Chief Operations Officer, University Hospital

Chief Operating Officer

Cork University Hospital (CUH), Ireland’s largest Model 4 academic teaching hospital, is seeking a dynamic Chief Operations Officer (COO) to join its executive team.

As COO, you will be the senior executive responsible for the safe, effective, and efficient operational delivery of CUH’s services, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and deputising as required. This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of Ireland’s busiest acute hospital, serving a population of over 1.1 million and employing more than 5,000 staff.

We are looking for a leader who is:

· Highly operational, with a proven track record of delivering results at scale in a complex, fast-paced environment.

· Experienced in large acute hospital settings, with deep knowledge of healthcare governance, national policy, and performance systems.

· Ambitious and visionary – someone who sees this role as the natural next step on the path to becoming a future CEO.

In this role, you will:

· Lead transformational change programmes, driving improvements in patient access, efficiency, and quality of care.

· Oversee CUH’s annual service plan, holding full operational accountability for site performance.

· Shape the future of CUH as it embarks on major developments including a new Elective Surgical Centre, Paediatric and Oncology Centres, and an Academic Medical School.

· Represent CUH nationally and regionally, strengthening partnerships and positioning the hospital as a centre of excellence in care, research, and education.

Why CUH?
This is a unique opportunity to operate at the forefront of healthcare leadership in Ireland’s most complex hospital environment. With CUH’s ambitious growth agenda and its critical regional and national role, this post offers unrivalled scope to make a system-wide impact while preparing for the step into Chief Executive leadership.