Director of Strategy

at  NHS England

We are recruiting a Director of Strategy to lead the NHS England (NHSE) Strategy Team at a vital time for shaping the future direction of the NHS.
The team works collaboratively across the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHSE and the NHS frontline to shape the strategy of the NHS in England and deliver high quality strategy projects that help solve the key challenges faced by the service.

AS A DIRECTOR YOU WOULD:

• Provide top-level leadership for a dynamic team at the heart of decision-making in NHS England, coaching and developing team members and supporting the development of strategy skills across NHS England and the wider NHS
• Oversee and lead strategic reviews to develop solutions that result in better health outcomes quality of care and value for money
• Own and manage senior stakeholder relationships and develop coalitions for change, acting as a trusted adviser to the NHS’s most senior leaders
  You will have extensive senior experience of developing strategy in a large and complex organisation working in a politically sensitive, service delivery, context. You’ll have outstanding problem solving and analytical skills and the ability to oversee complex strategy projects and bring high quality insight to the development of NHS strategy. You will have proven leadership experience and a well developed track record of working in deep and effective partnership with a range of different partners.
  The role offers a stimulating and rewarding opportunity to work at a very senior level in the national NHS and use your leadership, strategic and analytical skills to contribute to a stronger service. If you are excited by the prospect of working to solve some of the most significant challenges in the health and care system, we would like to hear from you.
  The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
  Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
  Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
  Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
  Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
  Delivering value for money.
  If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/.
  Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
  Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
  NHS England hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route you’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher. You can find more information on the Government website .
  The Director of Strategy supports the development of cross-cutting NHS strategy, leads and oversees specific strategic reviews and helps identify what the NHS needs to address its future opportunities and challenges.

The postholder will require the following skills and capabilities:

• A demonstrable commitment to the development of national healthcare strategy including putting patients at the heart of the NHS and improving their health outcomes and care.
• Extensive senior experience of strategy development in a politically sensitive and complex area, ideally at a national service level, in the public sector and in the health and care sector
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, including qualitative and quantitative skills.
• The ability to develop an effective strategic overview of a large, complex, public facing, delivery system and systematically identify and evaluate strategic options for its improvement
• The credibility and authority to provide personal strategic counsel to the organisation’s most senior leaders and personally lead on special projects where required
• A proven track record of building strong strategy teams with high professional standards including an ability to coach and manage others and oversee and prioritise a large and complex portfolio of work
• Excellent influencing skills and a track record of working collaboratively in a large and complex organisation with a diverse range of internal teams and external partners
• The ability to bring rigorous but supportive challenge to strategy development with colleagues and partners, ensuring difficult trade-offs are identified and resolved whilst also building deep and collaborative partnerships.
• Ability to build strong networks within the health system, including Government Departments, particularly DHSC, frontline NHS organisations, other statutory bodies, patient groups, voluntary organisations, think tanks and industry.

High personal resilience, a positive and solutions focussed attitude, and a commitment to the values of the NHS including an appropriate emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion.
We have flexible working policies and would be happy to discuss flexible working requirements with any candidates. If you would like to find out more about this role, please read the detailed job description and / or contact england.stratsupport@nhs.net

• Supporting the NHSE Chief Executive and the Board to develop medium and long term NHS strategy, working closely with partners across the NHS. There is an immediate focus on working with developing, and then operationalising, the 10 Year Plan for Health.
• Leading strategic reviews of specific services or policies, in partnership with responsible teams in NHS England, DHSC and NHS delivery organisations. Recent examples include the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, a review of productivity and efficiency across the NHS, a Long Term Infrastructure Strategy and the Fuller Stocktake of integrated primary care
• Leading the strategy profession across NHS England and the wider NHS.