Head of Health Inequalities

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Health Inequalities to provide strategic leadership in addressing unwarranted variation in health outcomes and ensuring equitable access to services. This pivotal role will set the direction for prevention and early intervention and will champion the systematic embedding of health equity across service design and delivery.

You will be accountable for the development and delivery of programmes that improve population health, reduce inequalities, and promote inclusive, high-quality care. Working collaboratively at system level with partners across primary care, community services, local authorities, and the voluntary and community sector, you will lead coordinated, place-based approaches that deliver measurable improvements for underserved communities.

Please note that should we receive a high volume of applications, we may close the application process early, so we encourage you to apply early. Interviews will take place in person in York - week commencing 16 February 2026. Agencies need not reach out.

You will bring:

• Strong expertise in health inequalities, population health, public health or a related field.
• A proven track record of leading and delivering complex programmes across organisational boundaries.
• Excellent partnership-working skills with experience collaborating with primary care, local authorities and the voluntary sector.
• The ability to translate data, evidence and insight into practical, impactful action.
• A commitment to equity, inclusion and improving outcomes for communities experiencing the greatest inequalities.

This is an opportunity for a Head of Health Inequalities to drive meaningful and measurable improvements in reducing health disparities, shaping inclusive services, and improving outcomes for the most underserved populations. If you are motivated by influence, collaboration, and a strong commitment to inclusion and equity, this role offers the platform to lead sustained change in practice and delivery across the system.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to building an inclusive and supportive workplace where diversity is valued and everyone is enabled to thrive.

Nimbuscare is a not-for-profit, socially driven organisation within the NHS family. We’re collaborative, agile and innovative at our core, working with partners across the system to remove complexity, inspire trust and create person-centred solutions that make healthcare better for everyone.

We work towards making a complex system simpler. Creating better, more seamless care closer to home.

By collaborating closely with GP Members, Patient Safety Partners and wider health and care organisations, combining shared insight and expertise to improve outcomes for local people.

In line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), the Recruitment & Workforce team will use and hold your personal data for the intended purpose and in line with the Recruitment & Workforce Privacy Statement.

Nimbuscare is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences. As a Disability Confident Committed employer disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this job are guaranteed an interview.

The Head of Health Inequalities will provide strategic and operational oversight to reduce health inequalities across the system, with a strong focus on prevention, early intervention, and equitable access to services. The postholder will be accountable for the development, implementation, and assurance of programmes that address unwarranted variation in health outcomes, support population health approaches, and embed health equity within service design and delivery.

A key aspect of the role will be leading system-wide collaboration, working closely with Primary Care, community services, local authority partners, and the voluntary and community sector to enable coordinated, place-based action. The role will also oversee programme management across new and emerging areas of work, provide strategic input into internal service design and delivery, and lead contributions to workforce development relating to health inequalities and inclusive practice.

• Health Inequalities Service Design, Delivery and Leadership
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the development and implementation of system-wide approaches to reducing health inequalities.
• Set direction and ensure delivery of local and national health inequalities priorities, aligned to place-based and neighbourhood strategies.
• Ensure health equity principles are embedded within service design, delivery, and commissioning activity.
• Influence policy development and decision-making relating to population health, prevention, and inclusion.
• Lead the development of shared strategies, frameworks, and action plans across system partners.
• Programme and Project Management
• Hold accountability for a portfolio of programmes focused on health inequalities, prevention, and population health improvement.
• Provide strategic oversight and assurance of programme management for new and emerging areas of work.
• Oversee delivery plans, milestones, risks, dependencies, and reporting mechanisms to ensure effective governance.
• Sponsor and contribute to funding bids and investment cases aligned with health inequalities priorities.
• Ensure agreed outcomes are delivered within available resources and timescales.
• System Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
• Provide system leadership, working in partnership with Primary Care, community services, local authorities, and the voluntary and community sector to enable joined-up delivery.
• Build and maintain strong, influential relationships to support co-designed, place-based solutions.
• Provide strategic oversight and support to the development of neighbourhood and place-based models of care.
• Act as a key interface between service design, delivery teams, and system stakeholders.
• Health Inequalities, Prevention and Community Engagement
• Set the strategic approach to prevention, early intervention, and the reduction of avoidable health inequalities.
• Champion co-production and meaningful engagement with communities, service users, and voluntary sector partners.
• Promote asset-based, strengths-focused, and community-led approaches to service development.
• Ensure the voices and experiences of underserved and marginalised communities inform priorities, design, and delivery.
• Provide leadership in the use of population health data, intelligence, and evidence to identify inequalities and target interventions.
• Oversee the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategic planning and assess impact.
• Ensure the development and application of robust outcome measures and evaluation frameworks.
• Commission and present insights and reports to inform decision-making, assurance, and continuous improvement.
• Communication & Influence
• Act as a system-wide authority on health inequalities, providing expert advice, challenge, and guidance.
• Lead the development of briefings, reports, and presentations for executive leaders, boards, and partnership forums.
• Chair or sponsor workshops, engagement events, and multi-agency meetings.
• Build shared understanding, commitment, and accountability for tackling health inequalities across the system.
• Workforce Development & Capacity Building
• Provide strategic leadership for workforce development relating to health inequalities, prevention, and inclusive practice.
• Sponsor training programmes, learning opportunities, and knowledge-sharing across organisations and partnerships.
• Champion culture change towards prevention, equity, and population health approaches.
• Enable teams to confidently apply health inequalities principles in decision-making and delivery.

This job description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and will be reviewed periodically in conjunction with you. You are required to carry out any duties that may reasonably be requested. The job description is provided as an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The job will evolve over time to reflect the changing needs of Nimbuscare and its services as well as the personal development of the post holder.

Skills and Knowledge

• Highly developed analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building capability.
• Ability to operate with autonomy, manage complexity, and provide leadership through ambiguity.
• Practical application of health equity frameworks and impact assessment.

Qualifications

• Master level qualification and/or equivalent expert experience in health inequalities.
• Programme management or leadership postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience.

Experience

• Extensive experience in health inequalities, public health, or population health improvement at system or organisational level.
• Demonstrable experience of leading or overseeing complex programmes or portfolios of work.
• In-depth understanding of NHS structures, Primary Care, and system-wide working.
• Experience of working with or influencing Primary Care Networks.
• Strong background in co-production and community engagement.
• Knowledge of neighbourhood models and place-based care.
• Experience of sponsoring funding bids or transformation programmes.

This 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.