Assistant Director - Health Strategy

NHS; St Asaph; Hybrid; GBP 89,000 - 104,000; Part time

Job summary

In a critical secondment position within the NHS, you will join the Strategy Team to contribute to the leadership of the Transformation and Strategic Planning Directorate. This role involves overseeing strategic planning functions, leading collaborations with professional teams, and supporting large-scale transformational changes. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, communication, and planning skills and will be integral to shaping the NHS's healthcare strategy for North Wales.

Qualifications

• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Experience in NHS planning.
• Extensive NHS senior management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of strategic models of care across various services.
• Ensure the successful delivery of agreed outcomes.
• Deputise for the Executive Director at Health Board level.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Negotiation

Influencing

Education

Masters in healthcare management or equivalent experience

MBA or equivalent leadership qualification

Job description

Job summary

This post is a Secondment until 31st March 2026 to meet the needs of the service.

If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.

This is an opportunity to join the Strategy Team at BCUHB on a secondment to the 31st March 2026. The post-holder will be a member of the senior management team for the Transformation and Strategic Planning Directorate, providing leadership for the Health Board's Strategy Team.

The post holder will lead several discrete strategic planning functions and direct BCU-wide organisational and multi-professional teams, including:

• Development of the Health Board strategy and associated strategic plans.
• Strategic planning with partners.
• Providing the strategic planning support required to successfully deliver large-scale transformational change.

The post holder will lead the strategic planning of services that support the development of an integrated and comprehensive system of care, working with partners to improve the effectiveness of end-to-end pathways covering health promotion and the prevention of ill health, primary, community, secondary and tertiary services.

The post holder will provide a source of professional expertise relating to the statutory requirements related to NHS planning, and to the expectations of planning colleagues in Welsh Government and NHS Wales Executive.

Main duties of the job

Working to the Executive Director of Transformation and Strategic Planning, the post-holder will hold delegated responsibility for a range of corporate and strategic planning strategies. The role includes ensuring strategies and plans are shaped by effective and inclusive engagement and co-production, engaging with internal and external stakeholders. The post-holder will deputise for the Executive Director at Health Board level and national forums in relation to strategic planning.

Skills and experience in planning, whether as part of a broader role or a designated planning role, are essential, together with the ability to respond to the changing environment and the resilience to facilitate the continued development of strategic planning.

There is opportunity for hybrid working, to be discussed and agreed with the successful applicant. All employees of the Health Board are required to demonstrate and embed the Values and Behaviour Statements as an integral part of the post-holder's working life, and to embed the principles into the culture of the organisation.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales . Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and 'Proud to Lead' competence framework.

Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the "Disability Confident Employer" scheme.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Details Date posted

04 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£89,491 to £103,203 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

050-AC369-0625

Job locations

Carlton Court

St Asaph Business Park

St Asaph

LL17 0JG

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder will lead the development of strategic models of care that cover primary, community, secondary and social care and impact upon the total health expenditure of North Wales of approximately £1300millions. Working with Executive Directors, Divisional Directors, senior clinicians and external partners, the post holder will ensure the development and implementation of integrated corporate strategies to develop clinical services over the next fifteen years.

The post holder will lead programmes of work to ensure the successful delivery of agreed outcomes that support the Health Boards delivery of strategic objectives and in-year targets and improve services. This will include accountability for performance and resources spanning not only multiple departments within the Health Board but also partner organisations.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder will lead the development of strategic models of care that cover primary, community, secondary and social care and impact upon the total health expenditure of North Wales of approximately £1300millions. Working with Executive Directors, Divisional Directors, senior clinicians and external partners, the post holder will ensure the development and implementation of integrated corporate strategies to develop clinical services over the next fifteen years.

The post holder will lead programmes of work to ensure the successful delivery of agreed outcomes that support the Health Boards delivery of strategic objectives and in-year targets and improve services. This will include accountability for performance and resources spanning not only multiple departments within the Health Board but also partner organisations.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters, preferably in healthcare management, or equivalent experience ?Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

• MBA or equivalent leadership qualification and commitment to seeking such a qualification ?Membership of professional institution

Communication Skills Essential

• Able to initiate, develop and maintain relationships and networks with a wide range of individuals including those in very senior positions. ?Exceptional influencing, negotiating and motivating skills. ?Highly developed writing and presentation skills - able to adopt a range of styles as appropriate. ?Well developed negotiation skills for influencing external agencies, staff, the public and political and community leaders who may be resistant to change

Experience Essential

• Evidence of significant expertise and knowledge acquired in an NHS Planning environment ?Extensive NHS senior management experience preferably at Board level in a public sector environment. ?Experience of working in multi-agency teams to deliver innovation and improvement in services. ?Achievement and experience of strategy planning, service modelling and developing successful business cases

Knowledge Essential

• Ability to work effectively with and gain and retain confidence of clinicians, managers, staff and partners. ?Up to date knowledge and understanding of priorities and objectives within NHS Wales ?Experience and understanding of the Welsh Assembly Government health agenda

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters, preferably in healthcare management, or equivalent experience ?Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

• MBA or equivalent leadership qualification and commitment to seeking such a qualification ?Membership of professional institution

Communication Skills Essential

• Able to initiate, develop and maintain relationships and networks with a wide range of individuals including those in very senior positions. ?Exceptional influencing, negotiating and motivating skills. ?Highly developed writing and presentation skills - able to adopt a range of styles as appropriate. ?Well developed negotiation skills for influencing external agencies, staff, the public and political and community leaders who may be resistant to change

Experience Essential

• Evidence of significant expertise and knowledge acquired in an NHS Planning environment ?Extensive NHS senior management experience preferably at Board level in a public sector environment. ?Experience of working in multi-agency teams to deliver innovation and improvement in services. ?Achievement and experience of strategy planning, service modelling and developing successful business cases

Knowledge Essential

• Ability to work effectively with and gain and retain confidence of clinicians, managers, staff and partners. ?Up to date knowledge and understanding of priorities and objectives within NHS Wales ?Experience and understanding of the Welsh Assembly Government health agenda

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Address

Carlton Court

St Asaph Business Park

St Asaph

LL17 0JG

Employer's website

https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/train-work-live/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Address

Carlton Court

St Asaph Business Park

St Asaph

LL17 0JG

Employer's website

https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/train-work-live/ (Opens in a new tab)