Assistant Director - System/Strategic Operations

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

LEADERSHIP

·       Deputise for the Director of Strategy and Planning as required

·       Operate effectively in a complex and demanding environment and proactively lead major strategy and planning exercises with stakeholders

·       Work collaboratively with wider stakeholders from across the NHS, local government, GMCA, VCSE and wider partners to ensure system engagement in strategies and plans and alignment of priorities

·       Possess the expertise to lead change both from the perspective of strategy development and implementation and delivery.

STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING

·       Reporting to the Director of Strategy and Planning, lead the coordination of Greater Manchester-wide strategies and plans

·       Ensure that all strategies and plans are completed on time, to a high standard and with the full engagement of all stakeholders

·       Lead the development and implementation of the processes required to create complex strategies – ensuring that there is a clear specification for stakeholder engagement and approval through all constituent parts of system governance

·       Lead on the operational relationship with NHS England relating to the development of system strategy and plans ensuring that GM is giving assurance that plans meet the relevant national requirements

SYSTEM SUPPORT AND INSIGHT

·       Lead as an expert; developing strategies and plans managing effective working relationships with stakeholders

·       Provide system insight to support locality planning – for example, analysis of overarching themes across the 10 locality plans and how their collective impact can be maximised for the benefit of patients and residents across GM

·       Lead as an expert on the translation of national and regional policy into GM strategies and plans

·       Possess the expertise to translate complex regional and national policy into deliverable strategies and plans in GM

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

·       Build strong working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including on sensitive planning and operational issues

·       Engage with partners across the system to build consensus behind the collective delivery of GM-wide strategies and plans

·       Effectively represent NHS GM in discussions with regional and national partners at senior level

·       Support engagement processes with residents to inform GM plans and strategies

·       Lead effective relationships with directorate leads across NHS GM to align strategies and plans – including finance, data, insight and intelligence, performance and assurance, population health, system groups (including elective, Urgent Care and Mental Health) and communications and engagement

COMMUNICATION

The post holder will:

·       Ensure effective and proactive communication with key and high-profile stakeholders, such as key strategic regional and national policy makers, and across multiple agencies both within and outside of Greater Manchester’s health and care system.

·       Represent NHS GM in sensitive and political situations, delivering difficult messages where required to senior audiences

·       Provide and receive complex, sensitive and contentious information appropriately, negotiate with and motivate others to facilitate planning and strategy delivery, and present complex and sensitive information to large groups clearly.

·       Persuade system leaders of the merits of different options

·       Negotiate difficult, complex and detailed issues, achieving positive outcomes

·       Manage challenging situations with staff and stakeholders including managing conflict successfully

·       Present complex and sensitive information in both verbal and written form – including developing high-quality reports for senior leadership forums

INFORMATION RESOURCES, ANALYSIS AND DECISION MAKING

·       Present information about designated strategies and plans involving a wide range of stakeholders in formal settings. This will include interpreting and presenting information to influence decision making at strategic boards and meetings

·       Manage, monitor and report on benefits realisation management, tracking progress and ensuring that the intended benefits are achieved with outcomes maximised

·       Developing and implementing cross-system multi-stakeholder processes and presenting these to system boards

Contribute to current management information and reporting systems to enhance decision making processes

·       Management and reporting of information to relevant internal and external stakeholders

FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

·       Required to scope and deliver relevant plans strategies, liaising with finance colleagues to ensure appropriate costings and financial impact.

·       Act in a way that is compliant with Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions in the discharge of budget management responsibilities.

·       Constantly strive for value for money and greater efficiency in the use of these budgets and to ensure that they operate in recurrent financial balance year on year.

·       Lead cross-system financial efficiency programmes, taking a lead role in coordination of ICB budget reduction plans and collating plans to ensure system balance

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

·       Staff and financial management responsibilities within the Strategy and Innovation directorate

·       Responsible for the recruitment and development of staff, including undertaking appraisal, ensuring team and individual development

·       Responsibility as a line manager for staff within the function

·       To role model a collaborative and inclusive style of working, negotiating with others to achieve the best outcomes and embedding this approach across the organisation

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND AUDIT

·       Ensures the team are able to access best practice and current information, drawing from experience and expertise in other sectors

·       Transfer expertise and knowledge, as appropriate, concerning innovation throughout the team and also externally – including developing and delivering formal briefing/training to promote innovation.

·       Lead programmes of work to secure cost and service improvements using innovative methodologies and ensuring appropriate evaluation in place.