Chief Strategy Officer | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	Attractive Remuneration Package
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Manchester, M13 9WL
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	2 Sept 2026
Closing date:	3 Oct 2026

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Summary

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), we are proud to be one of the largest and most complex NHS organisations in the country, serving diverse communities across Manchester, Trafford and beyond. We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our Board as Chief Strategy Officer.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of health and care at MFT. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board colleagues, clinical leaders and partners across Greater Manchester, you will lead the development and delivery of our organisational strategy, ensuring we continue to improve outcomes for patients, staff and communities.

As Chief Strategy Officer, you will play a central role in influencing the strategic direction of the Trust, helping us respond to a changing healthcare landscape whilst building on the strengths of our scale, expertise and partnerships. You will work across organisational and system boundaries to turn ambition into action, foster innovation and collaboration, and help ensure MFT remains at the forefront of healthcare improvement, research, education and clinical excellence.

We are seeking a credible, politically astute and visible leader with significant experience as a Director of Strategy within a large acute NHS organisation. You will bring a proven track record of strategic leadership, partnership working and transformational change, together with the ability to build strong relationships and influence at Board, system and national level.

As a member of the Executive Director Team and Board of Directors, you will provide strategic leadership across MFT and help shape the future direction of one of the UK's largest NHS organisations.

Leading the development and delivery of the Trust's organisational strategy and annual planning processes, you will ensure our ambitions translate into meaningful improvements for patients, staff and communities. Working closely with Executive colleagues, Clinical Group Chief Executives and senior clinical leaders, you will support the development of sustainable clinical services, innovative models of care and strategic partnerships.

You will build influential relationships with NHS England, Greater Manchester system partners, local authorities and key stakeholders, representing MFT at senior forums and helping shape system-wide decision making.

The role will lead the deployment of the MFT Organisational Strategy, ensuring organisational priorities are translated into clear plans and measurable outcomes. You will work across organisational and system boundaries to identify opportunities for collaboration, drive innovation and support the continued development of high-quality, sustainable services.

Through visible, values-led leadership, you will champion staff engagement, equality, diversity and inclusion, helping create a culture where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to deliver outstanding care.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester is the largest health academic campus in Europe. We are an ambitious organisation, serving over 1 million patients and users annually through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are a driving force for innovation, clinical excellence, and system leadership across Greater Manchester.

As a senior leader at MFT, you will shape strategy and transformation at scale, working alongside a diverse, high-performing executive team. Our £3bn plus turnover and leading-edge digital infrastructure, including the Hive EPR, enable us to deliver integrated, patient-centred care and drive continuous improvement.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, values-led culture where your expertise, vision, and leadership will directly influence organisational direction and population health outcomes. You will have the opportunity to lead complex change, champion research and innovation, and develop future talent in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Join us to make a lasting impact—on our Trust, our communities, and the future of healthcare.

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.

Candidate Information Pack

To support these opportunities, we have developed a bespoke 'Candidate Information Pack' which provides specific information about the role and the Assessment and Selection Process. To view this pack, please visit: https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/1-2/

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team atresourcing@mft.nhs.uk.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

This advert closes on Tuesday 15 Sep 2026

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