Leeds GP Confederation

Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth

The closing date is 08 February 2026

Job summary

The Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth is a senior leadership role within the Leeds GP Confederation Executive team, responsible for leading the strategic growth of the organisation through the identification, design, mobilisation, and implementation of new services. This role focuses on service development, business growth, neighbourhood and partnership opportunities, and sustainable income generation, while maintaining high-quality, patient-centered care and robust governance.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the post holder will work closely with the Executive Team to embed new services into business-as-usual operations, ensuring alignment with local and national guidance, system needs, and Leeds GP Confederations strategic vision. They will play a pivotal role in driving innovation, collaboration, and integrated service delivery, supporting both organisational performance and improved patient outcomes.

While clinical knowledge is advantageous, it is not a requirement; the role is open to professionals with proven experience in strategic service development, business development, service mobilisation, or partnership leadership.

The postholder will be an inclusive leader who will engage colleagues in the delivery of our vision, values & behaviours and empower them to take part in the leadership and wider development of our organisation.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways & Growth will build and maintain strong relationships across the health and care system, including commissioners, primary care networks, and partner providers, ensuring Leeds GP Confederation remains a trusted, innovative, and system-leading organisation. In addition, the Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways & Growth will have a high level of demonstrable senior management experience in operational and governance leadership to allow an understanding when developing or bidding for new services and ensure the seamless transition of services into business as usual. As part of the role, experience in leading competitive tenders and bid writing is essential.

The post holder is a member of the Executive and senior management team; playing an active part in decision making at an Executive level, attendance at key governance meetings, supporting the Leeds GP Confederation to make business decisions regarding new and incumbent services whilst delivering the purpose of the Leeds GP Confederation.

The post holder will hold external relationships with system partners across the health & care system and therefore experience of senior level system relationships are essential. They will have a proactive role in developing our successful networks across the city and wider, working collaboratively with partners to develop integrated solutions to support meeting the changing needs of our patient populations.

About us

Leeds GP Confederation brings GP practices together to strengthen primary care across the city. Working collaboratively with NHS partners, we support practices to deliver high-quality, accessible care for local communities, while developing innovative services that meet the changing needs of patients in Leeds.

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£78,618 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B0348-26-0006

Job locations

3 White Rose Office Park

Leeds

LS11 0DL


Job description

Job responsibilities

TITLE: Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth

DEPARTMENT Executive Team

LOCATION: White Rose Office Park

HOURS OF WORK: Up to 1wte

NATURE OF CONTRACT: Permanent

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Chief Operating Officer

ROLE SUMMARY

The Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth is a senior leadership role within the Leeds GP Confederation Executive team, responsible for leading the strategic growth of the organisation through the identification, design, mobilisation, and implementation of new services. This role focuses on service development, business growth, neighbourhood and partnership opportunities, and sustainable income generation, while maintaining high-quality, patient-centered care and robust governance.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the post holder will work closely with the Executive Team to embed new services into business-as-usual operations, ensuring alignment with local and national guidance, system needs, and Leeds GP Confederations strategic vision. They will play a pivotal role in driving innovation, collaboration, and integrated service delivery, supporting both organisational performance and improved patient outcomes.

While clinical knowledge is advantageous, it is not a requirement; the role is open to professionals with proven experience in strategic service development, business development, service mobilisation, or partnership leadership.

The Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways & Growth will build and maintain strong relationships across the health and care system, including commissioners, primary care networks, and partner providers, ensuring Leeds GP Confederation remains a trusted, innovative, and system-leading organisation. In addition, the Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways & Growth will have a high level of demonstrable senior management experience in operational and governance leadership to allow an understanding when developing or bidding for new services and ensure the seamless transition of services into business as usual. As part of the role, experience in leading competitive tenders and bid writing is essential.

The post holder will support quality improvement and development opportunities as part of the Confederations support to improve access in Primary Care. The post holder will report to the COO to ensure that the GP Confederation works collaboratively across the Leeds system as a partner on clinical service developments.

The post holder is a member of the Executive and the senior management team; playing an active part in decision making at an Executive level, attendance at key governance meetings, supporting the Leeds GP Confederation to make business decisions regarding new and incumbent services whilst delivering the purpose of the Leeds GP Confederation.

The post holder will hold external relationships with system partners across the health & care system and therefore experience of senior level system relationships are essential. They will have a proactive role in developing our successful networks across the city and wider, working collaboratively with partners to develop integrated solutions to support meeting the changing needs of our patient populations.

