Job summary
The Senior Planning Manager supports the development and delivery and assurance of key operational workforce and transformation plans. This will ensure alignment with Trust strategic priorities and statutory requirements and available resources. This post holder would be responsible for providing coordination and analytical oversight of complex planning activities across the Trust.
The post holder will work closely with Operational Managers as well as Clinical Leads and Finance Managers and other key members of senior staff to translate strategic objectives into robust deliverable plans. The post holder will provide high quality analysis and insight and recommendations to inform decision making. They play a key part in maintaining planning discipline and governance. They will also support assurance and help identifying risks as well as interdependencies. The post holder will support the organisation to respond effectively to changing demands and system pressures.
The post holder also plays a pivotal role in overseeing and leading the administrative function within the PMO. The post holder will also support the PMO Senior Leadership Team in the smooth day to day running of the team and also managing adherence to its total quality management system.
Main duties of the job
The role is responsible for supporting Trust-wide operational, workforce and transformation planning, ensuring plans align with strategic priorities, statutory requirements and available resources. It involves coordinating complex planning activity, providing analysis and insight to support decision-making, managing risks and interdependencies, and maintaining planning governance and assurance. The post holder works closely with senior, clinical, operational and finance colleagues, supports service redesign and improvement, line manages PMO team members, and helps oversee the PMOs administrative and quality management functions.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Details
- Date posted: 21 August 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 7
- Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: C9369-26-0643
- Job locations: Prentice, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 0NR, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Planning Manager to join the Portfolio and Programme Management Office (PMO). This role will support the development delivery and assurance of key operational workforce and transformation plans and will be working across the Trust to translate strategic priorities into clear deliverable plans.
The post holder will work closely with senior colleagues and wider system partners to support effective planning and service redesign and improvement. The role requires strong analytical and communication as well as organisational skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide clear insight and support senior decision-making.
The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining planning discipline as well as governance and assurance. Also key will be identifying risks and interdependencies and supporting the Trust to respond effectively to changing priorities and system pressures.
They will also contribute to the effective running of the PMO. This will include line management and administrative oversight. The post holder will also support the teams quality management processes.
We are looking for a proactive and collaborative individual with experience of strategic and operational planning within healthcare. Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to manage complex work programmes to agreed deadlines are also pivitol for this role.
Person specification
Other
Essential
- Mobility to travel across sites
- Ability to manage an extensive workload in a complex strategic and political environment
- Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
- A Standard / Enhanced DBS Check may be required for this role.
- Willingness to work out of hours on occasions
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of current policy and strategic priorities relating to health and social care
- Knowledge of current annual Operational planning cycle and submission requirements
- Knowledge of improvement methodology and service redesign techniques
- Knowledge of the quality and performance standards that health services are required to achieve and the range of measurement systems used to assess quality
Desirable
- Knowledge of project and programme management methodologies
- Knowledge of change management techniques
- Knowledge of business case development including national Better Business Case methodologies
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working with senior stakeholders
- Proven ability to deliver on planning issues
- Experience of supporting Trust Strategy review and redesign
- Experience of facilitating and co-ordinating completion of Trust Operational plans
- Experience of line management and ability to understand and implement HR policies and procedures and employment legislation in compliance in areas of delegated responsibility
Desirable
- Leadership/management of complex systems and processes
- Experience of coordinating and writing well-presented business cases and tenders
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience, e.g. graduate / post graduate qualification in project / programme management
- Experience of Strategic and Operational Planning within Healthcare
Desirable
- Project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE 2 Foundation and Practitioner; Managing Successful Programmes Foundation) or equivalent experience
- Relevant professional Qualification or equivalent
- Better Business Cases Foundation and/or Practitioner level qualification
- Evidence of continued professional development relevant to the role
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Understanding and evaluating of complex data
- Able to draw conclusions and actionable insights to support planning
- Managing discrete elements of work independently
- Ability to present complex financial or economic date to others
Desirable
- Ability to work with managers and staff to identify and develop areas for collaborative working, service development and redesign
- Ability to analyse and explore complex demand, capacity and service productivity information in order to inform service planning and change
Planning and Organisational skills
Essential
- Initiative and creativity in problem solving
- Able to manage an extensive and complex workload, own and those they line manage
- Ability to prioritise workload that enables the delivery of both important and urgent tasks to achieve milestones within each major work-stream
- Ability to meet external, Directorate and personal deadlines.
- Able to plan, design and implement new operational procedures
- Proven track record of ability to manage complex tasks in tight deadlines
- Ability to produce reports in relation to progress monitoring using relevant tools and methodology
Desirable
- Knowledge & use of project management software, tool, techniques and methodologies
Communication and working relationships skills
Essential
- Excellent verbal, written, presentation and computer skills
- Ability to work collaboratively internally and across system boundaries
- Ability to work autonomously and is self motivated
- Ability to manage conflict, acting assertively to deal with difficult situations which may arise through opposing views
- Ability to delegate to colleagues at all levels
- Ability to build and sustain relationships in difficult situations
- Effective influencing and negotiation skills
- Effective facilitator
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This advert is for Senior Planning Manager with Devon Partnership NHS Trust in Prentice, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 0NR, United Kingdom, United Kingdom. It is listed as a Band 7 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £49,387 to £56,515 a year. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 07 Sep 2026.
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