Workforce Strategy and Planning Manager in London

Job summaryThe Workforce Strategy and Planning Manager will play a key leadership role in supporting workforce strategy, planning, transformation and analytics across the Leicestershire Northamptonshire and Rutland (LNR) Integrated Care Board Cluster. The post holder will lead the development of workforce plans, coordinate complex workforce data and modelling activities, and provide strategic intelligence to inform commissioning decisions and service transformation.Working closely with NHS providers, local authorities, NHS England and other system partners, the role will support the delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, operational planning requirements and workforce transformation programmes. The post holder will be responsible for translating complex workforce data into meaningful insights, identifying workforce risks and opportunities, and supporting future demand and capacity planning across health and care services.The successful candidate will demonstrate strong strategic thinking, workforce planning expertise, data analysis and modelling capability, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries. They will also lead workforce-related projects, present findings to senior boards and committees, and contribute to policy development and service improvement initiatives across the cluster.Main duties of the jobThe Workforce Strategy and Planning Manager will:o Lead, coordinate and draw together multiple workforce data, insights and transformation work streams, manage complex programmes and projects to a high degree of autonomy.o Support transformation workstreams across the LNR cluster with workforce planning, data, or analytical support is needed.o Use data to drive and support ICB Teams with Strategic Commissioning, for example neighborhood teams across the cluster on the three shifts for the future NHS on workforce requirements. Sickness to prevention, hospital to community and analog to digital.o Work with a range of colleagues across the LNR Cluster to coordinate the data that underpins the delivery of the workstreams' activity.o Undertake complex forward planning analysis/modelling of workforce data to identify risk and gaps aligned to future service plans and problem solve considering these, specifically during the commissioning cycle process.o Convert data into insights, intelligence and information for a range of audiences and stakeholders presenting workforce information at relevant LNR Cluster (and other) committees and boards.o Support the planning, delivery, implementation and evaluation of a range of identified projects that will impact across the LNR system in line with LNR People Plans.o Lead workforce annual operational planning process and lead the development of cluster workforce plans in line to national guidance .About usWorking for our Integrated Care Boards will require you contributing to a shared purpose of improving outcomes for the communities we serve as part of a wider health and social care system. The organisation's ethos is rooted in integrity, collaboration and accountability, with a strong focus on putting its patient population at the centre of everything it does and delivering services to improve patient outcomes, patient experience and added years of optimised health. As part of the newly formed cluster bringing together NHS Northamptonshire ICB and NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, staff are expected to work flexibly and collaboratively across organisational boundaries to support a joined-up approach to strategic commissioning and service improvement. There is an expectation of 40% on patch working, with office bases at County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester and Haylock House, Kettering. Staff can choose which office is their primary base for contractual purposes and travel claims.This role will require a minimum of 2 days 'on patch' working in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland in our 2 main offices or partner sitesDetailsDate posted03 November 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8aSalary 57,528 to 64,750 a year per annum ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time Reference number086-8256387Job locationsHaylock houseKettering Parkway KetteringKetteringNN15 6EYUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesSupport delivery of the NHS Strategic Commissioning Framework and LNR Operating Model.To be responsible and accountable for co-ordinating strategic workforce planning across organisational boundaries within the Cluster.To undertake highly complex forward planning analysis/modelling of workforce data to identify risk and gaps aligned to future service plans and problem solve considering these particularly around neighbourhood models and the hospital community programs.Explore, recommend and be influential in finding solutions to workforce demand and capacity issues.To co-ordinate and contribute to a LNR cluster wide completion of the yearly training commissioning numbers Education Training Activity Plan( ETAP , analysing and projecting future placement capacity to influence decision making.To proactively seek out and use national policy, guidelines and workforce planning agendas to inform solutions recommended through the planning process actively seeking national best practice and developing local models for new role development.To lead on collating and managing one central workforce data repository across the ICN and maintain timeliness and accuracy. Job description Job responsibilitiesSupport delivery of the NHS Strategic Commissioning Framework and LNR Operating Model.To be responsible and accountable for co-ordinating strategic workforce planning across organisational boundaries within the Cluster.To undertake highly complex forward planning analysis/modelling of workforce data to identify risk and gaps aligned to future service plans and problem solve considering these particularly around neighbourhood models and the hospital community programs.Explore, recommend and be influential in finding solutions to workforce demand and capacity issues.To co-ordinate and contribute to a LNR cluster wide completion of the yearly training commissioning numbers Education Training Activity Plan( ETAP , analysing and projecting future placement capacity to influence decision making.To proactively seek out and use national policy, guidelines and workforce planning agendas to inform solutions recommended through the planning process actively seeking national best practice and developing local models for new role development.To lead on collating and managing one central workforce data repository across the ICN and maintain timeliness and accuracy.Person Specification Knowledge, Training and Experience EssentialEducated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist areaExtensive experience of workforce planning and organisational development within an NHS system leadership environment, including experience at ICB level in delivering workforce transformation and change programmesExperience of NHS strategic workforce planningEvidence of post qualifying continuing professional developmentMust have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagementShould have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisationsStrong understanding of workforce development in healthcare to include workforce transformation approaches, education development and commissioningDesirableMember of a relevant professional body. Communication Skills EssentialMust be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and changeDesirableExperience of engaging stakeholders in projects / workstreams across organizational boundaries Analytical EssentialProblem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demandsExperience of interpreting and analysing large datasets of workforce informationAbility to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of optionsTakes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of actionStrategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise Planning Skills EssentialDemonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long - term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordinglyComprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects Autonomy EssentialMust be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Sponsor/ Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policiesAbility to make decisions autonomously on difficult issues, , when required, working to tight and often changing timescalesExperience of identifying and interpreting National policyExperience of researching best practice (globally, private, and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation) Management Skills EssentialMust be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of othersExperience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individualsSkills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders Physical Skills EssentialWorking knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills Equality and Diversity EssentialNeeds to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of dayto-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems in the area. Person Specification Knowledge, Training and Experience EssentialEducated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist areaExtensive experience of workforce planning and organisational development within an NHS system leadership environment, including experience at ICB level in delivering workforce transformation and change programmesExperience of NHS strategic workforce planningEvidence of post qualifying continuing professional developmentMust have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagementShould have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisationsStrong understanding of workforce development in healthcare to include workforce transformation approaches, education development and commissioningDesirableMember of a relevant professional body. Communication Skills EssentialMust be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and changeDesirableExperience of engaging stakeholders in projects / workstreams across organizational boundaries Analytical EssentialProblem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demandsExperience of interpreting and analysing large datasets of workforce informationAbility to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of optionsTakes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of actionStrategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise Planning Skills EssentialDemonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long - term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordinglyComprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects Autonomy EssentialMust be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Sponsor/ Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policiesAbility to make decisions autonomously on difficult issues, , when required, working to tight and often changing timescalesExperience of identifying and interpreting National policyExperience of researching best practice (globally, private, and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation) Management Skills EssentialMust be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of othersExperience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individualsSkills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders Physical Skills EssentialWorking knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills Equality and Diversity EssentialNeeds to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of dayto-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems in the area.Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer detailsEmployer nameNHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care BoardAddressHaylock houseKettering Parkway KetteringKetteringNN15 6EYUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameNHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care BoardAddressHaylock houseKettering Parkway KetteringKetteringNN15 6EYUnited KingdomEmployer's website