The postholder will be an inclusive leader who will engage colleagues in the delivery of our vision, values & behaviours and empower them to take part in the leadership and wider development of our organisation.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Actively develops and maintains effective working relationships across system partners, working as part of the Executive Team and aided by the existing contacts and relationships fostered by Leeds GP Confederation

Fosters and maintains strong links across all system partners.

Identifies opportunities for collaborative working and uses initiative to open and sustain such relationships.

Uses influencing skills to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.

Internal

Chief Operating Officer

Members of the Executive

Members of the Members Council

Director of Finance

Associate Director, Clinical Professions

Head of Growth & Transformation

Service Delivery & Performance Leads

Service Delivery & Relationship Managers

External

The Clinical Directors of the Primary Care Networks across Leeds

The ICB Primary Care & Urgent Care Commissioning Teams

The Leeds Health & Care Partnership

Other providers including LTHT, LCH, LYPFT, Local Care Direct

MAIN DUTIES

Service Development, Pathways & Growth

Working with the Chief Operating Officer and the Executive Team the Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth will:

Play an active role and contribute to the overall development and implementation of the organisation's long-term vision, strategic direction, and governance arrangements

Provide strategic leadership for service development, aligning opportunities with organisational vision and governance.

Identify, design, and implement new services to meet system needs and increase income, including opportunities to support neighbourhood provision.

Ensure the correct balance between Leeds GP Confederation services, and those that can be delivered by practices or PCNs, ensuring that we dont inadvertently disinvest in General Practice.

Lead business development activities, including tender submissions, bid writing, competitive opportunities, and partnership opportunities within the organisations framework.

Ensure new and existing services align with local and national guidance, and the organisations purpose.

Ensure any new opportunities continue to deliver the Leeds GP Confederation purpose.

Increases income through the development of new services identified through tender opportunities, joint working with partners, horizon scanning or responding to an area of need.

Ensure that the Leeds GP Confederation is a trusted partner in the Leeds health and care system by developing and maintaining relationships and working in collaboration with partners across the area to ensure high-quality and sustainable services for our patients.

Work collaboratively with other executive team members, sharing corporate responsibility and accountability for setting objectives and achieving goals to ensure the improved performance of the organisation.

Support quality improvement initiatives, pathway development and integration of services.

Provide regular reports to the GP Confederation Committees as part of the governance structure.

Contracting and Performance to Business as Usual

The Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth will:

Ensure that there is a strong contract management process underpinned by a robust performance management process as part of mobilisation and implementation of services.

Develop and implement all contract documentation for new services.

Lead the mobilisation and implementation of new services, working with clinical and operational teams for at least three months post go-live.

Ensure effective contract oversight, KPI monitoring, and compliance reporting to commissioners for new services.

Lead capacity and demand planning for new services to ensure delivery readiness.

Provide regular reports and updates on new services awarded to the GP Confederation Committees as part of the governance structure.

Supports the COO and ADCP with clinical and operational governance and contract management as required.

Leadership Responsibilities

Provide leadership, guidance and support to the services and teams within Leeds GP Confederation as needed.

Foster a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Act as a senior representative of the Confederation at system-level meetings and in strategic partnerships.

Governance, Assurance and Compliance

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that the GP Confederations CQC registration is current at all times, working with the COO to update registration details for any new services.

Ensure that new services delivered which are regulated by CQC are fully compliant with CQC requirements and that systems and processes are in place to record evidence of compliance on an ongoing basis.

Planning and Organisational Responsibilities

To plan and organise own workload.

To attend local, regional and national meetings of relevance.

Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources within their own sphere of responsibility.

Standard Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each member of staff to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Staff must be aware of and adhere to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to ensure their own safety and the safety of colleagues and patients.

Mandatory training requirements that are relevant to the post must be decided during Personal Development Review and a training plan developed.

Staff should be aware of their individual responsibilities under the Equal Opportunities Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy.

Manages Self

Maintains the highest standards of conduct and integrity within organisation adhering to relevant Codes of Conduct.

Participate in the organisations appraisal system, matching organisational aims with individual objectives.

Takes responsibility for own and others health and safety in the working environment.

Complies with all organisational and statutory requirements.

Ensures that a professional service and image is maintained at all times.

Leads in line with agreed values.

Job description

Job responsibilities

TITLE: Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth

DEPARTMENT Executive Team

LOCATION: White Rose Office Park

HOURS OF WORK: Up to 1wte

NATURE OF CONTRACT: Permanent

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Chief Operating Officer

ROLE SUMMARY

The Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth is a senior leadership role within the Leeds GP Confederation Executive team, responsible for leading the strategic growth of the organisation through the identification, design, mobilisation, and implementation of new services. This role focuses on service development, business growth, neighbourhood and partnership opportunities, and sustainable income generation, while maintaining high-quality, patient-centered care and robust governance.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the post holder will work closely with the Executive Team to embed new services into business-as-usual operations, ensuring alignment with local and national guidance, system needs, and Leeds GP Confederations strategic vision. They will play a pivotal role in driving innovation, collaboration, and integrated service delivery, supporting both organisational performance and improved patient outcomes.

