Director of Strategy and Transformation
Job summary
NHS England, London Region is seeking an outstanding senior leader to join the London Region as Director of Strategy and Transformation. This high-profile role will provide leadership and direction for the strategic transformation programme across London, working with NHS organisations, integrated care systems, local government and wider partners to deliver improvements in health outcomes, reduce inequalities and support delivery of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
The successful candidate will have significant experience leading demonstrably successful transformation programmes within complex health or public sector environments. The candidate should have proven ability to influence at Board and system level, develop strategic partnerships and drive delivery of ambitious change programmes.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, collaborative and forward-thinking leader to be involved at this pivotalmoment in the future of healthcare across London while leading a high-performing team and deputising for the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer when required.
Contract: Fixed-term/secondment cover until 31 March 2027.
Main duties of the job
- Lead the development and delivery of the London Region Strategy and Transformation portfolio, ensuring alignment with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, London Health Plan and national priorities.
- Provide senior leadership for major transformation programmes, translating strategic priorities into deliverable programmes with clear outcomes, milestones and measurable impact.
- Act as Deputy to the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer and provide leadership across the Directorate.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with Integrated Care Boards, NHS providers, local authorities, the Greater London Authority, national teams, voluntary sector organisations and wider partners to deliver shared objectives.
- Lead the alignment of regional strategies, plans and transformation programmes to ensure a coordinated approach across London.
- Drive delivery of the NHS strategic priorities, including shifting care from hospitals to communities, increasing digital transformation and strengthening prevention.
- Promote innovation and service redesign through collaboration with Health Innovation Networks, academia and industry partners.
- Oversee governance, performance, risk management and delivery assurance across the portfolio.
- Lead engagement with senior stakeholders and influence across organisational boundaries to support strategic delivery.
- Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, continuous improvement and accountability.
About us
NHS England's purpose is to create the conditions for an ambitious and high quality NHS. We empower our people and partners to solve problems, provide outstanding care for every patient and improve the nation's health.
Our 7 regional teams work directly with systems and NHS providers across the country. Each region acts as the interface between national strategy and local delivery, overseeing performance, supporting improvement and enabling transformation at scale.
In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Additional Responsibilities and Scope
Strategic and System Leadership
- Shape the strategic direction of the Strategy and Transformation Directorate.
- Ensure all programmes are evidence-based and informed by data, insight, patient needs and population health priorities.
- Lead work to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for Londoners.
Partnership and Influencing
- Work with NHS Executive teams, system leaders, local government, regulators, industry and voluntary sector partners.
- Secure alignment between local, regional and national strategies.
- Support service reconfiguration and strategic change across health systems.
Innovation and Improvement
- Champion innovation, organisational learning and the spread of best practice.
- Lead the adoption of new models of care and technology-enabled solutions.
- Support London's Health Innovation Zone ambitions.
Management and Leadership
- Directly manage Deputy Directors and lead multidisciplinary teams.
- Provide matrix leadership across regional and national programmes.
- Promote an inclusive, high-performing culture and support staff development.
Corporate Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with NHS governance, financial and management standards.
- Support delivery of statutory duties, system resilience and wider organisational priorities.
- Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and effective use of public resources.
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Educated to masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Formal management qualification
Experience and Knowledge
- Proven experience leading successful transformation and change programmes within complex health, care or public sector environments
- Strong programme, performance, governance and risk management capability.
- Detailed knowledge of the NHS and wider health and care landscape, including integrated care systems and national policy.
Skills, Abilities & Attributes
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with credibility to operate at Board and system level.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, including influencing senior audiences in politically sensitive environments.
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical and evaluative skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear plans and deliverables.
- Highly developed stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills across organisational boundaries.
- A strong commitment to reducing health inequalities, promoting innovation and developing high-performing teams.
Employer details
Employer name
NHS England
Address
10 South Colonnade, London
Canary Wharf
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/