Deputy Director of Strategy and Planning

Oxford, England, United Kingdom

5/14/2025

We are recruiting for a Deputy Director of Strategy and Planning to lead the Strategy team at Oxford Health.

You'll oversee Strategy development, Strategy delivery and Annual Planning and lead this work externally, working with partners in our ICBs. You'll deputise on a routine basis for the Executive Director of Strategy and form part of the senior leadership of the Trust, working closely with the Trust Board, Executive Team, Extended Leadership Team and senior leaders in Oxford Health and in our ICBs.

To excel in this role you'll need to enjoy working in a changing environment both externally and internally, and be able to creatively evolve your approach depending on changing circumstances.

We're looking for an exceptional leader who embodies our values, "thinks outside the box”, and brings energy and innovation to help lift the organisation to be truly outstanding in every sense. We thrive to be an open and inclusive organisation and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds, communities and industries.

If you have experience of leading strategy development and delivery within complex and matrixed organisations, we would love to hear from you!

Expected areas requiring specific focus and development over the coming years are as follows:

• Developing the new Trust Strategy to be published and implemented from 2026 onward.
• Strengthen and embed the Strategy Delivery infrastructure of the Trust so that Strategic objectives and programmes are embedded at all levels of the organisation and integrate with Annual Planning.
• Improve the integrated Annual Planning process, encompassing finance, performance and workforce so it runs smoothly and effectively enables delivery and improved patient and population health outcomes.
• Develop and strengthen the work of the Strategy team, focusing on building a culture of quality improvement, raising standards and enabling the work of all teams in the organisation
• Work with the Chief Executive Office and the Corporate Affairs team to improve coordination of Executive and Board meetings with the Strategy delivery agenda.
  
  

Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the “candidate guide to making an application” and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
  
  

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Shirley Innes Job title: Executive Assistant Email address: [email protected] Telephone number: 07778 452 089

At Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust we want to employ people not just with experience, but with the aptitude and motivation to succeed and whose values resonate with our own.

Therefore, if you don’t meet all the requirements of the role and are unsure about applying but are excited about the opportunity, please do get in touch. We will be happy to discuss the requirements in more detail ahead of making a written application.