While clinical knowledge is advantageous, it is not a requirement; the role is open to professionals with proven experience in strategic service development, business development, service mobilisation, or partnership leadership.

The Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways & Growth will build and maintain strong relationships across the health and care system, including commissioners, primary care networks, and partner providers, ensuring Leeds GP Confederation remains a trusted, innovative, and system-leading organisation. In addition, the Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways & Growth will have a high level of demonstrable senior management experience in operational and governance leadership to allow an understanding when developing or bidding for new services and ensure the seamless transition of services into business as usual. As part of the role, experience in leading competitive tenders and bid writing is essential.

The post holder will support quality improvement and development opportunities as part of the Confederations support to improve access in Primary Care. The post holder will report to the COO to ensure that the GP Confederation works collaboratively across the Leeds system as a partner on clinical service developments.

The post holder is a member of the Executive and the senior management team; playing an active part in decision making at an Executive level, attendance at key governance meetings, supporting the Leeds GP Confederation to make business decisions regarding new and incumbent services whilst delivering the purpose of the Leeds GP Confederation.

The post holder will hold external relationships with system partners across the health & care system and therefore experience of senior level system relationships are essential. They will have a proactive role in developing our successful networks across the city and wider, working collaboratively with partners to develop integrated solutions to support meeting the changing needs of our patient populations.

The postholder will be an inclusive leader who will engage colleagues in the delivery of our vision, values & behaviours and empower them to take part in the leadership and wider development of our organisation.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Actively develops and maintains effective working relationships across system partners, working as part of the Executive Team and aided by the existing contacts and relationships fostered by Leeds GP Confederation

Fosters and maintains strong links across all system partners.

Identifies opportunities for collaborative working and uses initiative to open and sustain such relationships.

Uses influencing skills to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.

Internal

Chief Operating Officer

Members of the Executive

Members of the Members Council

Director of Finance

Associate Director, Clinical Professions

Head of Growth & Transformation

Service Delivery & Performance Leads

Service Delivery & Relationship Managers

External

The Clinical Directors of the Primary Care Networks across Leeds

The ICB Primary Care & Urgent Care Commissioning Teams

The Leeds Health & Care Partnership

Other providers including LTHT, LCH, LYPFT, Local Care Direct

MAIN DUTIES

Service Development, Pathways & Growth

Working with the Chief Operating Officer and the Executive Team the Head of Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth will:

Play an active role and contribute to the overall development and implementation of the organisation's long-term vision, strategic direction, and governance arrangements

Provide strategic leadership for service development, aligning opportunities with organisational vision and governance.

Identify, design, and implement new services to meet system needs and increase income, including opportunities to support neighbourhood provision.

Ensure the correct balance between Leeds GP Confederation services, and those that can be delivered by practices or PCNs, ensuring that we dont inadvertently disinvest in General Practice.

Lead business development activities, including tender submissions, bid writing, competitive opportunities, and partnership opportunities within the organisations framework.

Ensure new and existing services align with local and national guidance, and the organisations purpose.

Ensure any new opportunities continue to deliver the Leeds GP Confederation purpose.

Increases income through the development of new services identified through tender opportunities, joint working with partners, horizon scanning or responding to an area of need.

Ensure that the Leeds GP Confederation is a trusted partner in the Leeds health and care system by developing and maintaining relationships and working in collaboration with partners across the area to ensure high-quality and sustainable services for our patients.

Work collaboratively with other executive team members, sharing corporate responsibility and accountability for setting objectives and achieving goals to ensure the improved performance of the organisation.

Support quality improvement initiatives, pathway development and integration of services.

Provide regular reports to the GP Confederation Committees as part of the governance structure.

Contracting and Performance to Business as Usual

The Strategic Service Development, Pathways and Growth will:

Ensure that there is a strong contract management process underpinned by a robust performance management process as part of mobilisation and implementation of services.

Develop and implement all contract documentation for new services.

Lead the mobilisation and implementation of new services, working with clinical and operational teams for at least three months post go-live.

Ensure effective contract oversight, KPI monitoring, and compliance reporting to commissioners for new services.

Lead capacity and demand planning for new services to ensure delivery readiness.

Provide regular reports and updates on new services awarded to the GP Confederation Committees as part of the governance structure.

