Head of Strategy and Planning

Job Introduction

This is a pivotal role within Diabetes UK with responsibility for ensuring our strategy is realised through robust planning processes and activities are aligned to our strategy to drive organisational improvements. 

The post-holder will be accountable for providing strategic capability, oversight and guidance by working with key teams and individuals across the organisation by harnessing their skills and expertise to achieve strategic goals.

The post holder will also have the ability to work strategically supporting the business to develop roadmaps to achieve strategic aims, as well as short to mid-term tactical delivery. Utilising their excellent strategic and planning skills this role will be responsible for l ensuring cross organisational programmes are aligned to each other, existing plans and strategy all of which are effectively governed and managed.  By providing and supporting clear planning and performance systems the post holder will play a central part in enabling all the different elements of Diabetes UK to combine to help deliver a world where diabetes can do no harm.

Role Responsibility

Strategic change

• Design and facilitate ways of working that enable the organisation to learn, change and grow in our strategic thinking and business planning.
• Build the capacity of leaders to think and plan strategically.
• To ensure strategy is implemented successfully within our planning, programme management, risk and other relevant frameworks e.g. through supporting business areas to develop roadmaps to achieve that strategy
• To undertake specific project work around the future direction of the organisation as required.
• To develop an external network and bring in intelligence and best practice from across the not for profit and other sectors.

Business planning, performance and improvement

• To lead on developing planning, performance (e.g. scorecards and KPIs) and improvement processes, including the annual plan, which support the delivery of Diabetes UK’s strategy and improve organisational responsiveness
• To be responsible for the overall planning and monitoring framework including delivering reports to ET and governance bodies. To work in tandem with the Head of Finance and Finance Business Partners team in the development of a strategically aligned and integrated plan and budget, monitoring of KPIs and implementing improvements to the planning and performance framework.

Programme Management

• To lead on developing, maintaining and improving a robust, consistent but proportionate programme and project management approach (or approaches) across Diabetes UK.
• To maintain oversight of major programmes, activities and cross dependencies across Diabetes UK to identify and resolve resource, sequencing and related issues.
• To work with programme and project managers, sponsors and teams to ensure we maintain quality and consistency
• To ensure effective but proportionate reporting is in place to key stakeholders (e.g. Executive Team) on the organisational suite of programmes and ensuring focus on alignment with organisational strategy
• In consultation with key stakeholders improve and maintain a toolkit of resources to enable robust, flexible, but consistent programme and project management to be delivered by colleagues
• To work with People and Organisational Development to ensure staff are supported and developed to build organisational capacity in programme and project management

Risk Management

• To maintain and develop the risk management framework at Diabetes UK (e.g. identifying strategic risks, maintaining, supporting and developing the 3LOD framework etc., working with the Audit and Risk Committee)
• To develop, implement and maintain a robust business continuity plan.

Collaborative working

• To proactively harness the skills and technical expertise within each of the teams to support them to build their strategic capabilities  to create and deliver our strategy goals and  plans
• To ensure our strategy and plans are clearly communicated and understood at all levels externally and internally. Working with the Internal Communications as required to ensure the strategy is communicated and clear to all staff within Diabetes UK.

The Ideal Candidate

The best person for this job will be able to:

• Think creatively and strategically and have the ability to translate strategy into realisable plans
• Build rapport and relationships with diverse parts of Diabetes UK to harness the talent and different areas of expertise to deliver integrated and effective plans and processes
• Collaborate internally and externally to help DUK anticipate future challenges and opportunities and ensure these insights drive our strategy and planning
• Provide leadership around planning  processes by  providing clear frameworks and processes for colleagues to engage with
• Work effectively across Diabetes UK to identify current issues and drive improvement e.g. through establishing clear goals, KPIs and milestones which drive effectiveness and strategic alignment and ensure the organisation is responsive and fit for the future
• Understand and integrate the financial perspective into the planning process through applying excellent financial awareness and working closely with the Finance team.
• Communicate effectively and at all levels across the organisation

The best person for this job will have experience in:

• Strategic thinking and applying strategic frameworks, thought leadership and influencing decision making at a leadership level
• Building organisational capacity in strategic thinking and the realisation of strategy
• Relevant experience of working within a complex and similar organisation
• Excellent programme and project management skills with the ability to drive and have strategic oversight of an operational programme
• Experience in strategic risk management and the management of a project office, desirable but not essential
• Experience of running multiple projects concurrently to time and within budget.
• Creating and implementing planning frameworks. The ability to create and implement risk management and performance frameworks will also be highly desirable but not an essential requirement, any necessary training would be provided
• Developing efficient, engaging and proportionate processes
• Budgeting and financial management from a cross organisational perspective

The best person for this job will be:

• Engaging and collaborative with a natural partnership approach to work
• A broad and inquisitive thinker with the ability to deliver clear and practical solutions
• Organised, with a rigorous but flexible approach
• Able to think strategically, whilst balancing this with the short-term tactical delivery
• Able to integrate high level strategy into clear plans and performance measures
• Able to express complex ideas simply
• Professional qualified e.g. Prince 2, Lean Six Sigma, qualifications in strategy and planning

Package Description

What we can offer you: 

• Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays 
• A Cash Healthcare Plan (giving you up to £1,600 towards a range of out of pocket health expenses like new glasses, dentist, chiropractor or osteopath appointments) 
• Early finish Friday and flexible working 
• Discounts on gym membership and days out 
• Employee assistance programme to give you support on any issues that come up in life  
• Annual Season ticket loan 
• Very active social scene including sport teams, gardening and other activities 
• Generous pension provision, life assurance and permanent health insurance 

About the Company

Diabetes is the most potentially devastating – and fastest growing – health crisis of our time, requiring ongoing high-quality care and support. There are currently 4.5 million people in the UK living with diabetes, and 11.9 million more at increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Those diagnosed face the risk of life-changing, and life-limiting, complications, unless they are given the very best care and the support they need to manage their condition well. As a society we need to work together now – and take action now – to fund critical research, improve healthcare and treatment, and prevent yet more people developing this potentially life-threatening condition. 

Diabetes UK is a forward thinking and commercially focused organisation, and is the leading charity for the 4.5 million people with the condition in the UK.

As we continue to improve our processes, through continual development and change, this is an exciting time to join us. With established funding streams and following on from the success of our previous five-year plan, we are in a strong position to continue developing and responding to changing environments.

We rely heavily upon the expertise and motivation of our staff in order to work towards our many aims and meet objectives. We aim to be an equal opportunity employer; the organisation recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. We gladly make the adjustments required for people with disabilities to join us. Our diverse functions mean that we can offer you a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.

Diabetes UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable and expects all staff and volunteers to actively support this commitment. 

Diabetes UK recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. 

We have a vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm – if you’d like to be part of that, why not join us? 

To Learn more about the work we do - Click here

Diabetes UK