Voluntary Interim Chief Operating Officer & Charity Secretary

Voluntary, Part time & Time-limited

Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain & Ireland (SCTS) "Making Heart, Chest & Lung Surgery Better"

Closing Deadline: Monday 25th June 2026

Location: Hybrid – London (1–2 days per week) and remote working

Time Commitment: Approximately approx. 0.5 WTE (flexible).

Remuneration: Voluntary (reasonable expenses reimbursed)

Reporting and Accountability:

• Reports to: President, SCTS
• Accountable to: Board of Trustees
• Works closely with: Honorary Secretary, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Secretariat, and external providers

Role Overview:

SCTS is seeking to appoint an interim voluntary, part-time Chief Operating Officer & Charity Secretary to provide consistent operational leadership and governance support and focus on some key deliverables to be agreed with the successful candidate. This is a new delivery-focused role, responsible for the day-to-day operational running of the Society, coordination of its administrative functions, and support of its governance processes. The role is not responsible for setting strategy. The strategic direction remains led by the President and SLT who are in turn responsible to the Trustees. The purpose of the role is to ensure that agreed priorities are translated into structured, reliable delivery.

Purpose of the Role:

• Provide day-to-day operational oversight of the Society
• Oversee and support the SCTS secretariat/administrative team
• Act as the central point for coordination, prioritisation, and follow-through
• Work in close liaison with the President, Honorary Secretary, and SLT
• Support the Society in meeting its governance and statutory obligations
• Strengthen organisational systems, processes, and accountability

The Society's overarching strategy remains unchanged. This role is intended to support its delivery, with a particular focus on:

• Strengthening fundraising to ensure the long-term sustainability of the charity
• Advancing clinical transformation to improve patient outcomes
• Support the needs of our members.

Scope of the Role:

• Oversee the day-to-day operational running of the charity
• Coordinate the work of the Secretariat and administrative functions
• Maintain a clear view of priorities, timelines, and responsibilities
• Support effective communication across committees and workstreams
• Ensure effective communication and coordination across committees, SLT, and workstreams
• Introduce and maintain clear systems for tracking delivery, performance, and accountability
• Ensure resources are deployed efficiently and in line with agreed plans and budgets

• Support the development of a practical fundraising approach
• Assist with coordination of fundraising initiatives and partnerships
• Contribute to development of Friends of SCTS / Foundation activities
• Maintain oversight of fundraising pipelines and provide clear reporting to SLT on income and opportunities

• Support delivery of core governance processes and compliance requirements
• Maintain oversight of statutory obligations and filings
• Support preparation and follow-up of Trustee and Executive meetings
• Ensure governance documentation is maintained, accessible, and up to date
• Support a proactive approach to risk identification and management, ensuring issues are escalated appropriately

• Track and support delivery of SLT and Trustee priorities
• Ensure actions are followed through and progressed
• Identify and flag risks, delays, or gaps in delivery
• Provide continuity across leadership transitions
• Act as a central coordination point across governance and operational activity

• Support operational delivery of Annual Meeting (which is led by the Meetings secretary), AGM, and key events
• Coordinate logistics, timelines, and external providers
• Support post-event review and organisational learning

• Introduce simple, effective systems for tracking and reporting
• Support development of clear roles and ways of working within the Secretariat
• Improve coordination with external providers and partners

• Support the Treasurer and Board in maintaining robust financial systems, processes, and controls
• Contribute to annual budgeting, monitoring expenditure, and financial reporting
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations and best practice
• Support oversight of contracts, suppliers, and external providers to ensure value for money

The role will operate within existing SCTS structures, including:

• Weekly SLT meetings (primary operational alignment)
• Admin team meetings
• Regular liaison with the President and Honorary Secretary
• Support to Trustee and Executive cycles
• Quarterly review of progress and priorities

• Commitment to the mission and values of SCTS
• Experience in operational, managerial, or organisational leadership roles
• Ability to manage day-to-day organisational delivery
• Strong organisational and coordination skills
• Team-player
• Ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders and clinicians
• Sound judgement, reliability, and discretion
• Experience of overseeing budgets, financial processes, or resource allocation
• Demonstrable experience of implementing plans and driving delivery against agreed priorities

• Experience in the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Understanding of governance and compliance requirements
• Experience in fundraising or partnership development
• Experience within healthcare or membership organisations

Term of Appointment:

Initial appointment: up to 12 months (voluntary)

Progress reviewed quarterly

Role scope to be refined based on organisational need

Positioning Statement:

This role provides operational leadership and organisational continuity, ensuring that the Society's priorities are delivered in a structured and sustainable way. It is intended to support, not replace, the leadership of the President, Trustees, and Senior Leadership Team.

• Operational Delivery: ≥90% of SLT/Trustee actions tracked and progressed on time; Live 90-day priority plan and delivery dashboard in place (by 3 months)
• Fundraising Enablement: Fundraising plan/pipeline in place (by 6 months); Support delivery of initiatives with quarterly pipeline reporting
• Secretariat and Efficiency: Clear Secretariat roles and processes agreed (by 3 months); Improved responsiveness (actions acknowledged within 3 working days)
• Financial Oversight Support: Quarterly financial reporting aligned with Treasurer; 1–2 efficiency or cost-saving opportunities identified
• Governance and Compliance: 100% of statutory and governance requirements delivered on time; Papers circulated ≥5 days in advance in >80% of meetings and 7 days for SCTS executive
• Events and Continuity: Successful oversight of Annual Meeting (run by meeting team and Meetings secretary), Unit representatives and AGM; Post-event review completed within 6 weeks; Clear coordination and continuity across SLT transitions maintained