Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

Location: Within 1 hour of Taunton, Bedford, Peterborough or Welwyn Garden City
Hours: 30 hours across 4 days + on-call
Salary: up to £133,600 (based on 30hrs a week)
Contract: 4-6 months with potential to become permanent based on mutual fit
Start Date: January 2026
Reports to: CEO
Our Client: Healthcare provider in urgent and emergency care

Our client is seeking an exceptional Chief Medical Officer to serve as their most senior clinical leader. The CMO will drive the organisation's clinical vision, uphold excellence in safety and quality, and lead clinical strategy, governance, and workforce development across all services.

As the organisation's clinical figurehead, you will represent their services with ICBs, regulators, and system partners, influencing urgent and emergency care at regional and national levels. Internally, you will foster a culture of innovation, professional growth, and high-performing multidisciplinary practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic clinical leadership to the Board and Executive Team, producing regular clinical reports and quality evidence.
• Ensure patient safety, clinical quality, and regulatory compliance, including oversight of incidents, complaints and CQC action plans.
• Lead all clinical services and manage the clinical directorate budget.
• Inspire and develop clinical teams through visible leadership, workforce planning, and effective performance management.
• Champion organisational values, ensuring compliance with NHS England, CQC and FCA requirements.
• Drive clinical innovation, service transformation and education initiatives.

Essential Qualifications

• GMC-registered medical practitioner (GP or Specialist Register) with licence to practise.
• MBBS or equivalent, plus postgraduate medical qualification (e.g., MRCGP, MRCS).
• NHS England Performers List inclusion (GP).
• Level 4 safeguarding training.

Essential Experience

• Senior medical leadership experience (CMO/Medical Director level) within urgent care, primary care, OOH or NHS 111.
• Proven organisational-level leadership in clinical governance, patient safety and quality improvement.
• Strong influencing and communication skills with experience developing medical and clinical workforces.
• Track record in service innovation and partnership working with Boards, ICBs, CQC and system partners.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, clinical governance, risk, safeguarding and healthcare legislation.
• Experience in urgent care or general practice; medical education or GP training exposure advantageous.
• Commercial acumen with sound judgement aligned to organisational values.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel across sites and attend external meetings.
• Flexibility for out-of-hours support.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

An organisational chart will be shared with shortlisted candidates following NDA.