Chief of Staff - Band 8d in Essex

Applications are only open to employees of NHS Essex ICB and employees currently at risk within Central East ICB and Norfolk & Suffolk ICB. If you are at-risk, you must clearly state your current NHS employing organisation; and include the words "AT RISK" alongside the organisation name on your application. Please note that applications from individuals who do not meet the above criteria will not be considered.

An exceptional opportunity has arisen to join the ICB as Chief of Staff, a senior strategic leadership role at the heart of the organisation. Working closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Team as part of the Corporate Services Directorate, you will act as a trusted adviser and operational partner, supporting leadership across internal priorities and high-profile system engagement. The role spans strategy, governance, delivery and influence, with a particular focus on external affairs, political interface and partnership working. You will play a key role in ensuring the organisation is well-connected across the health and care system, including local government, elected representatives and the voluntary sector. This is a unique opportunity to shape how the ICB engages externally and to support the delivery of improved outcomes for the people of Essex.

Main duties of the job

You will act as a senior adviser and operational partner to the Chief Executive and Executive Team, helping to coordinate and prioritise executive business and support delivery of key organisational priorities. This will include leading strategic engagement with system partners, including local authorities, elected representatives, NHS partners and VCFSE organisations; overseeing politically sensitive correspondence, reputational issues and system risks; and providing high-quality briefings, insight and advice to support executive decision-making. You will also lead the External Affairs and Policy function, developing a coordinated approach to engagement and translating national policy, political context and system developments into clear, practical recommendations for the organisation.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader who can work confidently across complex health and care systems, build trusted relationships, manage sensitive issues with sound judgement, and bring clarity, pace and focus to a demanding strategic role.

About us

NHS Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for the planning and funding of NHS services for around 1.9 million people across Essex. Our role as an ICB is to bring health and care services together, improve the health and wellbeing of our population and ensure equitable access to services and outcome for everyone. The organisations headquarters is Seax House, Chelmsford, and we operate a hybrid working model (2 office-based days) that includes working across Essex and from home. Essex ICB currently has offices in Brentwood, Harlow and Colchester, in addition to the Chelmsford HQ. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We know that different experiences, ideas and perspectives help create a stronger and more innovative organisation that delivers better outcomes for patients. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including people of all ages, disabilities, sex, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or personal circumstances. Our policies ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently throughout the recruitment process, including consideration of reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants.

Details

• Date posted: 03 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8d
• Salary: £94,356 to £108,814 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: D9708-MSE542
• Job locations: Seax House, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY

The Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHS's ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation.

The Chief of Staff is a senior strategic leadership role operating at the heart of the organisation and across the wider system. The postholder will act as a trusted partner to the Chief Executive and Executive Team, supporting them to lead effectively across internal and external agendas. The role spans strategy, governance, delivery and influence, with a particular emphasis on external engagement, political interface, system working and executive coordination. The Chief of Staff will ensure the organisation is well-positioned, well-connected and effective in its relationships with system partners, including local government, elected representatives and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. The postholder will support prioritisation of executive business, provide high-quality advice and briefings, and translate national policy and system expectations into clear, actionable recommendations for the Executive Team and Board.

The role will also provide leadership for the External Affairs and Policy function, ensuring consistent and effective engagement across the system and supporting improved decision-making and organisational performance. As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Executive Director Corporate Services in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:

• From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.
• From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.
• From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence-based improvement.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:

• Policy and service development: Analysis of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to organisational performance, system engagement, political context and external affairs. Taking high-level policy commitments from NHS strategies, including the ICB strategy and the 10 Year Health Plan, and turning them into programmes that will deliver improved outcomes and sustainable services for the local population. Development and oversight of relevant ICB policies. Use research and innovation to inform service improvements or performance management.
• Strategy and analysis: Use of complex health data sets, including those relating to performance across activity, finance and quality to inform decision making. Analysis of large volumes of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to external affairs. Turning analysis into useful insights that can inform decision making. Present highly complex data, information and insights, including qualitative and quantitative data, through clear and simple written and verbal briefings. Use of Population Health Management methodologies and tools to inform projects and programmes that will improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services.
• Planning and organisation: Develop project and programme plans to drive delivery of complex programmes relating to executive priorities and external affairs. Develop and oversee annual business plan for the Chief of Staff and External Affairs function. Manage delivery against agreed project/programme plan, ensuring appropriate governance, risk management, escalations and reporting. Develop and oversee annual business plan for External Affairs team.
• Communications and Partnerships: Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership. Listen effectively to a broad range of perspectives, including staff, patients and the public, to inform decision making. Manage complex and contentious situations with stakeholders. Build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, local government, VCFSE partners and communities as needed. Effective engagement with patients and the public as required. Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to enable the collective ownership and delivery of complex programmes that are seeking to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver a sustainable health and care system. Sharing complex and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffing. Manage conflict, find compromise and build consensus where needed to drive progress in delivery.
• Financial and resource management: Responsible for management of budget for the External Affairs and Chief of Staff function, including budget setting and accountability for delivery. Ensures effective commissioning of relevant services.
• Team management and capability building: Develop and lead the External Affairs team of 2 people, including overseeing recruitment, onboarding, development and performance management of team members. Support staff through ICB transition, including the development of teams to deliver on new ICB portfolios as agreed through transition. Support the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB Blueprint. Work collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangements. Maintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition. Act as Information Asset Owner (IAO) where nominated to do so by the Executive or senior leadership team, taking responsibility for the management of information assets created and utilised by the team.
• Other: Use initiative and work autonomously to deliver on requirements of the role. Primarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in online or in person meetings. Able to use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel). Flexibility and evolving responsibilities. As the ICB continues to evolve, all senior leader portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:

• Chief Executive and Executive Team
• ICB senior leadership and Board members
• Chief Executives Office
• Local Authority leaders and senior officers
• Members of Parliament and elected representatives
• NHS Providers and system partners
• VCSE sector organisations and networks
• NHSE regional and national teams
• Communications, Strategy and Corporate Governance teams

Person Specification

Partnerships & Communities

• Essential: Experience of working across organisational boundaries in the development and delivery of projects. Experience in working on projects that require cross-organisational collaboration, and an understanding of the concept and aims of whole-system working. Excellent influencing and negotiation skills, with experience in successfully managing conflict, finding compromise and building consensus.

Qualifications

• Essential: Educated to Masters level (relevant focus) or equivalent managerial experience. Evidence of sustained commitment to continuing professional development.

Experience

• Essential: Substantial experience of working at a senior level in a relevant healthcare environment and across complex health and care systems with demonstrable impact. Experience of leading and delivering complex and contentious change and transformation projects and/or programmes at scale. Significant experience managing political, reputational or system-level stakeholder engagement.

Strategy & Analysis

• Essential: Experience working at a strategic level, including evidence of analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex problems, recognise policy implications and manage competing priorities/interests in developing strategies. Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills involving highly complex data, including an understanding of analytical methods and how to use data to support Population Health Management. Experience translating strategy and policy into action, using proven programme, service development and project management methodologies to ensure delivery.

People & Culture

• Essential: Experience in building and maintaining high functioning teams, including recognising and promoting talent, as well as appropriately dealing with under-performance when necessary. A proven track record of compassionate leadership and experience in promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity. A commitment to continuous improvement, organisational learning and achieving positive outcomes for all staff, patients, service users and carers, working in line with the NHS People Promise.

Governance & Assurance

• Essential: Previous experience of leading projects that require collective decision-making and how to negotiate success in those situations. A strong understanding of the role and importance of effective corporate governance, balancing the need to seek relevant Board and Executive support for decisions with the ability to work autonomously to drive delivery of decisions. Experience of managing complex and often confidential information, with sound judgement and appropriate governance oversight.

Personal Attributes and Values

• Essential: Personal commitment to the values of the NHS 10-year Plan, the NHS People Plan and the Nolan Principles, and to championing equality, diversity and inclusion within the ICB and the wider health system. Takes personal responsibility and works with a high level of integrity. Energy, flexibility and resilience, with an ability to adapt and respond to complex and constantly changing environments.

Employer details

Employer name: NHS Essex Integrated Care Board

Address: Seax House, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH, United Kingdom