Partnership Development Lead in Eastleigh

This role offers a unique opportunity to work across organisational boundaries, bring people together around common goals, and make a tangible difference to residents and communities. This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in developing the partnerships that help improve outcomes for our residents across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. As Partnership Development Lead, you will work with senior leaders from across health, mayoral combined county authorities, local government, the voluntary sector, fire, police, and wider public services to turn shared ambitions into meaningful action. You will help build strong, trusted relationships, shape collaborative programmes and support innovation across the health and care system. Joining a dynamic and ambitious team, you will have the opportunity to influence change at scale while supporting the development of partnership working across the system.

Main duties of the job

This is a highly visible role with the opportunity to shape how organisations work together to improve the lives of our residents. You will lead the development of strategic partnerships that drive innovation, support the delivery of shared priorities and strengthen collaboration across the health and care system. By building strong relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will help create the conditions for successful partnership working, ensuring ideas are translated into action and system-wide change is delivered. Through your work, you will help influence future priorities and contribute to better outcomes for communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Working for our organisation

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) is one of the largest Integrated Care Boards in England, serving a population of over 2 million people. Working alongside our NHS providers, local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and wider partners, we are committed to improving health outcomes, tackling inequalities and delivering sustainable, high-quality health and care services. We are committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution is valued, and all our colleagues can reach their full potential. We offer competitive benefits, flexible working and a positive team atmosphere.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Partnership Development Lead will be responsible for developing, coordinating and delivering partnership programmes that support the strategic priorities of NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight. The postholder will work closely with senior leaders and partners across health, local government, the VCSE sector and public services to strengthen collaboration and drive system-wide improvement. Responsibilities include leading stakeholder engagement, developing governance arrangements, interpreting policy, managing projects and resources, producing reports and briefings, and supporting effective decision-making. The role also includes line management responsibilities and offers the opportunity to influence large-scale transformation programmes that improve outcomes for our residents.

Person specification

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• Educated to postgraduate Masters level in a relevant field (e.g. healthcare management, public policy, organisational development) or able to demonstrate equivalent specialist knowledge gained through extensive experience.
• Familiarity with requirements to involve, engage and consult the public.
• Post-graduate qualification in healthcare management, or evidence of equivalent continuing professional development.

Skills and abilities

• Able to meet deadlines in a challenging and resource lean environment.
• Demonstrable experience of line managing staff, ideally at Band 6 level or equivalent, including performance management, workload allocation and supporting professional development.
• Ability to build strong relations with internal and external project stakeholders.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Able to work under pressure.

Knowledge

• Good understanding of the current NHS agenda and healthcare policy.
• Working knowledge of local government and wider public sector policy and reform.

Communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to write comprehensive, clear and concise specifications and project documentation.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts and issues clearly at Executive level.
• Able to motivate and influence people of all levels.

Analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to think logically.
• High level of attention to detail.

IT and digital literacy

• Good use of Microsoft Office.

Project management

• Comprehensive experience of project principles, techniques, and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects.

Please note the following before applying: We reserve the right to amend the closing date based on the volume of applications received. Vacancies attracting a high volume of applications may therefore close earlier than advertised. In compliance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed as part of the selection process. As a Disability Confident Employer we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. As an ICB, we value diversity and are committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. If you are successful and are joining from a non-NHS background, there will be an expectation that you will be engaged from the bottom of the pay band. New employees to the ICB will be subject to a probationary period of six months (some exemptions apply, please refer to the ICBs policy for full details). We encourage and support our staff to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as this remains the best way to protect ourselves, our families, our colleagues, and patients from the virus. We recognise that some candidates for accessibility reasons may use software to support their application. At our Organisation, our selection process ensures we recruit candidates with the right skills and values. We monitor applications and remain alert to misuse that misrepresents abilities including the inappropriate use of AI.