Job Description

Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO)

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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.

Engagement Details

Duration:

4-6 months (full-time, on-site)

Location:

United Arab Emirates *

Start Date:

Immediate