At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning and development for a prominent Academy in medical science.
- Company: Join a leading Academy shaping the future of medical science globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and influence in the medical field.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on health and science through strategic leadership and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Proven strategic leadership experience and strong partnership-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70089 £ per year.
Overview
The Head of Strategy and Planning provides organisation-wide leadership on strategic thinking, prioritisation and planning.
The role develops and maintains the Academy's strategic framework and planning processes, ensuring strategic ambitions are clear, evidence-based, affordable and deliverable.
Working with the Chief Operating Officer and senior leaders, the postholder supports informed choices, trade-off management and effective allocation of resources to maximise impact.
The role does not hold responsibility for day-to-day operations, but enables delivery through strong planning, insight and performance frameworks.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Direction
- Lead the development and stewardship of a bold, coherent strategy that positions AMS as an influential voice across UK and global medical science.
- Design and embed organisation-wide strategic and business planning processes, enabling clear prioritisation, coordinated action and disciplined alignment across all directorates.
- Integrate domestic and international priorities into the Academy''s strategic framework, ensuring AMS is shaped by both UK and global developments.
- Facilitate high-quality strategic conversations with senior leaders, bringing structure, evidence and options to complex organisational decisions.
- Whole-System Partnerships, Influence and Strategic Engagement
- Build and nurture influential partnerships across health, science, research and innovation ecosystems, including government, funders, industry, academia, learned societies, the NHS, international bodies and philanthropic organisations.
- Maintain a deep, organisation-wide understanding of stakeholder landscapes, ensuring strategic clarity about partners and value exchange.
- Enhance AMS''s role as a convener and connector, identifying cross-sector collaboration opportunities and shared system impact.
- Act as a visible strategic ambassador, representing AMS''s priorities and ensuring strategic intelligence flows back into decision-making.
- Governance Leadership and Strategic Decision Infrastructure
- Oversee governance functions to support Council and committees to operate effectively.
- Ensure the right business is brought to Council at the right time, enabling forward plans, agenda setting and sequencing of decisions for true strategic oversight.
- Oversee the preparation of high-quality papers and briefings that support rigorous, insight-driven decision-making by Council, committees and the Executive.
- Strengthen governance as a strategic asset, ensuring structures and information flows enable clarity, accountability and long-term stewardship.
- Planning
- Lead a high-performing planning function that provides cross-Academy visibility and coordination of major strategic programmes.
- Embed consistent project, programme and portfolio management standards, ensuring work is well-sequenced and risk-managed.
- Produce insightful, action-oriented reporting for the Executive and Council to support confident oversight and timely decision-making.
- Strategic Funding and Resource Alignment
- Build strategic relationships with current and potential funders, identifying where aligned investment accelerates AMS''s mission and system goals.
- Secure funding and shape compelling, strategic propositions that reflect priorities and funder interests.
- Collaborate with Finance and Fundraising to align plans with sustainable income models and long-term financial assumptions.
- Identify funding gaps, capacity constraints and resourcing risks to support informed Executive and Council choices.
- Horizon Scanning, Foresight & External Context
- Monitor and interpret major external developments—scientific, policy, geopolitical, funding, regulatory and technological—across the UK and internationally.
- Ensure the Academy''s strategy is globally informed, forward-looking and capable of anticipating change.
- Translate horizon scanning into actionable strategic insight to equip leaders and governance bodies for confident decision-making.
- Leadership, Organisational Alignment and Executive Support
- Lead and develop the team, ensuring strategic planning, international insight, governance support and CEO''s office operate cohesively.
- Act as a strategic partner to directors and colleagues, promoting alignment across directorates while preserving operational accountability.
- Champion strategic discipline, prioritisation and organisational focus on the work that matters most.
Qualifications
- Strategic leadership experience with a track record of setting organisational direction and delivering strategic and business planning.
- Proven ability to build influential external partnerships with government, funders, industry, academia, NHS bodies and international organisations, acting as a credible ambassador and convener.
- Strong governance and decision-support skills, including agenda shaping and high-quality papers for Board/committee oversight.
- Excellent analytical judgement, with ability to synthesise complex evidence, assess risk and present clear strategic options.
- Experience overseeing planning or programme functions with well-sequenced, risk-managed delivery.
- Financial literacy with the ability to align resources with priorities and engage funders.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, influencing senior leaders and leading high-performing teams.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and pension
- 26 days'' annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Option to buy or sell annual leave
- Additional paid closure between Christmas and New Year
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Health, wellbeing and employee support programmes
- Cycle-to-work scheme and everyday benefits
- Structured learning and development
- Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave
- Enhanced occupational sick pay
- A range of enhanced benefits available after probation period
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategy and Planning in City of Westminster
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like The Academy!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Head of Strategy and Planning position at The Academy 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 Head of Strategy and Planning in City of Westminster
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 The Academy.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to The Academy’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!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Academy
✨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 The Academy. 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 The Academy. 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 The Academy.
