Associate Director Utilisation Management Development in Ely

We are Central East ICB, the new organisation entrusted with serving more than 3.5 million people across Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Hertfordshire. We are responsible for making sure that the NHS can continue to support our community – now, and in the future. Everything we do will be guided by our core purpose: to do what best serves the population of this area. We promise to focus on what makes the biggest difference to people’s lives – acting earlier to help prevent illness and detect disease and making it easier for our community to get the health care they need, closer to home, whenever that’s possible.

NHS Central East ICB is building its Utilisation Management capability and this new role will head up development and practical delivery of utilisation management across the organisation for the benefit of our 3.5 million population. Our approach to utilisation management is data-driven and clinically led and will ensure that resources are directed to where they deliver the greatest benefit for patients and populations. We are looking for someone with a proven track record of delivering change who is able to design and deliver new ways of working and has the skills to use data intelligently and work closely with many different clinical colleagues.

Main duties of the job:

• Design, trial, implement and document new approaches for commissioners managing health utilisation across the ICB system.
• Design and implement rapid learning and implementation processes to identify and remove steps for patients or clinical staff that add no clinical outcome value.
• Ensure commissioning of interface mechanisms that work for patients and clinicians and learn from them.
• Hold a small audit function (most audits via providers).
• Be responsible for Clinical Support tool maintenance, assessment and development.
• Oversee the work of the Directory of Services and ERS system and ensure these processes and resulting data are used to continuously improve utilisation management.
• Line manage the Directorate Business Support function.

We are committed to promoting equal opportunities to achieve equity of access, experience and outcomes and to recognising and valuing people’s differences. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity; we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, values and behaviours. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers patient outcomes. We are committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution is valued, your wellbeing is supported and all our colleagues can reach their full potential. We welcome and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of their protected characteristic. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone, including making adjustments for people who have a disability or long‑term condition and support with the recruitment process for people with lived experience. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles. We operate a Carer friendly working environment that is supportive and inclusive. We actively encourage Carers to self-identify themselves. We are a Disability Confident Employer and commit to shortlisting suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria for an interview. Please inform us of any adjustments you may require.

Person specification:

Qualifications:

• Educated to Master’s degree level or equivalent level of experience in a relevant field (e.g. health, care, public services, professional expertise, or related discipline).
• Leadership Qualification.
• Relevant health professional registration and up to date with CPD.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Significant experience at Senior Management (sub board) within the NHS, public sector, or a comparable complex system.
• Leadership experience in a complex, multi‑agency environment, ideally within health and care commissioning.
• Demonstrable success in delivering organisational change, transformation, and integration at scale.
• Deep understanding of the NHS, Integrated Care Systems, and the wider health and care policy context, including the priorities of the NHS 10 Year Plan and statutory duties of an ICB.
• Experience of leading in a politically sensitive environment and balancing competing demands with diplomacy and sound judgement.

Skills:

• Clear and effective communication and influencing skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Highly developed analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex data to inform strategy, decision‑making, and performance improvement.
• Proven ability to operate with political astuteness, demonstrating awareness of the wider political and strategic environment.
• Skilled in managing complexity and ambiguity, making sound decisions under pressure, and maintaining focus on long‑term goals while managing immediate challenges.