The Health Foundation is an independent charitable foundation committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK. Through giving grants to those working at the front line, to carrying out research and policy analysis, the Foundation shines a light on how to make successful change happen that is improving health and health care for the UK population. The Health Foundation believes that every person in the UK should have the opportunity for a healthy life and access to the same standard of health care, irrespective of their background. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on our national health and care services. It has also further highlighted the impact health inequalities in the UK – as the pandemic has affected some groups of people much more than others.

The Role

The Chief Operating Officer is responsible to the Chief Executive for providing leadership on people (HR and organisational development), financial, IT and operational management across the organisation and infrastructure. Operating as an operations business partner to the Chief Executive and other Directors, this role will support them to fulfil their objectives within the context of the three year strategic and annual business plans. The COO will be a natural communicator who is instinctively collaborative, systematic and organised. He/she will engage regularly and proactively with, directors and senior colleagues across the Foundation to identify their needs and ensure they are met. As such the COO will be expected to reach out to colleagues on a regular basis and engage in a continuing dialogue with them to ensure the corporate services directorate can work constructively and collaboratively with other directorates to support the Foundation’s aims and objectives.

As a member of the Director’s Team, the Chief Operating Officer is responsible for overseeing the operational (including governance) and financial performance and management of the Foundation, and for ensuring that the infrastructure (e.g. accommodation, facilities, equipment) optimally supports the work of the Foundation. Working closely with director colleagues, with an in depth understanding of the business of the Foundation, the COO will lead and co- ordinate operational and financial planning supporting the successful delivery of our strategic aims; monitor and report on achievement of corporate objectives and financial targets; keep key business processes and systems, as well as infrastructure, under review and implement improvements where necessary.

The Director’s Team (DT) is the senior management team of the Foundation, focused on the strategy and delivery of the external ‘mission’ of the Foundation – improving health and care for the people of the UK. The Director’s Team is also consulted on key strategic operational matters. The Director’s Team is chaired by the chief executive.

The Strategic Operations Group (SOG) is the senior management team at the Foundation with more direct oversight and decision-making responsibility for key strategic operational issues affecting all teams at the Foundation. SOG
is also chaired by the chief executive, and other members are the Director of Strategy (also with responsibility for communications) and the COO.