Associate Director Strategic Operational Analytical Workforce Planning
Job summary
The People and Wellbeing Team are seeking a interim senior leader to join our Directorate to cover a maternity leave.
This is a pivotal role providing strategic leadership for workforce planning, workforce analytics and HR systems across the Trust. You will set the long-term vision for workforce planning, ensuring we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place and at the right time.
This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in delivering sustainable, intelligence-led workforce solutions that support high-quality patient care across our region.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will lead the development of strategic, operational and long-term workforce plans, using advanced analytics and insight to inform decision-making at Executive and Board level.
You will oversee workforce reporting and KPIs, ensuring high-quality, reliable data, while driving innovation and optimisation across workforce systems including ESR.
Working closely with senior leaders and system partners, you will support service transformation, workforce redesign and future workforce models, while ensuring workforce planning contributes to financial sustainability and efficiency.
We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong background in workforce planning, analytics or HR systems, who can translate complex data into clear strategic insight, influence at the most senior levels, and lead high-performing teams to deliver impactful change.
About us
At South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), every role contributes to helping people when they need us most. Whether delivering frontline care, supporting our Emergency Operations Centres, or working in corporate and support services, your work makes a meaningful difference every day.
Our values of Caring, Professional and Honest guide everything we do. We care for our patients, communities and each other, act professionally with pride and a commitment to excellence, and work honestly, building trust through openness, integrity and respect.
We offer a range of learning and development opportunities, wellbeing support, flexible working where service needs allow, membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, and a variety of staff benefits. We also work in partnership with our recognised trade unions,Unison, Unite GMB and RCN, which provide members with workplace support, representation and advice.
SCAS is proud to be an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels they belong, are valued for who they are, and have opportunities to grow and succeed.
Join SCAS and help us deliver exceptional care when it matters most.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Lead the development and delivery of operational,tacticaland long-term (1, 3 and 5-year) workforce plans aligned to Trust strategy, financial plans, and system demand.
Oversee demand and capacity modelling, activity modelling, and scenario planning to ensure workforce plans are evidence-based and future-focused.
Ensure workforce plans are fully aligned with the People Strategy, Clinical Strategy, financialplansand NHS England priorities.
Provide strategic oversight of workforce planning frameworks, tools and methodologies, ensuring consistency,capabilityand adoption across the organisation.
Act as organisational lead for integrated workforce planning across the system, collaborating with ICS partners and workforce planning groups.
Please refer to attached Job Description for full details.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Data Science, Workforce Planning, HR Management, Organisational Development) or equivalent senior level experience.
- Evidence of continued professional development in analytics, data governance, leadership and/or digital systems.
Experience
- Extensive senior leadership experience in workforce analytics, business intelligence, HR systems or related fields within a complex organisation.
- Exceptional communication, presentation and stakeholder-engagement skills.
Knowledge
- Deep knowledge of HR systems (e.g., ESR, rostering, ATS, learning systems).
- Strong understanding of data governance, audit requirements and statutory reporting.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Employer details
Employer name
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Northern House
7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road
Bicester
OX26 6HR
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://scasjobs.co.uk/