Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Secondment to Client

Interim Chief Operating Officer (Coo)

• Location: United Arab Emirates
• Engagement Type: Full-time, 4–6 Month Project Assignment
• Experience Level: 15+ years in healthcare operations leadership

Role Summary

The Interim Chief Operating Officer will assume full operational command during the pre-opening and activation phase of a new healthcare facility. The role is responsible for ensuring that all clinical and non-clinical functions are fully operational, compliant, and ready for launch within the defined readiness timeline.

This is a hands-on leadership position requiring deep operational expertise, strong stakeholder management, and the ability to drive execution across multiple workstreams under tight deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Take operational command of day-to-day readiness and activation across clinical and non-clinical departments.
• Validate and implement the target operating model based on the facility's phased-out plan to launch; enforce governance structure, reporting lines, and performance management cadence.
• Drive completion of pre-opening tasks including service activation, staff hiring and onboarding, facility commissioning, as well as the identification, evaluation, selection and mobilization of required suppliers and vendors.
• Provide the facility’s support functions with operational guidelines based on respective departmental operating model (incl. HR, procurement, finance, IT, facility management, hospitality, security) ensuring functional launch, and monitoring service activation.
• Lead coordination between clinical operations, hospitality, and administration to ensure seamless patient and staff experience from day one.
• Resolve bottlenecks in real time and re-allocate resources as needed to meet readiness deadlines.
• Represent the facility with regulators and relevant authorities for operational readiness meetings, licensing inspections, commissioning and accreditations.
• Maintain daily reporting to Project leadership on operational execution status.

Expected Deliverables

• Facility’s Effective Launch: All departments staffed and functional within agreed readiness timeline.
• Organizational Structure: Implemented effectively with SMART objectives assigned to respective teams and performance management framework activated.
• Service Activation: Defined list of services launched, commissioned, and tested for live operations.
• Vendor and Supplier Activation: All service providers contracted, mobilized, and integrated into daily operations (housekeeping, catering, laundry, maintenance, etc.).
• Staff Induction: All key staff oriented on SOPs, reporting lines, and emergency procedures.
• Regulatory Compliance: All required inspections for licensing and accreditation passed, with facility fully compliant for operations.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 15+ years of progressive experience in healthcare operations or hospital management.
• Proven track record in facility commissioning, activation, or large-scale pre-opening projects.
• Strong understanding of governance, regulatory compliance, and operational readiness frameworks.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing multi-disciplinary teams and vendor ecosystems.
• Exceptional problem-solving, prioritization, and communication skills, with a hands-on leadership approach.
• Duration: 4–6 months (full-time, on-site)
• Location: United Arab Emirates
• Minimum 15+ years of progressive experience in healthcare operations or hospital management.
• Proven track record in facility commissioning, activation, or large-scale pre-opening projects.
• Strong understanding of governance, regulatory compliance, and operational readiness frameworks.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing multi-disciplinary teams and vendor ecosystems.
• Exceptional problem-solving, prioritization, and communication skills, with a hands-on leadership approach.
• Duration: 4–6 months (full-time, on-site)
• Location: United Arab Emirates
• Start Date: Immediate

Start Date: Immediate

Engagement Details