Head of Planning and Partnerships

NHS; Abercynon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in Wales is seeking a Head of Planning and Partnerships. This fixed-term role requires expertise in service planning and development, with responsibilities including leading care groups and providing strategic advice on healthcare policies. The ideal candidate will have a Master's level education and significant experience in a senior role within health and social care, alongside strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage complex tasks efficiently.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in senior management or strategic development role within health or social care.
• Detailed knowledge of Health Service planning processes.
• Experience working in a politically sensitive organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned care groups in planning and service development.
• Work with executive team and external stakeholders to determine service policy.
• Provide expert advice on national policy and guidance.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Strategic decision-making

Complex task management

Self-motivated

Education

Masters level education or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Job summary: This is a key post within the organisation providing a lead on planning, service redesign and service development, which requires highly specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience to ensure the health needs of the local population are met. In doing so, the post holder will contribute to and influence the partnerships agenda for the service areas that they provide a planning and partnerships lead for and will also support the development of commissioning in those areas.

This post is fixed term/secondment for 12 months 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.

Main duties

The Head of Planning and Partnerships will lead their assigned care groups in planning, partnerships, IMTP development and implementation to ensure services are planned within care groups and taking account of interdependencies with other care groups and service structures to meet the needs of the University Health Board population.

The post holder will work closely with the executive team, clinical and non-clinical directorates and external stakeholders to determine service policy and direction, ensuring a sustainable range of healthcare services and secure improvements in services to meet the health needs of the local population.

The post holder will work closely with Care Groups, clinical service groups, and external partners where appropriate, to contribute to corporate strategies and lead the development of service specific plans. This will include the development of effective internal and external engagement plans to support this work.

Critical to this role will be the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with Directorate Managers, Clinical Directors, Senior Nurses, Executive Directors, colleagues in other corporate directorates and the wider planning and performance team and external partners.

About us

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is part of the NHS Wales family. Our Health Board provides primary, secondary and community health and wellbeing services to around 450,000 people living in three County Boroughs: Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

We live by our core values:

• We listen, learn and improve
• We treat everyone with respect
• We all work together as one team

We are a proud local employer; around 80% of our 15,000 workforce live within our region, making our staff not only our lifeblood of our organisation but of the diverse communities that we serve.

Details

Date posted: 30 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £65,424 to £76,021 a year per annum

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 110-AC315-1025

Job locations: Ynysmeurig House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN

Responsibilities

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.

The post holder will provide expert advice to the Directorates/Care Groups, Assistant Directors and Executive Directors in the interpretation and implementation of national relevant policy and guidance.

Person Specification

Qualifications and/or Knowledge (Essential):

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent, plus knowledge in staff management, performance management and financial management.
• Relevant experience with a track record of operating in a senior management or strategic development role within health and/or social care
• Detailed knowledge of Health Service planning processes
• Detailed knowledge of funding mechanisms and financial flows within the NHS

Experience (Essential):

• Evidence of working within a highly complex and politically sensitive organisation
• Evidence of delivering major service change

Aptitude and Abilities (Essential):

• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build and sustain relationships at all levels and with a range of individuals and groups
• The ability to interpret large amounts of complex information and make appropriate strategic and operational decisions
• Demonstrable ability to work on multiple complex tasks simultaneously and produce high quality work within tight deadlines and within resource constraints

Values (Essential):

• Self-motivated, innovative and proactive
• Able to plan and prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines and deal effectively with conflicting priorities

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.

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.

Employer details: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Ynysmeurig House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN

Employer's website: https://joinctm.wales/