At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic vision and partnerships to shape healthcare across Cheshire and Merseyside.
- Company: Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, committed to quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, impactful role, and the chance to influence healthcare at scale.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Join a forward-thinking Board and make a real difference in community health.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in healthcare and strong strategic planning skills required.
Shape the future of health and care across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. The Countess of Chester Hospital is committed to delivering high-quality patient care whilst embracing innovation, partnership and continuous improvement. We are now seeking an exceptional leader to join our Board as Director of Strategy and Partnerships, a pivotal executive role that will help shape the future of healthcare for the populations we serve.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working as a full member of the Board, you will lead the development and delivery of our strategic vision, ensuring the organisation is well positioned to respond to the opportunities and challenges facing the NHS. You will play a critical role in helping the Trust realise its ambitions through innovation, collaboration and meaningful partnership working across organisational boundaries.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence healthcare at scale. Working closely with organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside, Welsh Health Boards, local authorities, the voluntary sector and wider system partners, you will lead our approach to strategic planning, population health, social value, sustainability and partnership development. You will help ensure that our services evolve to meet changing population needs whilst supporting the delivery of the NHS 10 Year Plan and wider system objectives.
Main duties of the job:
- We are looking for an inspiring and politically astute executive leader who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.
- You will bring significant leadership experience within a complex healthcare, public sector or similarly challenging environment, together with a proven ability to influence at Board level, build strong partnerships and drive strategic change.
- You will be experienced operating in an environment of complexity and ambiguity, using insight, evidence, relationships and collaboration to create shared purpose and deliver sustainable change.
- You will also be committed to compassionate leadership and our values of being Safe, Kind and Effective, helping us develop an environment where colleagues feel supported, empowered and able to deliver outstanding care.
This is an opportunity to:
- Join a forward-thinking and ambitious Board.
- Lead strategy and partnership development at Trust and system level.
- Influence the future design of health and care services.
- Build meaningful relationships across NHS, local authority, voluntary and community sectors.
- Deliver lasting improvements for patients, communities and colleagues.
- Play a leading role in population health, prevention and reducing inequalities.
About us:
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of over 400,000 people across West Cheshire, Ellesmere Port, Neston and North Wales. We have a strong focus on quality, innovation and partnership. As healthcare continues to evolve, this is an exciting time to join our Board and help shape the future of integrated health and care services across our communities.
The Trust's services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Significant senior leadership experience within the NHS or a comparable complex organisation.
- A track record of developing and delivering organisational strategy.
- Strong political awareness and understanding of national and local healthcare policy.
- Exceptional relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Experience of working effectively across organisational and system boundaries.
- A passion for improving patient outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
- A focus on developing a positive culture for patients and staff.
If you are an ambitious and collaborative leader who can bring vision, innovation and strategic focus to our organisation and partners, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Qualifications:
- Educated to master's degree or equivalent level of knowledge or experience.
- Evidence of appropriate continuing professional and personal development, as a result of feedback, reflection and experiential learning.
- Ongoing evidence of leadership and management development.
Knowledge and Experience:
- You will be a talented senior leader with experience leading the development of strategy as well as experience of roles with accountability for budget, people management, communications and programme governance.
- Senior leadership experience in a complex NHS organisation or equivalent with a deep interest in health and social care.
- You will possess excellent knowledge of the political and organisational structures that define the relationship between Government policy and NHS delivery.
- Knowledge and experience of leading pan-organisation programmes of innovation.
- Experience of driving the strategic development of an organisation, entity or division shaping the vision and operation to enable effective delivery.
- Demonstrable experience in engaging and leading meaningful collaborations with clinicians and multidisciplinary teams to build a culture of safety, learning, well-being and innovation.
- Evidence of building, leading, motivating and inspiring successful and effective senior teams within a complex organisation.
- Experience of dealing with a range of complex issues within a political and demanding stakeholder environment.
Director of Strategy & Partnerships in Chester employer: National health service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises patient safety and service improvement. With a strong commitment to employee development, including leadership training and apprenticeship programmes, staff are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to the health of London. The Trust's inclusive culture and focus on quality management ensure that employees feel valued and supported in their vital roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Strategy & Partnerships in Chester
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✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Director of Strategy & Partnerships position at National health service via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Strategy & Partnerships in Chester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at National health service.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to National health service’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
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How to prepare for a job interview at National health service
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to National health service. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at National health service. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to National health service.
