Job vacancy: Head of Healthcare Planning, NHS England, Nationally

Job summary

Main area

Healthcare Planning

Grade

NHS AfC: Band 8d

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

990-NHP-EC4218-E

Employer: NHS England
Employer type: NHS
Site: Any NHSE office base
Town: Nationally
Salary: £94,356 - £108,814 Per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 22/09/2026 23:59

Head of Healthcare Planning

NHS AfC: Band 8d

Our Organisation

We share the core values set out in the NHS Constitution, which all colleagues are expected to demonstrate.

We support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you and your colleagues. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement, whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

For more information on the NHP programme

Please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date due to the high volume of applications received.

Due to ongoing organisational change and developments, aspects of this role may be subject to change.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that NHS England is currently undergoing a consultation process to finalise its structure, which may impact this role.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

A relevant degree in IT, healthcare informatics, or a related field
Educated to master’s level and equivalent experience of working at a senior operational level in relevant specialist area
Relevant specialist professional registration

Desirable criteria

Evidence of relevant CPD

Experience

Essential criteria

Significant experience in healthcare planning and analytics, preferably within the NHS or a similar healthcare setting
Experience in building and leading successful teams and creating high-quality outputs
Experience working in a senior role with operational responsibilities
Experience in employing recognised improvement methodologies
Experience in translating high-quality standards into patient care, understanding of patient safety, patient experience and staff experience
Extensive knowledge of quality standards including the KLOE and fundamental standards set out by the CQC and how to translate this into practice and patient environment

Desirable criteria

Experience at a senior level of complex infection prevention and control issues including how to manage patient environments to promote safety and minimise infection transmission

Skills

Essential criteria

Extensive Health Planning knowledge
Relationship builder in a complex environment – comfortable building strong relationships at all levels internally and externally (DHSC, NHS Trusts, design organisations, construction organisations and the wider public sector) and being able to influence in complex stakeholder environments.
Excellent communicator – on platforms, in teams and writing. Ability to develop, use, analyse and interpret data
Ability to analyse highly complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources (verbal, written and numerical).
Demonstrable leadership, vision, strategic thinking, and planning with highly developed political skills

Our commitments to you

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better patient outcomes.

We strive to ensure our people feel trusted, valued and empowered. When you join us, we want you to grow and excel, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that.

We welcome your talent and enthusiasm irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.

We ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process. This includes considering reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro-divergent.

We welcome applications from disabled candidates. If you meet all the essential criteria, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the role. While we appreciate you may have had some support with your application (for example, using AI technology or guidance from a trusted individual), it’s important all the information you provide in it reflects your own knowledge, skills and experience and we trust that you apply on that basis.

If you’re applying for this role on a secondment basis, please get agreement from your current line manager before you apply.

We don’t accept applications via recruitment agencies, and we cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

To comply with the HM Government Functional Standard GovS 007, and specifically the Personnel Security Standards 2024, individuals employed or contracted by NHS England may be required to undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standards check, dependent on the role.

NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for processing your application; our privacy can be accessed directly on the application page when you select to apply.

If you are appointed to a post, your information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

If you have a query about your application, please contact the recruitment team: [email protected] or 0300 330 1369.

NHS England