Business Manager - Band 6

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model (2 office-based)

Job summary

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is seeking a directorate Business Manager to join the busy Business Support Team. The role supports the Medical Directorate with diary management, reporting, and governance in a hybrid Essex-based setting.

You will line manage a small directorate-aligned team, collaborate with the central Business Support Team, and drive improvements in processes, information flows and performance reporting for the ICB.

Qualifications

• Experience in senior project support or business management roles.
• Ability to manage sensitive information and complex projects.
• Capability to translate complex information into clear briefings for leadership.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the business support function for the aligned directorate (Medical).
• Line manage the business support team including recruitment and performance management.
• Provide executive diary support and high-quality briefings for the Executive Medical Director.
• Coordinate information, workflows and reporting to support organisational priorities.
• Monitor governance, KPIs and financial planning with the finance partner.

Skills

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Project management

Policy & governance

Education

Degree level or equivalent managerial experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Job description

We are seeking a directorate Business Manager to join our busy and newly established Business Support Team. You will be aligned to the ICB's Medical Directorate, which forms part of a larger central business support team, including a team of Business Managers, Business Support Officers & Assistants who provide high-quality business support to the organisation.

You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of business processes including supporting a busy Executive Director's office, direct executive diary support, management of day-to-day administrative functions, coordinating information, reporting and workflows, and maintaining effective systems that support organisational priorities. You will also have line management of a small directorate aligned business support team. The role will require proactive problem-solving to address operational challenges and ensure compliance with internal policies and statutory requirements.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Delivery of Business Support function for aligned directorate (Medical).

Collaborative working in wider central Business Support Team including cross-cover and functional working with the Business Managers and team.

Line management of business support team, including overseeing recruitment, onboarding, development and performance management of team members.

Proactively managing and supporting the Executive Medical Director including diary management, production of high quality written and verbal briefings and delivery of agreed projects

You will work closely with the finance business partner on oversight of project / directorate business and financial plans. You will be expected to build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB including across directorate senior leadership team, executive team & the wider organisation.

You will be required to attend the ICB headquarers office twice per week at Seax House, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH and may be required to attend other office locations across Essex.

About us

NHS Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for the planning and funding of NHS services for around 1.9 million people across Essex. Our role as an ICB is to bring health and care services together, improve the health and wellbeing of our population and ensure equitable access to services and outcome for everyone. The organisations headquarters is Seax House, Chelmsford, and we operate a hybrid working model (2 office-based days) that includes working across Essex and from home. Essex ICB currently has offices in Brentwood, Harlow and Colchester, in addition to the Chelmsford HQ.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We know that different experiences, ideas and perspectives help create a stronger and more innovative organisation that delivers better outcomes for patients. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including people of all ages, disabilities, sex, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or personal circumstances. Our policies ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently throughout the recruitment process, including consideration of reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants.

Please note that the organisation does not hold a sponsorship licence.

Job responsibilities

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY

Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation.

This post will be part of the Corporate Services Directorate. By working together across team boundaries, streamlining processes, adopting new approaches and embracing new technology the directorate will deliver the highest quality corporate services for the ICB, creating the conditions for its success.

This post will be part of a team of six Business Managers, who will provide high quality business management support to the wider organisation. The team will be led by the Senior Business Manager to ensure the support provided will be consistent across all directorates guided by a core business management offer.

The Business Manager will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of business processes within their designated area. This includes managing day-to-day administrative functions, coordinating information and work flows, and maintaining effective systems that support organisational priorities. The role will require proactive problem-solving to address operational challenges and ensure compliance with internal policies and statutory requirements.

The postholder will support financial planning and resource allocation. This involves monitoring budgets, preparing reports, and ensuring that expenditure aligns with organisational objectives and financial frameworks. The postholder will also assist with procurement processes and maintain accurate records to support transparency and accountability.

The Business Manager will also play a key role in supporting governance arrangements and monitoring performance. They will oversee internal processes to ensure adherence to organisational standards and regulatory requirements. This includes tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), preparing performance reports, and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

The Business Manager will act as a point of contact for queries, facilitate effective communication across departments, and support collaborative working with system partners. They will also assist in preparing briefing materials, presentations, and reports for senior leadership and external stakeholders.

