Head of Strategy and Planning

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