Group Deputy Director of Strategy & Planning

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

The closing date is 15 May 2025

Job summary

The Deputy Director of Strategy and Planning is a key member of the senior management team in Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group that provides senior leadership and direction for the Group in developing our vision for sustainable and high-quality clinical services within the organisation, and also for the Group's role relating to integrated care working with all key providers of care in the Lincolnshire system.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be a highly visible, senior, authoritative individual who provides assurance (in collaboration with the Director of Improvement and Integration) to the Board that systems are in place and correct policies and procedures are adhered to across the organisation to ensure safe and effective healthcare. The post holder will be an effective and visible leader who will enable the organisation to continuously improve its performance in relation to Service Development and workforce matters.

The post holder will directly lead and manage a designated portfolio on behalf of the Director of Improvement & Integration. This portfolio includes the Strategic and Planning and PMO Teams.

About us

Our Group is situated in the beautiful county of Lincolnshire, serving a population of more than 750,000 people. Lincolnshire is such a wonderful place to live and work with many opportunities to grow and develop as well as spend time on hobbies, activities and taking in local historic sites. Find out more on theVisit Lincolnshire website.

Our Group provides community, acute and specialist services to people in Lincolnshire and neighbouring counties. Our 2023/24 Group annual income was c£874m, and we employ approximately 11,000 WTE staff.

We provide services at Lincoln County Hospital, Grantham and District Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, as well as running services from community hospital sites and other community locations across Lincolnshire.

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£105,385 to £121,271 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

357-LN-111-25-QIA156

Job locations

Lincoln County Hospital/ Beech House

Greetwell Road

Lincoln

LN2 5QY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Lead on Group-wide strategic planning and partnership working. The post holder will be responsible for coordinating the development of the Groups Strategy through highly complex analysis and understanding of local and national policy, and in ensuring alignment and overarching policy and governance. Analysing and reviewing external factors and internal capabilities that may impact on the Groups financial, operational, workforce and clinical direction is a key facet of this role. While ensuring strategic development of short/ medium/long term plans are robust, closely monitored and designed to ensure the implementation of the Groups strategic aims is a priority.

To be accountable for budget within the Directorate and ensure the achievement of financial balance

Lead on the development of the organisational strategic framework and annual refresh working with the Group Board resulting in an annual plan enabling the Director of Improvement and Integration to fulfil their responsibility for ensuring an organisational strategy and delivery plan.

Provide advice on Group wide strategy and policy to the Group Executive and Board

Bring Clinical and Management Teams together from across the whole organisation to develop a shared plan for each of the services provided by the organisation.

Be responsible for the production and ongoing development of the Groups strategy for acute hospital services, and the partnerships required to support both its development and implementation within the organisation and across the Lincolnshire ICS, and the wider Midlands region. Be responsible for service development leading to improvement and transformation change.

Having a key leadership role in Developing our partnership plans as part of the Provider Collaborative with other health and care providers across Lincolnshire and the Midlands region, focussing on the development and delivery of integrated service models for the future

Lead on both planning and delivery of the GIRFT (Getting it Right First Time) programme across all specialities, clinical and non-clinical, Group wide.

Lead on the annual programme, working with corporate and divisional colleagues, to identify areas for improvement across our strategic objectives of patients, people, services, and partners utilising a range of complex data such as patient level costings, service line reporting and model hospital.

The post holder will lead the Project Management Office team to manage and support good programme and project governance preparing reports for divisions, committees, and Group Board.

To provide oversight of in year delivery against the Integrated Improvement Plan holding strategic objective, programme and project leads to account for delivery.

To develop, implement and ensure compliance with a range of project documentation co- creating with directorate and divisional colleagues.

Make significant contribution to the Group financial recovery programme and ongoing financial stability.

Develop strong relationships across the system to ensure the development of shared strategic priorities and plans. This will involve a positive and proactive contribution to the development of the Integrated Care System (ICS) and Provider Collaboratives as well as taking the lead for the Group on appropriate partnership boards.

