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Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
21 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Personal Attributes
Strong interpersonal skills and personal credibility, with the ability to quickly gain the confidence of and build relationships with others, including managers, clinicians and all staff.
- Personal Attributes
Innovation and creativity – ability to make decisions that encourages new ways of working and develop a culture of innovation with a willingness to take calculated risks.
- Personal Attributes
Achievement focused – ability to set targets and get things done to achieve continuous improvement.
- Personal Attributes
Politically astute.
- Personal Attributes
Resilient under pressure and calm in a crisis.
- Personal Attributes
Sets high standards for self and team and motivates and inspires others to achieve these.
- Personal Attributes
Committed to support and deliver a culture of continuous learning for both self and team.
- Personal Attributes
Initiative – sees opportunities and acts on them – proactive rather than reactive approach.
- Personal Attributes
Decision making – ability to make decisions based on an analysis of key financial, people or service concepts.
- Personal Attributes
A commitment to the ethical standards expected of public sector leaders in the UK including the fit and proper person’s test.
- Qualifications – Academic / Professional
General education to degree level, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Qualifications – Academic / Professional
Relevant Master’s level qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
- Qualifications – Academic / Professional
Track record of continuous personal and professional development.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Strategic Leadership
Significant experience as Director of Strategy within a large acute hospital with a wide range of specially services.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Strategic Leadership
Significant executive director experience in a similarly complex organisation or system.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Strategic Leadership
A proven ability to formulate strategy and in influencing stakeholders with the ability to impact on that strategy.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Strategic Leadership
A track record of leading strategic change.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Effective Partnerships
A commitment to system excellence as well as organisational excellence.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Effective Partnerships
A commitment to close working with health and social care partners in Manchester and GM.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Wider NHS and Health Context
Knowledge of current systems change locally, and the potential impact on the SHS and the LCO.
- Skills, Knowledge Requirements & Experience - Wider NHS and Health Context
A good understanding of the dynamics of the National Health Service and the values of the UK public sector.
Desirable
Not listed in the available specification.
Job overview
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), we are proud to be one of the largest and most complex NHS organisations in the country, serving diverse communities across Manchester, Trafford and beyond. We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our Board as Chief Strategy Officer.
This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of health and care at MFT. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board colleagues, clinical leaders and partners across Greater Manchester, you will lead the development and delivery of our organisational strategy, ensuring we continue to improve outcomes for patients, staff and communities.
As Chief Strategy Officer, you will play a central role in influencing the strategic direction of the Trust, helping us respond to a changing healthcare landscape whilst building on the strengths of our scale, expertise and partnerships. You will work across organisational and system boundaries to turn ambition into action, foster innovation and collaboration, and help ensure MFT remains at the forefront of healthcare improvement, research, education and clinical excellence.
We are seeking a credible, politically astute and visible leader with significant experience as a Director of Strategy within a large acute NHS organisation. You will bring a proven track record of strategic leadership, partnership working and transformational change, together with the ability to build strong relationships and influence at Board, system and national level.
Main duties of the job
As a member of the Executive Director Team and Board of Directors, you will provide strategic leadership across MFT and help shape the future direction of one of the UK's largest NHS organisations.
Leading the development and delivery of the Trust's organisational strategy and annual planning processes, you will ensure our ambitions translate into meaningful improvements for patients, staff and communities. Working closely with Executive colleagues, Clinical Group Chief Executives and senior clinical leaders, you will support the development of sustainable clinical services, innovative models of care and strategic partnerships.
You will build influential relationships with NHS England, Greater Manchester system partners, local authorities and key stakeholders, representing MFT at senior forums and helping shape system-wide decision making.
The role will lead the deployment of the MFT Organisational Strategy, ensuring organisational priorities are translated into clear plans and measurable outcomes. You will work across organisational and system boundaries to identify opportunities for collaboration, drive innovation and support the continued development of high-quality, sustainable services.
Through visible, values-led leadership, you will champion staff engagement, equality, diversity and inclusion, helping create a culture where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to deliver outstanding care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.
Candidate Information Pack
To support these opportunities, we have developed a bespoke 'Candidate Information Pack' which provides specific information about the role and the Assessment and Selection Process. To view this pack, please visit: https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/1-2/
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Chief Strategy Officer with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, England. It is listed as a Officer (discipline unspecified) role. The advertised salary is Attractive Remuneration Package. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 15 Sep 2026.
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