Assistant Director of Strategy & Policy
Our Organisation
The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.
As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.
As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern.In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job overview
The System Architecture team is the part of NHS England responsible for designing how the NHS is organised and operates within the wider health and care system. We are seeking an experienced policy professional who can translate executive and political ambition into clear strategic direction.You will be working with colleagues across NHS England and government so high-quality influencing skills are essential as is a good knowledge of how the NHS works.
This is a fast-paced and dynamic role which will require the post holder to have a clear vision for the future and strong strategic thinking skills whilst operating within a complex environment. In return, it offers the opportunity to influence thinking at the highest level whilst working within a warm, supportive and flexible team.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will lead a team of policy and strategy managers to develop NHSE’s strategy for optimising the system architecture for the NHS in England.
This will require:
- Proven track record in leading the development of national policy and strategy across teams and organisations through working with partners, including a deep understanding of policy levers and policy-making processes
- In-depth understanding of the health and care landscape and the NHS policy and legislative framework in England, including the roles and responsibilities of NHS England and other critical stakeholders
- Highly developed strategic thinking, problem-solving and communication skills with an ability to deal with ill-defined problems and ambiguity, changes in direction, requirements or deadlines and to develop sound recommendations, provide high quality briefings to senior colleagues and present to stakeholders.
- Sophisticated and confident relationship building and management, influencing and negotiation skills and experience of dealing with senior stakeholders on complex and sensitive issues.
- Demonstrable experience of delivering results through the development and management of teams to ensure success, including experience of coaching team members to develop writing, problem-solving and influencing skills
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in policy or strategy development
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Must have subject matter expertise across key areas relating to the functions of the team, including the development of the national policy framework governing the system architecture for the NHS in England
- Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on policy development
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience acquired over a significant period of time in the following areas: - Formulating regional and / or national policy and strategy
- Experience acquired over a significant period of time in the following areas: - Senior stakeholder engagement and influencing
- Experience acquired over a significant period of time in the following areas: - Evaluation and impact assessment of national policy decisions Must have demonstrable experience developing, managing and motivating teams/individuals to ensure success
- Experience acquired over a significant period of time in the following areas: - Working in or with the NHS or government and an understanding of the levers and dynamics of change both at an individual and organisational level
- Experience acquired over a significant period of time in the following areas: - Must have demonstrable experience developing, managing and motivating teams/individuals to ensure success
Skills
Essential criteria- Significant management experience at a senior level, including the ability to manage complex relationships in a changing environment
- Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information with highly developed political skills.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, using own initiative and judgement
- Ability to demonstrate a high level of expertise in providing senior leadership.
- Highly developed critical thinking skills including structured problem solving skills.
Our commitments to you
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better patient outcomes.We strive to ensure our people feel trusted, valued and empowered. We’re passionate about nurturing and developing people. When you join us, we want you to grow and excel, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that. We welcome your talent and enthusiasm irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
We have policies and procedures to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro-divergent.
We welcome applications from disabled candidates. If you meet all the essential criteria, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK under the Skilled Worker route are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
If applying for this role on a secondment basis, please make sure you have obtained prior agreement from your current line manager to apply for this position.
Please note that we currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.
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NHS England