Lead for the Group on Population Health and Health Inequalities

Oversee the local population health programme, working within the Lincolnshire ICS to deliver measurable improvements.

Explore opportunities for the development of consistent approaches to population health and reducing inequalities recommending action to the Group Board

Make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations which require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options in order to lead the development and delivery of a complex programme of insight and strategic change for the Organisation.

Interpret highly complex analytical data to identify priorities and the best course of action, communicating concepts to a wide range of audiences

Ensuring governance and monitoring systems are in place to support management of the strategic development and plan and provide assurance to the Group Board

Deputise for the Director of Improvement & Integration in relation to strategy planning, GIRFT or system work and attend internal and external meetings (such as the Board, Executive Team, Regional System Performance meetings) providing assurance around the operation of the Directorate.

Responsibility for the Management of both the Strategy & Planning Team and the PMO Team providing leadership and development.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Lead on Group-wide strategic planning and partnership working. The post holder will be responsible for coordinating the development of the Groups Strategy through highly complex analysis and understanding of local and national policy, and in ensuring alignment and overarching policy and governance. Analysing and reviewing external factors and internal capabilities that may impact on the Groups financial, operational, workforce and clinical direction is a key facet of this role. While ensuring strategic development of short/ medium/long term plans are robust, closely monitored and designed to ensure the implementation of the Groups strategic aims is a priority.

To be accountable for budget within the Directorate and ensure the achievement of financial balance

Lead on the development of the organisational strategic framework and annual refresh working with the Group Board resulting in an annual plan enabling the Director of Improvement and Integration to fulfil their responsibility for ensuring an organisational strategy and delivery plan.

Provide advice on Group wide strategy and policy to the Group Executive and Board

Bring Clinical and Management Teams together from across the whole organisation to develop a shared plan for each of the services provided by the organisation.

Be responsible for the production and ongoing development of the Groups strategy for acute hospital services, and the partnerships required to support both its development and implementation within the organisation and across the Lincolnshire ICS, and the wider Midlands region. Be responsible for service development leading to improvement and transformation change.

Having a key leadership role in Developing our partnership plans as part of the Provider Collaborative with other health and care providers across Lincolnshire and the Midlands region, focussing on the development and delivery of integrated service models for the future

Lead on both planning and delivery of the GIRFT (Getting it Right First Time) programme across all specialities, clinical and non-clinical, Group wide.

Lead on the annual programme, working with corporate and divisional colleagues, to identify areas for improvement across our strategic objectives of patients, people, services, and partners utilising a range of complex data such as patient level costings, service line reporting and model hospital.

The post holder will lead the Project Management Office team to manage and support good programme and project governance preparing reports for divisions, committees, and Group Board.

To provide oversight of in year delivery against the Integrated Improvement Plan holding strategic objective, programme and project leads to account for delivery.

To develop, implement and ensure compliance with a range of project documentation co- creating with directorate and divisional colleagues.

Make significant contribution to the Group financial recovery programme and ongoing financial stability.

Develop strong relationships across the system to ensure the development of shared strategic priorities and plans. This will involve a positive and proactive contribution to the development of the Integrated Care System (ICS) and Provider Collaboratives as well as taking the lead for the Group on appropriate partnership boards.

Lead for the Group on Population Health and Health Inequalities

Oversee the local population health programme, working within the Lincolnshire ICS to deliver measurable improvements.

Explore opportunities for the development of consistent approaches to population health and reducing inequalities recommending action to the Group Board

Make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations which require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options in order to lead the development and delivery of a complex programme of insight and strategic change for the Organisation.

Interpret highly complex analytical data to identify priorities and the best course of action, communicating concepts to a wide range of audiences

Ensuring governance and monitoring systems are in place to support management of the strategic development and plan and provide assurance to the Group Board

Deputise for the Director of Improvement & Integration in relation to strategy planning, GIRFT or system work and attend internal and external meetings (such as the Board, Executive Team, Regional System Performance meetings) providing assurance around the operation of the Directorate.