The role requires active involvement in projects and transformation programmes, providing coordination and administrative support to ensure successful delivery. The Business Manager will help manage timelines, monitor progress, and elevate risks where necessary. They will contribute to the development of new processes and systems that align with organisational change and strategic objectives.

As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Essex ICB in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:

• From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.
• From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.
• From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:

Policy and service development

• Support implementation of policy and / or service developments related to directorate it supports.
• Support team to ensure compliance with relevant ICB policies
• Use research, innovation and audits to inform service improvements or performance management

Strategy and analysis

• Understanding of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to directorate it supports.
• Helps present insights and reports, draw from complex data, that can be used to inform decision making and delivery
• Use of data and insight to contribute to reporting, including performance management, financial and quality reporting against agreed contractual or project deliverables
• Understanding of Population Health Management methodologies and tools and how to use them to inform projects and programmes that will improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services

Planning and organisation

• Support development and delivery of project plans relating to their allocated directorate(s), ensuring appropriate governance, risk management, escalations and reporting
• Lead coordination of meetings and events to support delivery of project plans
• Manage competing priorities, prioritizing own and team resources to effectively deliver on short, medium and longer term priorities
• Ensure accurate reporting and records management
• Support delivery and monitoring of business plan for their allocated directorates

Communications and Partnerships

• Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership
• Supports development of high quality written and verbal briefings
• Build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB as needed
• Supports effective engagement with patients and the public as required
• Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to help deliver agreed projects / manage directorate
• Share complex, sensitive and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffing
• Able to manage conflict, find compromise and persuade based on evidence as needed

Financial and resource management

• Supports delivery of budget for their allocated directorate(s) including effective budget reporting as required
• Close working with finance business partner on oversight of project / directorate business and financial plans
• Supports procurement of relevant services

Team management and capability building

• Line management, including overseeing recruitment, onboarding, development and performance management of team members
• Supporting directorate oversight of workforce reporting, including reporting on key HR metrics
• Able to influence in order to deliver effectively through those not directly line managing
• Support the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB Blueprint
• Work collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangements
• Maintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition
• Supporting effective Information Asset Management for the team

Other

• Use initiative and work independently as needed to deliver on requirements of the role
• Primarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetings
• to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel) and any other software requirements.

Flexibility and evolving responsibilities

As the ICB continues to evolve, portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:

• ICB senior leaders
• Team members
• Finance business partners
• Information Governance team
• HR business partners
• Business Managers
• System partners

Person Specification

Personal Attributes and Values

• Personal commitment to the values of the NHS 10-year Plan, the NHS People Plan, the Nolan Principles, to championing equality, diversity and inclusion within the ICB and the wider health system

Partnerships & Communities

• Experience working across teams and organisations in the development and delivery of projects
• Able to effective influencing and challenge within areas of responsibility, escalating appropriately where necessary

Experience

• Experience working in senior project support / business management roles
• Experience of managing sensitive situations with staff and stakeholders
• Experience managing complex and often confidential information
• Experience of supporting delivery of complex and contentious change and transformation projects
• Able to understand and interpret complex information and interpret to support business delivery
• Able to translate complex information into clear communications for a range of audiences, including to deliver effective reports to senior leadership
• Experience using proven programme service development and project management methodologies to ensure delivery

People & Culture

• Line management experience, including supporting individual development and addressing under-performance, when necessary
• Acts as a positive, compassionate and inclusive team member, demonstrating commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity
• A commitment to continuous improvement, organisation learning and achieving positive outcomes for all staff, patients, service users and carers working in line with the NHS People Promise

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level (relevant focus) or equivalent managerial experience
• Evidence of sustained commitment to continuing professional development

Governance and Assurance

• Experience supporting delivery of projects that require collective decision-making and how to negotiate success in those situations
• A good understanding effective corporate governance and the route for decision making within the ICB