Chief Strategy Officer
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- Employer:
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust
- Location:
- Gillingham
- Salary:
- Competitive
- Closing date :
- 9am Monday 20th July 2026
- Job Ref:
- GSe133328
Associated documents
Description
Medway NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional Chief Strategy and Planning Officer to join our Board. This is a pivotal leadership role, central to shaping and delivering our long-term strategic ambition and ensuring that our plans translate into meaningful improvements for patients, staff and the communities we serve.
You will play a central role in shaping and executing the Trust’s long-term strategic direction and lead the development of a coherent and ambitious strategy that drives improvements in quality, access, productivity, workforce experience and organisational reputation, while ensuring that these ambitions are translated into clear, aligned and deliverable plans. Working closely with Executive colleagues, you will bring pace, clarity and discipline to strategic delivery, ensuring that priorities are embedded across the organisation and realised in practice.
The role encompasses a broad and integrated portfolio that is fundamental to the Trust’s future success. This includes leadership of strategy and transformation, system partnerships, digital and data, estates and infrastructure, major capital programmes, and corporate communications and engagement, alongside oversight of the Trust Charity. Through this wide-ranging remit, you will be instrumental in modernising the Trust’s estate and ways of working, enhancing staff and patient experience, and enabling the delivery of sustainable, high-quality services for the population of Medway.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust is united by a clear and ambitious mission: to deliver the best of care by the best of people, every time. As a key partner within the Kent and Medway integrated care system, we are progressing our Patient First strategy, underpinned by an Operational Excellence approach that aligns strategic priorities with operational delivery. This transformation journey is well underway, and the Chief Strategy and Planning Officer will play a critical role in accelerating progress and ensuring that the Trust continues to deliver meaningful and lasting change.
Our Trust’s culture is defined by its BEST values—being Bold, ensuring Every person counts, creating a culture that is Sharing and open, and working Together. These values underpin our leadership approach and are central to how care is delivered, how staff are supported, and how partnerships are developed.
This is a compelling opportunity to join an ambitious and forward-looking organisation at a pivotal stage in its development. You will work as part of a committed and collaborative Executive team, influencing system-wide partnerships and delivering impact at scale. In return, Medway offers a dynamic and inclusive environment, committed to diversity, flexibility and the ongoing development of its people.
If you are energised by the opportunity to shape the future of healthcare and make a lasting difference for patients and communities, we would love to hear from you.
For a confidential conversation or to express interest, please contact our executive search partners at GatenbySanderson.
Helen Barkham, Principal Researcher
E: helen.barkham@gatenbysanderson.com
T: +44 (0) 7921 308 766
Julia St Clare, Senior Consultant and Research Lead
E: julia.stclare@gatenbysanderson.com
T: +44 (0) 7807 631 564
Melanie Shearer, Partner
E: melanie.shearer@gatenbysanderson.com
T: +44 (0) 7785 616 548
Closing date: 9am Monday 20th July 2026
Final Panel: w/c 17th August 2026
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How to Apply
- Please submit an up to date copy of your CV, along with a Supporting Statement that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification, using examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements.
- A completed fit and proper person form – the template can be downloaded from the same place as the job description.
- Detail any employment or education gaps.
- You should provide the names, positions, organisations, and contact details for your referees, which must be your line managers and include your current and most recent employer. The referees should cover at least two roles as the minimum. Please note, should you be appointed, you will be required to provide references covering your last 6 years of employment as per the new NHS Fit and Proper Person regulations. Where there have been gaps in employment, this six year period will be extended accordingly. Referees will only be contacted for those proceeding to the final stage - we will always gain your permission before we contact referees.
- Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email to confirm that you have applied. If you do not receive this email, please make contact with GatenbySanderson