Shropshire PCN. Working in close partnership with the Clinical Directors, the COO leads the organisations people and operations developing the core management team and workforce, delivering operational excellence day to day, and supporting the strategic direction agreed with clinical leadership and the Board. This is first and foremost a role about leading people. The COO leads the PCNs core management team an HR Manager, an Operations Manager, an Executive Assistant and an Administrator managing them, holding them to account, and taking ownership of the leadership of the organisation. Through this team the COO holds overall responsibility for a staff group of around 60 ARRS colleagues working across six member practices. The focus is on developing the current team and getting the best from it fostering a culture of excellence, professionalism and wellbeing while sustaining strong, trusted relationships with the Clinical Directors, practice managers and external partners. Main responsibilities Leadership of people and teams - Provide clear, steady and visible leadership to the PCN, setting the tone and standards for how the organisation works. - Directly manage the core management team the HR Manager, Operations Manager, Executive Assistant and Administrator holding them to account for delivery and taking ownership of the leadership of the organisation. - Develop the current team, getting the best from each member and supporting them to grow and succeed in their roles. - Hold overall leadership responsibility for the wider PCN workforce (around 60 ARRS staff), delivered through the management team. - Support the HR Manager, who leads on the management of people and HR across the PCN, ensuring people practices are effective, fair and consistent. - Foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture, prioritising staff engagement, development and wellbeing. Operational leadership and excellence - Provide oversight of the day-to-day operations of the PCN delivered through the Operations Manager ensuring services are safe, efficient and consistently high-quality. - Oversee delivery of the Network Contract DES and associated contractual and reporting obligations. - Build strong working relationships with practice managers and operational leads to optimise workflows and support integrated working across the six practices. - Establish and maintain robust systems for operational performance, compliance, and the stewardship of the public finances attributed to the PCN. - Reduce unwarranted variation between practices, supporting consistent, high-quality delivery as directed by clinical leadership. Strategic partnership with clinical leadership - Work in close partnership with the Clinical Directors, providing operational insight and expertise to strategic planning and decision-making. - Help translate the agreed vision and priorities of the Board and Clinical Directors into deliverable operational plans. - Contribute to the development of business cases, funding applications and service proposals. - Share accountability with the Clinical Directors for the overall performance and delivery of the PCN. Stakeholder engagement and relationships - Represent the PCN as a senior, credible and professional presence with member practices, the ICB, neighbouring PCNs, the wider collaborative and other partners. - Build and sustain productive relationships with external stakeholders, fostering excellence and collaboration beyond the PCN as well as within it. - Support joint representation with the Clinical Directors in relevant forums. Financial, governance and reporting - Oversee budgeting, financial planning and reporting in partnership with the Clinical Directors and Board, identifying opportunities for value and efficiency. - Provide clear, timely operational and performance reporting to the Board and Clinical Directors. - Support the implementation of governance frameworks, risk management and appropriate record-keeping. - Ensure operational compliance with relevant regulations, policies and guidelines. Digital and transformation - Support the operational delivery of the PCNs digital and transformation priorities in collaboration with clinical leadership. - Ensure operational systems and data support good decision-making and population health management. Key attributes for the role - A strong people leader someone who has previously excelled at managing, developing and getting the best from teams. - A steady, dependable pair of hands at the head of the organisation, calm under pressure. - Excellent communicator and relationship-builder, at ease with clinical leaders, managers, staff and external partners. - Able to balance operational delivery with strategic support, and to translate direction into action. - Solution-focused, adaptable, and committed to continuous improvement. - Sound grasp of financial and governance responsibilities.