Strategic Planning Manager | North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust


Company:	North West Ambulance Service
Salary:	£49,387 - £56,515 Per Annum
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Bolton, BL1 5DD
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	6 Oct 2026
Closing date:	5 Nov 2026

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Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Strategy and Planning Team at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) as a Strategic Planning Manager.

This is a key role at the centre of the Trust’s strategic planning and assurance function. Working closely with the Strategic Planning Lead and colleagues across the organisation, you will help translate our strategic ambitions into clear, credible and measurable plans, while providing assurance on progress and delivery.

You will work with senior leaders, strategic leads and teams across NWAS to coordinate the development of strategic and annual plans, strengthen planning and assurance processes, identify risks and dependencies, and support effective decision-making.

The role offers significant scope to work independently, build strong relationships across the organisation and contribute directly to the delivery of the Trust Strategy.

The Strategic Planning Manager will play a key role in supporting the development, coordination and assurance of the Trust’s strategic and annual planning processes.

Working closely with the Strategic Planning Lead and colleagues across NWAS, the postholder will support the development and review of the Trust Strategy, strategic plans and Annual Plan, ensuring priorities are clear, measurable and aligned.

The role will coordinate planning and assurance cycles, critically review evidence, identify risks, dependencies and areas requiring further action, and provide constructive challenge to senior stakeholders.

The postholder will produce high-quality reports, papers, briefings and presentations for senior leaders and governance forums, support the development of measures to monitor progress, and contribute to continuous improvement of planning processes.

The role requires strong analytical, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and engage confidently with stakeholders across the organisation.

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24 hour, 365 days a year accident and emergency services to those in need of emergency medical treatment and transport.

Our highly skilled staff provide life-saving care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed.

We also provide non-emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non-emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need.

Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident.

We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non-emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

You will:

• support the development, review and implementation of the Trust Strategy, strategic plans and Annual Plan;

• coordinate and strengthen the Trust’s annual planning and assurance cycles;

• critically review planning and assurance information, identifying evidence gaps, risks, dependencies and areas requiring further action;

• produce high-quality reports, papers, briefings and presentations for senior leaders, executive committees and other governance forums;

• work collaboratively with stakeholders across clinical, operational and corporate services to ensure plans are clear, measurable and aligned to strategic priorities;

• provide constructive challenge and advice to support robust planning, delivery and assurance;

• monitor national and regional developments and assess their implications for NWAS strategy and planning;

• support the continuous improvement of planning frameworks, systems and processes; and

• contribute flexibly to wider Strategy and Planning priorities as required.

About you

We are looking for a highly organised, analytical and proactive individual who can operate confidently in a complex and fast-paced environment.

You will bring:

• experience of strategic, corporate or business planning within a complex organisation;

• strong analytical and judgement skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and identify key issues;

• excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentation;

• confidence in engaging with, influencing and constructively challenging senior stakeholders;

• the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently with minimal supervision;

• a collaborative and professional approach, with a strong commitment to quality and continuous improvement; and

• a clear commitment to NWAS values and to improving services for patients, staff and communities.

This role would suit someone who is comfortable working across organisational boundaries, enjoys bringing structure to complex information, and can move confidently between detailed analysis and concise executive-level communication.

Visa sponsorship is not possible for this role for either candidates or existing employees. This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker/ Health and Care Worker visas as set out at gov.uk. Graduate visa holders should have no expectation of long-term employment through sponsorship. Additionally, your visa conditions and validity period must allow you to work in the role question and for a suitable period to allow training and execution without requiring sponsorship.

This advert closes on Monday 19 Oct 2026

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