Director of Primary Care

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board; St Asaph; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) seeks a senior leader to support the Chief Operating Officer in primary care contracting and commissioning, with delegated authority to act on behalf of the COO. The role shapes policy, goals, and standards to improve North Wales primary care services.

Working with executive directors and external partners, you will ensure delivery of world-class primary care, oversee complex governance and budget matters, and provide strategic direction across the

Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent management qualification or extensive senior-level experience.
• Proven track record in strategic service planning and change management in health/primary care.
• Evidence of continued professional development and leadership training.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for primary care contracting and commissioning, with delegated authority.
• Interpret NHS Wales strategy and develop board policy for primary care development and standards.
• Oversee compliance with complex legislation, governance, budgeting, and performance management.
• Collaborate cross-organisation and with external partners to deliver high-quality primary care services.

Skills

Strategic leadership

NHS policy interpretation

Contracting & commissioning

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Education

Masters degree or equivalent senior management qualification

Evidence of professional development in leadership

Job description

• The post holder will support the Chief Operating Officer (COO), holding a key strategic leadership role, including full delegated powers and authority to act on behalf of the COO in relation to all Primary Care Contracting and Commissioning issues.
• The post holder will interpret NHS strategy and policy and be responsible for developing the Board’s policy in relation to primary care development, contracting and commissioning, including the setting of goals and standards and implementing this to deliver improved primary care services for the population of North Wales.
• Working across the organisation, with Executive Directors, senior clinicians, and externally with independent contractors and partner organisations, the post holder will ensure the development and delivery of world class primary care services.
• The post holder will be responsible for overseeing compliance with complex legislation and national standards across all Primary Care policy, developments and contracts. As a member of the Director’s Senior Management Team the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of primary care development and contracts, including policy development, budget review and advice, quality standards, governance, and performance management.
• The post holder will work across all areas of primary care, interpreting WG health policy and strategy to develop local responses.

• The post holder will support the Chief Operating Officer (COO), holding a key strategic leadership role, including full delegated powers and authority to act on behalf of the COO in relation to all Primary Care Contracting and Commissioning issues.
• The post holder will interpret NHS strategy and policy and be responsible for developing the Board’s policy in relation to primary care development, contracting and commissioning, including the setting of goals and standards and implementing this to deliver improved primary care services for the population of North Wales.
• Working across the organisation, with Executive Directors, senior clinicians, and externally with independent contractors and partner organisations, the post holder will ensure the development and delivery of world class primary care services.
• The post holder will be responsible for overseeing compliance with complex legislation and national standards across all Primary Care policy, developments and contracts. As a member of the Director’s Senior Management Team the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of primary care development and contracts, including policy development, budget review and advice, quality standards, governance, and performance management.
• The post holder will work across all areas of primary care, interpreting WG health policy and strategy to develop local responses.

Job Overview

• The post holder will support the Chief Operating Officer (COO), holding a key strategic leadership role, including full delegated powers and authority to act on behalf of the COO in relation to all Primary Care Contracting and Commissioning issues.
• The post holder will interpret NHS strategy and policy and be responsible for developing the Board’s policy in relation to primary care development, contracting and commissioning, including the setting of goals and standards and implementing this to deliver improved primary care services for the population of North Wales.
• Working across the organisation, with Executive Directors, senior clinicians, and externally with independent contractors and partner organisations, the post holder will ensure the development and delivery of world class primary care services.
• The post holder will be responsible for overseeing compliance with complex legislation and national standards across all Primary Care policy, developments and contracts. As a member of the Director’s Senior Management Team the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of primary care development and contracts, including policy development, budget review and advice, quality standards, governance, and performance management.
• The post holder will work across all areas of primary care, interpreting WG health policy and strategy to develop local responses.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide expert leadership in translating national policy and guidance into effective local services, working collaboratively with Integrated Health Communities, primary care contractors, professional representatives and partner organisations to develop innovative, integrated and evidence-based models of care.

You will lead the management and performance of primary care contractual arrangements, including GMS, GDS, GOS and Community Pharmacy, ensuring robust governance, regulatory compliance, effective use of resources and value for money. You will provide expert advice on complex contractual and performance matters, lead negotiations and dispute processes, and oversee arrangements relating to contractor performance and professional regulation.

A key focus will be developing strong assurance and performance frameworks to support safe, high‑quality primary care services, identifying areas for improvement and taking appropriate action where concerns arise.

Providing visible and effective leadership, you will lead and develop teams across North Wales and build strong relationships with clinicians, contractors, partners and stakeholders. You will be confident operating in a complex environment, influencing at a senior level and constructively challenging existing approaches to deliver sustainable service improvement.

Working for our organisation

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is Wales’s largest health organisation, with a budget of over £2.4 billion and a workforce of over 20,000 staff.

BCUHB provides a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and specialist hospital services for the population of North Wales, across 3 acute hospitals and a network of community hospitals, health centres, clinics, and mental health units. It also co‑ordinates or provides the work of GP practices and NHS services provided by dentists, opticians, and pharmacists across the region.

The Health Board is an integrated health system that strives for excellent, compassionate care delivered in partnership with the public sector and other statutory and third sector organisations.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Candidates are encouraged to refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to Masters Degree level, or equivalent management qualification or equivalent senior level experience
• Evidence of continued professional development across several disciplines
• Evidence of continued management and leadership development, gained over an extensive period

Desirable criteria

• Leadership/management qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience of operating at very senior management level, likely to be at Board level, in an NHS organisation
• Significant experience of strategic service planning across a range of health service areas in primary and community services
• Proven experience of implementing service change in a complex environment, managing conflict appropriately
• Advanced knowledge of primary care contractual arrangements and regulations
• Extensive experience of dealing with primary care professional concerns, handling investigations and operating Performance panels
• Extensive experience of service planning, a successful track record in delivering service change and improvement and managing HR implications of change
• Experience of significant budgetary and staff management responsibility, with a track record of delivering financial sustainability and value for money
• Experience of negotiation with contractor professions regarding contractual issues

Desirable criteria

• Previous health care experience in a large organisation

Knowledge And Skills

Essential criteria

• Advanced knowledge of primary care governance structures and systems for assuring safety and quality of patient services
• Comprehensive understanding of the WAG policy direction for the NHS in Wales and ability to develop service solutions to deliver this agenda
• Proven experience in clinical engagement with primary care to deliver service improvement
• Proven leadership skills
• Professional and personal credibility with primary care contractors
• High level change management skills
• Highly developed written and verbal presentation and communication skills
• Highly developed influencing and negotiating skills, with ability to effectively deal with extremely challenging situations
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with clinicians, other staff colleagues and partner organisations
• Ability to think and act strategically, articulating a clear vision
• A commitment to citizen focussed local service delivery
• Ability to analyse, interpret and report complex information
• Ability to deal with rapidly a changing environment and competing priorities

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrable understanding of the structure and framework of the NHS Wales