Strategy Advisers

About Us

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has established a new Health and Care System Strategy Unit. The Government has outlined three key strategic shifts in its health mission: shifting care from hospitals to communities, embracing digital solutions over analogue methods, and focusing more on prevention rather than treatment. While many of these goals have been long-standing in the health and care sector, they have yet to be fully realised.

To achieve these ambitions, the Department needs innovative approaches to translate vision into action. This will involve designing new policy, levers, and tools and significantly reforming existing ones, including accountability systems, financial structures, regulation, patient empowerment initiatives, technology adoption, and improvement methodologies. This unit is leading the charge on realising these ambitions.

About the role

We are seeking up to four expert strategic advisers to join the team on an 18-month assignment, focusing initially on developing a new 10-year health plan set to be published in Spring 2025. Following this, you will assist in navigating emerging strategy and policy priorities.

These roles are being offered on secondment/ loan or a fixed term appointment basis.  

They can be carried out on a full time or part-time basis (minimum 0.6 full-time equivalent FTE) and are hybrid roles with a requirement to attend the London office each week with a 60% on site requirement. Occasional travel outside of your main office location may be required for this role and this travel will be able to be expensed in line with DHSC policy.

The Strategy Adviser roles are part of the civil service and as such you will be required to adhere to the Civil Service Code. These roles can only be carried out in the UK.

Main Responsibilities

These Strategy Advisers will join a team focused on the Secretary of State’s priorities and be involved in building the evidence base from data and research, developing the vision and strategic direction, and generating specific policy ideas. This will need to take account of identifying and synthesising trade-offs and unintended consequences, clarifying intended benefits, shaping the model for successful delivery, considering operational design, and understanding how to manage change. This must all be aligned with the financial and operational realities of the health and care system.

The team will need to think radically to drive meaningful change. Your ability to grasp the complexity and interdependencies of the current health and care landscape will be critical to success, as will your ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of interested parties inside and outside the DHSC.

Ideal candidates will have led strategy and policy development, managed wide-ranging relationships across complex systems, and demonstrated experience in applying the latest data and insights.

Essential Criteria

• Substantial background and expertise in strategy and policy at a senior level in large, complex and political systems
• Relevant experience from outside the civil service in translating policy into practice and delivery
• Excellent analytical skills and  an ability to identify the issue
• A track record of delivering creative, innovative and effective solutions
• Ability to challenge and think radically to make improvements Strong interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills - experience with dealing with a range of senior stakeholders
• Demonstratable ability to work autonomously and as part of a team to deliver large scale change.

How to Apply

If you wish to express your interest in the role, please email the following via the button below:

• CV (no more than two sides of A4) Supporting letter to include your interest in the role and how you meet the person specification (no more than two sides)

For any questions about the role please contact: DHSCSCSRecruitment@dhsc.gov.uk

If you wish to speak with the vacancy holder about the role, please contact the recruitment inbox above. Please note that this will only be available to candidates successful at sift stage.

Shortlisted candidates will be expected to attend a panel interview full detail of this will be provided.

Further Information

Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from other employers (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan or secondment must be obtained before expressing your interest.

In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and will follow existing pay policies for G6 (Lead Strategy Advisers) and SCS1 (Senior Strategy Advisers).

Secondment terms and conditions will be available to share with shortlisted candidates and it is expected this will be a reimbursed arrangement.

Existing DHSC employees – this appointment would be treated as a temporary appointment equivalent to an Expression of Interest and follow existing pay policies for G6 (Lead Strategy Advisers) and SCS1 (Senior Strategy Advisers).

Those wishing to join on a new fixed term appointment are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact DHSCSCSRecruitment@dhsc.gov.uk before the closing date.