Supports the COO and ADCP with clinical and operational governance and contract management as required.

Leadership Responsibilities

Provide leadership, guidance and support to the services and teams within Leeds GP Confederation as needed.

Foster a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Act as a senior representative of the Confederation at system-level meetings and in strategic partnerships.

Governance, Assurance and Compliance

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that the GP Confederations CQC registration is current at all times, working with the COO to update registration details for any new services.

Ensure that new services delivered which are regulated by CQC are fully compliant with CQC requirements and that systems and processes are in place to record evidence of compliance on an ongoing basis.

Planning and Organisational Responsibilities

To plan and organise own workload.

To attend local, regional and national meetings of relevance.

Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources within their own sphere of responsibility.

Standard Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each member of staff to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Staff must be aware of and adhere to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to ensure their own safety and the safety of colleagues and patients.

Mandatory training requirements that are relevant to the post must be decided during Personal Development Review and a training plan developed.

Staff should be aware of their individual responsibilities under the Equal Opportunities Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy.

Manages Self

Maintains the highest standards of conduct and integrity within organisation adhering to relevant Codes of Conduct.

Participate in the organisations appraisal system, matching organisational aims with individual objectives.

Takes responsibility for own and others health and safety in the working environment.

Complies with all organisational and statutory requirements.

Ensures that a professional service and image is maintained at all times.

Leads in line with agreed values.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of ongoing professional development
  • Evidence of significant personal development, professionally and managerially
  • Experience of communicating and engaging effectively with external agencies/stakeholder
  • Understanding and knowledge of the workings of the NHS, the challenges it faces
  • Experience of working in the NHS
  • Up to date clinical knowledge
  • Significant experience in clinical service development at a senior level in complex health environment, including track record of developing services, performance management and change management
  • Demonstrable and successful recent experience and achievement at Executive level in a complex organisation.
  • Proven track record of outstanding leadership in clinical service development and innovation in healthcare.
  • Track record of leading successful change programmes, including service improvement, cultural change, outcome improvement and cost efficiency.
  • Demonstrable experience of developing senior level relationships into productive partnerships, cross boundary working and working with stakeholders at all levels to achieve system and organisational excellence
  • Demonstrable experience of leading competitive tenders and bid writing
  • Demonstrable experience of using data to lead improvement
  • A good understanding of the changing NHS environment.
  • Excellent inter-personal and communications skills, with a track record in writing complex business cases and policies;
  • Ability to work to deadlines
  • Able to work as part of a team and also independently
  • Able to analyse and interpret complex information

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Healthcare professional
  • Evidence of other specialist knowledge at higher degree or masters level
  • Unblemished registration with registered body.
  • Extensive knowledge of the NHS in the acute sector with up to date knowledge of patient services
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Operational Leadership qualification
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of ongoing professional development
  • Evidence of significant personal development, professionally and managerially
  • Experience of communicating and engaging effectively with external agencies/stakeholder
  • Understanding and knowledge of the workings of the NHS, the challenges it faces
  • Experience of working in the NHS
  • Up to date clinical knowledge
  • Significant experience in clinical service development at a senior level in complex health environment, including track record of developing services, performance management and change management
  • Demonstrable and successful recent experience and achievement at Executive level in a complex organisation.
  • Proven track record of outstanding leadership in clinical service development and innovation in healthcare.
  • Track record of leading successful change programmes, including service improvement, cultural change, outcome improvement and cost efficiency.
  • Demonstrable experience of developing senior level relationships into productive partnerships, cross boundary working and working with stakeholders at all levels to achieve system and organisational excellence
  • Demonstrable experience of leading competitive tenders and bid writing
  • Demonstrable experience of using data to lead improvement
  • A good understanding of the changing NHS environment.
  • Excellent inter-personal and communications skills, with a track record in writing complex business cases and policies;
  • Ability to work to deadlines
  • Able to work as part of a team and also independently
  • Able to analyse and interpret complex information

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Healthcare professional
  • Evidence of other specialist knowledge at higher degree or masters level
  • Unblemished registration with registered body.
  • Extensive knowledge of the NHS in the acute sector with up to date knowledge of patient services
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Operational Leadership qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds GP Confederation

Address

3 White Rose Office Park

Leeds

LS11 0DL


Employer's website

https://www.leedsgpconfederation.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds GP Confederation

Address

3 White Rose Office Park

Leeds

LS11 0DL


Employer's website

https://www.leedsgpconfederation.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£78,618 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B0348-26-0006

Job locations

3 White Rose Office Park

Leeds

LS11 0DL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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