Responsibility for the Management of both the Strategy & Planning Team and the PMO Team providing leadership and development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to a Doctorate level qualification, or relevant experience plus the specialist knowledge below.
  • Specialist knowledge over more than one discipline, function acquired over significant period In-depth professional knowledge in a number of disciplines e.g. financial management, performance management, information systems, staff management acquired through training and experience over extended period).
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Evidence of relevant professional management training and/or qualification

Knowledge/Skills

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport and credibility with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Good working knowledge of relevant NHS policy initiatives and likely changes in the medium term.
  • Ability to interpret national policies and guidance.
  • Ability to take personal responsibility and have the confidence to make difficult or unpopular decisions.
  • Demonstrates personal credibility and adopts a personal style that encourages others to be open.
  • Well-developed analytical skills with sound judgement in interpreting data and nuances of information.
  • Specialist knowledge over more than one discipline/function acquired over a significant period.
  • Extensive knowledge of key national NHS policy and strategies relevant to the role
  • Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the NHS and emerging national policy.
  • Demonstrates personal credibility and adopts a personal style that encourages others to be open.
  • Ability to take personal responsibility and have the confidence to make difficult or unpopular decisions.
  • Ability to communicate at all levels verbally and in writing in a manner that is clear, fluent and factual.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working at a senior/corporate level within strategy and planning in the NHS
  • Experience of strategy development, analysing the external environment and appreciation of the changing needs for complex healthcare providers and systems.
  • Experience of strategic thinking at a senior level
  • Extensive experience of inter-agency working
  • Experience of communicating and working with senior managers and leaders
  • Demonstrable experience in leading, motivating, and managing teams
  • Experience of managing complex projects and programme of work in the NHS
  • Significant experience of staff management at senior level, including conducting and hearing formal staff investigations and cases.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to a Doctorate level qualification, or relevant experience plus the specialist knowledge below.
  • Specialist knowledge over more than one discipline, function acquired over significant period In-depth professional knowledge in a number of disciplines e.g. financial management, performance management, information systems, staff management acquired through training and experience over extended period).
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Evidence of relevant professional management training and/or qualification

Knowledge/Skills

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport and credibility with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Good working knowledge of relevant NHS policy initiatives and likely changes in the medium term.
  • Ability to interpret national policies and guidance.
  • Ability to take personal responsibility and have the confidence to make difficult or unpopular decisions.
  • Demonstrates personal credibility and adopts a personal style that encourages others to be open.
  • Well-developed analytical skills with sound judgement in interpreting data and nuances of information.
  • Specialist knowledge over more than one discipline/function acquired over a significant period.
  • Extensive knowledge of key national NHS policy and strategies relevant to the role
  • Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the NHS and emerging national policy.
  • Demonstrates personal credibility and adopts a personal style that encourages others to be open.
  • Ability to take personal responsibility and have the confidence to make difficult or unpopular decisions.
  • Ability to communicate at all levels verbally and in writing in a manner that is clear, fluent and factual.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working at a senior/corporate level within strategy and planning in the NHS
  • Experience of strategy development, analysing the external environment and appreciation of the changing needs for complex healthcare providers and systems.
  • Experience of strategic thinking at a senior level
  • Extensive experience of inter-agency working
  • Experience of communicating and working with senior managers and leaders
  • Demonstrable experience in leading, motivating, and managing teams
  • Experience of managing complex projects and programme of work in the NHS
  • Significant experience of staff management at senior level, including conducting and hearing formal staff investigations and cases.

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

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Lincoln County Hospital/ Beech House

Greetwell Road

Lincoln

LN2 5QY


Employer's website

https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Lincoln County Hospital/ Beech House

Greetwell Road

Lincoln

LN2 5QY


Employer's website

https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Director of Improvement & Integration

Sameedha Rich-Mahadkar

sameedha-rich.mahadkar@nhs.net

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£105,385 to £121,271 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

357-LN-111-25-QIA156

Job locations

Lincoln County Hospital/ Beech House

Greetwell Road

Lincoln

LN2 5QY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)