Assistant Director of Integrated Commissioning - Urgent Emergency Care in Northampton

We are seeking an exceptional, forward‑thinking strategic commissioning lead for Urgent Emergency Care (UEC) to join our senior team as Assistant Director of Integrated Commissioning – UEC. This pivotal, system‑wide role will lead the transformation of commissioning across UEC in the Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland (LNR) Cluster, delivering the UEC Commissioning Strategy for Acute Based Pathways and driving innovation, recovery and long‑term improvement in population health outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Act as Lead Commissioner for UEC‑related contracts, ensuring effective oversight of delivery, performance, and transformation of local health and care services.
• Lead and be accountable for the demand and capacity planning process for Urgent and Emergency Care.
• Oversee the strategic transformation of UEC Pathways across LNR.
• Work closely with system partners and stakeholders to deliver integrated, population‑health‑driven outcomes across the ICB Cluster.
• Drive the development and implementation of new models of care related to UEC.
• Drive implementation and delivery of the NHS Strategic Commissioning Framework and LNR Operating Model.
• Lead the delivery of the UEC Commissioning Strategy for Acute Based Pathways with partners, stakeholders, providers and partner organisations to ensure alignment with broader system objectives.
• Identify local, national and international best practice to inform the cluster’s strategic vision and improve outcomes and care.
• Constantly horizon‑scan for new and innovative practices to adopt across the cluster.
• Lead commissioning solutions that enable outstanding patient outcomes in all sectors, meeting local and national standards and governance processes while maintaining budgetary responsibilities.
• Translate national policy and guidance into local commissioning frameworks in line with the cluster’s strategic ambitions.
• Ensure all partners work to an agreed set of policies and processes and coordinate the development of system‑wide improvement plans.
• Ensure system‑wide dashboards are continually developed to support county‑wide KPIs and Better Care Fund submissions, and annual operating plans.
• Provide expert advice and support using evidence‑based approaches to improve patient outcomes, reduce health inequalities and promote integrated care.
• Deputise for the Director on operational matters when required.
• Provide expert support for all work programmes affecting urgent and emergency care pathways alongside other senior colleagues.
• Work with Population Health Management leads to target resources addressing health inequalities.
• Develop and implement approaches that embed integrated partner working, including alliances, collaborative specifications, contracts, MOUs, etc.
• Coordinate completion and monitoring of system‑wide plans, including Winter Plans.
• Support the ongoing management and development of system dashboards.
• Monitor the system position against agreed KPIs, identify and agree improvement plans with partners.
• Report on performance against forecast plan, providing Boards and Committees with accurate trend and delivery data for future planning.
• Identify and mitigate strategic risks impacting urgent and emergency care, ensuring resilient service provision during periods of pressure or crisis.
• Participate in the senior manager on‑call rota.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience at a similar level.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in specialisms relevant to the role with proven significant leadership experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development and demonstrated expertise in a healthcare environment.
• Senior‑level management experience in the NHS or other public healthcare industry.
• Board‑level experience leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in politically sensitive and complex environments.
• Record of transferring processes and roles between locations.
• Commissioning expertise in a healthcare environment.
• Experience with proven implementation of project management methodologies.
• Member of a relevant professional body.
• Education sector knowledge and understanding of the wider health economy with commercial expertise.
• Awareness of public and private sector business management best practice.
• Experience operating in and delivering priorities in a partnership environment.
• Development and delivery of strategy and planning.
• Strong communication skills and ability to build trusted stakeholder relationships in a political context.
• Experience preparing concise communications for senior stakeholders and handling media in politically sensitive environments.
• Extensive experience delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders under pressure.
• Commitment to listening to diverse views to drive better results.
• Analytical ability to assess complex, conflicting information and make informed decisions.
• Ability to analyse numerical and written data to inform initiatives.
• Strategic planning skills with political savvy and ability to adjust plans across short, medium and long‑term timeframes.
• Experience managing and prioritising a large budget, with reporting to Board management.
• Experience with project and programme management techniques such as Prince2 or Managing Successful Projects.
• Capability to manage own workload and make autonomous decisions in the absence of complete information.
• Leadership experience driving major change initiatives with entrepreneurialism.
• Experience creating and motivating new teams to achieve common objectives.
• Ability to delegate effectively and work between strategic and operational activities.