Overview
Head of Planning Analysis – Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 18 March 2026
We are seeking an exceptional and forward-thinking analytical leader at CUH. The Head of Planning Analysis is a pivotal strategic leadership role, ensuring alignment between financial and operational ambitions, embedding robust governance and performance monitoring, and using advanced analytics to continuously improve how we plan, deliver and evaluate care.
Main duties of the job
The Head of Planning Analysis will be responsible for the development and delivery the Trust\'s business planning process; ensure alignment between financial and operational performance ambitions; have well managed processes and protocols to monitor progress against plans and identify performance risk; and use analytics and insights to continuously improve the Trust\'s business planning process.
The post holder will be experienced in managing and communicating complex analytical projects, working collaboratively with stakeholders to improve the Trust\'s business planning process, and will be able to interpret and analyse highly complex facts to monitor and act upon performance risk.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke\'s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing \"outstanding\" care to our patients and rated \"Good\" overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH\'s values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people\'s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employmentThis vacancy will close at midnight on the 18th March 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on the 30th March 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person SpecificationQualifications
* Masters Degree Level education or equivalent, gained in a health delivery related subject.
* Significant experience in the healthcare sector as an analytical expert.
* PhD or advanced degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field.
Knowledge
* Sound knowledge base of the NHS, the current issues, its values and principles of timely local access for the population.
* Expert knowledge of the business planning process, performance management and reporting in NHS governance.
* Specialist knowledge of NHS information systems.
* Specialist knowledge of NHS policy and governance, particularly relating to business planning and analytics.
* Expert knowledge of analytical methodologies, modelling techniques, and data interpretation to support strategic decision making.
* Strong command of financial and operational planning principles, including scenario modelling, risk analysis, and resource optimisation.
* Ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for senior stakeholders, including Board level audiences.
* Skilled in developing organisational capability in planning and analysis, including coaching and mentoring senior analysts.
* Skilled in identifying emerging trends, risks, and opportunities, and advising senior leaders on strategic responses.
* Specialist knowledge of health policy.
* Exceptionally high level of numeracy and ability in health based statistical modelling.
* In-depth knowledge of data science techniques, including machine learning, AI, predictive analytics, and big data technologies.
* Knowledge of healthcare NHS data systems, electronic health records, data architecture, and NHS data governance regulations.
* Knowledge of financial management within the NHS.
* Formal project management training.
Experience
* Experience as a Manager within an NHS organisation in a performance, informatics or commissioning setting.
* Experience within an acute hospital setting.
* Proven record of leading complex, multi-faceted management systems relating to performance and/or planning.
* Developed communication and negotiation skills.
* Demonstrable evidence of working at immediately sub-Board level.
* Significant experience of delivering complex strategic and operational planning data.
* Ability to give formal presentations.
* Proven experience in data science or advanced analytics roles, preferably within healthcare or a related field.
* Strong track record of delivering complex data science projects that improve business or clinical outcomes.
* Excellent leadership and team management skills with experience in building and leading data science teams.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data insights into actionable recommendations for non-technical stakeholders.
* Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals.
* NHS experience.
Skills
* A proven ability to obtain and consistently achieve results and targets.
* Proven ability to deal with wide range of data and information and take appropriate decisions from it.
* A proven ability to come up with flexible and creative solutions to difficult problems.
* High end IT skills, with demonstrable evidence of power user abilities in MS Excel.
* Skilled at logical problem structuring, able to apply existing knowledge/skills to unfamiliar areas and understand the real issues underlying a request.
* Excellent collaborative working skills and able to build strong relationships with clinical leaders and professional staff groups, and a proven ability to influence and change those groups.
* Effective and strategic influencing skills at all levels in the organisation including influencing Trust Board.
* A management style that empowers others and evidence of successfully driving a learning coaching culture for all staff in your area of control.
* Holding to account others to ensure they deliver to their targets and dealing effectively with performance.
* Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive information to senior managers, staff, patients and external agencies.
Additional Requirements
* The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of together; safe, kind and excellent.
* A strong commitment to openness, honesty, inclusiveness and high standards in leadership.
* The confidence to succeed and overcome individual and organisational obstacles.
* Being able to manage own emotions and be resilient in a range of complex and demanding situations.
* A deep motivation to drive and improve performance in the service and in others.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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