Shape the future of health and care across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales
The Countess of Chester Hospitalis committed to delivering high-quality patient care whilst embracing innovation, partnership and continuous improvement. We are now seeking an exceptional leader to join our Board as Director of Strategy and Partnerships, a pivotal executive role that will help shape the future of healthcare for the populations we serve.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working as a full member of the Board, you will lead the development and delivery of our strategic vision, ensuring the organisation is well positioned to respond to the opportunities and challenges facing the NHS. You will play a critical role in helping the Trust realise its ambitions through innovation, collaboration and meaningful partnership working across organisational boundaries.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence healthcare at scale. Working closely with organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside, Welsh Health Boards, local authorities, the voluntary sector and wider system partners, you will lead our approach to strategic planning, population health, social value, sustainability and partnership development. You will help ensure that our services evolve to meet changing population needs whilst supporting the delivery of the NHS 10 Year Plan and wider system objectives.
We are looking for an inspiring and politically astute executive leader who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery. You will bring significant leadership experience within a complex healthcare, public sector or similarly challenging environment, together with a proven ability to influence at Board level, build strong partnerships and drive strategic change. You will be experienced operating in an environment of complexity and ambiguity, using insight, evidence, relationships and collaboration to create shared purpose and deliver sustainable change.
You will also be committed to compassionate leadership and our values of being Safe, Kind and Effective, helping us develop an environment where colleagues feel supported, empowered and able to deliver outstanding care.
This is an opportunity to:
- Join a forward-thinking and ambitious Board.
- Lead strategy and partnership development at Trust and system level.
- Influence the future design of health and care services.
- Build meaningful relationships across NHS, local authority, voluntary and community sectors.
- Deliver lasting improvements for patients, communities and colleagues.
- Play a leading role in population health, prevention and reducing inequalities.
Why join us?
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of over 400,000 people across West Cheshire, Ellesmere Port, Neston and North Wales. We have a strong focus on quality, innovation and partnership. As healthcare continues to evolve, this is an exciting time to join our Board and help shape the future of integrated health and care services across our communities.
The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Significant senior leadership experience within the NHS or a comparable complex organisation.
- A track record of developing and delivering organisational strategy.
- Strong political awareness and understanding of national and local healthcare policy.
- Exceptional relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Experience of working effectively across organisational and system boundaries.
- A passion for improving patient outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
- A focus on developing a positive culture for patients and staff.
If you are an ambitious and collaborative leader who can bring vision, innovation and strategic focus to our organisation and partners, we would be delighted to hear from you
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
