Chief Medical Officer (interim)

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Chief Medical Officer (interim)

Closing date: 02 August 2026

Start date: ASAP

Contract type: Fixed term (6 months)

The Chief Medical Officer is responsible to the Chief Executive and Trust Board for professional leadership of the medical workforce and for promoting high quality patient care, clinical effectiveness, education, research and innovation.

We are seeking an interim appointment for 6 months whilst we recruit to the position on a substantive basis.

Key responsibilities:

• Professional leadership of all medical staff.
• Joint executive accountability for clinical governance with the Chief Nurse.
• Leadership of clinical effectiveness, outcomes and quality improvement.
• Responsible Officer for Medical Revalidation.
• Leadership of medical workforce strategy and talent development.
• Leadership of research, innovation and academic partnerships.
• Contribution to Trust and system strategy.
• Visible, compassionate and inclusive leadership.
• Championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Development of future clinical leaders.
• Representation of UHS regionally and nationally.

Qualifications, Training & Experience

• Full active registration with the General Medical Council.
• Significant senior clinical and managerial leadership experience at or near Board level in the NHS in a complex operating environment.
• Evidence of continuing personal and professional development.
• Track record of developing and implementing clinical strategies, plans, policies and procedures with well‑developed clinical governance experience.
• Track record of delivering high‑quality outcomes and positive patient experience.
• Proven personal and professional credibility with Board‑level stakeholders, management teams, clinical and non‑clinical staff, patients, the public and academic partners.
• Experience of developing new multi‑disciplinary models of care and implementing service redesign and innovation within and across organisational boundaries.
• Experience of managing performance and conduct issues relating to medical staff.
• Experience of public engagement and consultation over proposals for significant service change.
• Experience of media handling and public relations.
• Understanding of medical workforce, medical education, research and clinical effectiveness requirements relevant to a large NHS teaching hospital.
• Ability to support delivery of Trust strategy, corporate objectives, responsible officer duties and executive‑level governance responsibilities.
• Knowledge of NHS financial regime and experience of managing budgets and spending programmes.
• Experience of working in a teaching hospital environment with exposure to research and development activity.
• Experience of leading or sponsoring major clinical, research, education, workforce or service transformation programmes.
• Experience of building productive relationships with universities, Royal Colleges, regulators, medical unions, NHS England regional teams and Integrated Care System partners.
• Experience of leading or supporting renewal, growth or assurance of major research facilities, networks or partnerships.
• Experience as an executive champion for inclusion, staff networks, sustainability or other cross‑cutting corporate priorities.

Aptitudes and skills

• Actively seeks, establishes and develops effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Visible commitment to compassionate, inclusive and values‑led leadership.
• Commitment to equality, inclusion, belonging and reducing workforce and health inequalities.
• Ability to represent the Trust credibly with the public, media, regulators, academic partners and system stakeholders.
• Contributes effectively to Board working, organisational governance, risk management and assurance.
• Monitors compliance with legal, ethical, social and environmental requirements.
• Able to analyse, interpret and present complex data clearly for Board, executive and clinical audiences.

Living Trust Values

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Please contact Brenda Carter at Brenda.Carter@uhs.nhs.uk if you have any questions and queries.

Proposed interview date: 12th August 2026

Closing date: 02 August 2026