Design and Collaboration Manager

Job summary

The Design and Collaboration Manager is responsible for the development and delivery of innovation and collaboration practices, programmes and services within Q.

This role plays a central part in how Q influences the wider health and care system by building strong, trusting relationships with prospective and existing partners. By championing Qsexpertiseanddemonstratingthe value of collaborative improvement, the role helps to position Q as a credible and supportive partner.

A core aspect of the role is designing and leading projects and programmes that enable practitioners, seniorleadersand patients to make progress on complex challenges. By creating spaces where people can think differently, test ideas and learn together, the role directly contributes to building the conditions that allow improvement to spread and sustain.

This role is a core part of the Servicesteam. It will alsocontribute to the development and delivery of member offers.

Main duties of the job

As Design and Collaboration Manager you will:

• Design and deliver impactful improvement programmes using service design, systems thinking and innovation approaches.
• Facilitate collaboration and learning through engaging workshops, coaching and participatory activities with diverse stakeholders.
• Lead projects from idea to impact, bringing together evidence, insight and people to deliver meaningful change.
• Build trusted partnerships and grow new opportunities, developing relationships, proposals and services that expand Q's impact.
• Shape and strengthen Q's work, contributing to learning, innovation and an inclusive approach across everything we do.

About us

Q is a membership community collaboratively accelerating the improvement of care in the UK and Ireland. We learn together, support each other and share insights to address health system challenges. And we provide a range of paid for services that draw on our expertise in improvement, innovation and transformation to help deliver sustainable change in health care organisations and systems. We operate as a distinct unit within the NHS Alliance, working in active partnership with the wider organisation, with a view to potential increased integration during 2026 and beyond.

The NHS Alliance is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive environment for our staff. We offer a range of inclusive employment policies including family friendly policies and flexible working and we have range of channels to support staff from different backgrounds including our staff networks and a staff forum.

The NHS Alliance is committed to being a flexible employer. We understand the value and benefit to our employees being able to work flexibly and our agile working principles are designed to empower our people to work with optimal flexibility and minimal constraints to support a work life balance and take care of employee health and wellbeing.

You will receive an excellent benefits package, including 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), pension scheme, cycle to work scheme, salary sacrifice schemes and travel season ticket loans.

Details

• Date posted: 16 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £46,822 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: NHS1242918
• Job locations: 2nd Floor, 18 Smith Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 3HZ, United Kingdom, 2, The Calls,, Leeds, Leeds, LS2 7JU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Work with colleagues, external stakeholders and associates to develop strategies and design new projects and programmes, navigating complexity and uncertainty. Design and deliver these programmes end to end, from initial scoping and design through to delivery and achieving impact.
• Coalesce matrix teams to deliver Qs work. Demonstrate excellent organisational, prioritisation, time-management and team co-ordination skills to lead and coordinate multiple projects and strands of work simultaneously.
• Design, lead and run inclusive, participatory activities to support people to understand and address complex problems and deliver equitable improvement, drawing on innovation, design, systems change and improvement practices. Regularly facilitate groups and coach individuals, being mindful of power dynamics and learning styles.
• Undertake real-time/ rapid synthesis and sense-making, drawing together evidence and insights. Distil information, develop written materials and present on both method and topic content.
• Work in an entrepreneurial way to support the development of new business offers in Q. Generate interest and secure buy-in for Qs work. Create content for proposals, reports and presentations.
• Build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with clients and partners, leading meetings and workshops, regularly updating clients on progress, and managing client expectations.
• Help the team develop its professional practices in relation to innovation, evaluation, learning, reflection and development. Actively seek and provide developmental feedback to peers and colleagues.
• Ensure Qs commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity is embedded and progressed through the content and conduct of all work.