Head of Strategy and Planning

Salary: £84,080Role duration: Permanent (37.5 hours per week)Location: London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)Summary Purpose – what you will be achieving: The Head of Strategy and Planning provides organisation-wide leadership on strategic thinking, prioritisation, and planning. The role is responsible for developing and maintaining the Academy’s strategic framework and planning processes, ensuring that strategic ambitions are clear, evidence-based, affordable, and deliverable.Working in close partnership with the Chief Operating Officer and senior leaders, the postholder supports the organisation to make informed choices, manage trade-offs, and focus resources where they will have the greatest impact. The role does not hold responsibility for day-to-day operations, but instead enables effective delivery through strong planning, insight, and performance frameworks.About the role – what you will be doing:1. Strategic Direction Lead the development and stewardship of a bold, coherent strategy that positions AMS as an influential voice across both UK and global medical science.Design and embed organisation‑wide strategic and business planning processes, enabling clear prioritisation, coordinated action and disciplined alignment across all directorates.Integrate domestic and international priorities seamlessly into the Academy’s strategic framework, ensuring AMS shapes — and is shaped by — both UK and global developments.Facilitate high‑quality strategic conversations with senior leaders, bringing structure, creativity, evidence and options to complex organisational decisions. 2. Whole‑System Partnerships, Influence and Strategic EngagementBuild and nurture influential partnerships across the entire health, science, research and innovation ecosystem, including government, funders, industry, academia, learned societies, the NHS, international bodies and philanthropic organisations.Maintain a deep, organisation‑wide understanding of the Academy’s stakeholder landscape, ensuring strategic clarity about who our key partners are, what they value, and how AMS can work with them most effectively.Enhance AMS’s role as a convener and connector, identifying opportunities for cross‑sector collaboration, joint influence and shared system impact across the UK and globally.Act as a visible strategic ambassador, representing AMS’s priorities externally and ensuring strategic intelligence flows back into organisational decision‑making. 3. Governance Leadership and Strategic Decision InfrastructureOversee all governance functions for the Academy, ensuring that Council and its committees are supported to operate effectively, efficiently and strategically.Ensure the right business goes to Council at the right time, leading your team to manage forward plans, agenda setting, and the sequencing of decisions so that governance bodies can provide true strategic oversight.Oversee the preparation of high‑quality papers and briefings that support rigorous, insight‑driven decision‑making by Council, committees and the Executive.Strengthen governance as a strategic asset, ensuring that Board and committee structures, cycles and information flows enable clarity, accountability and long‑term organisational stewardship. 4. Planning Lead a high‑performing planning function that provides cross‑Academy visibility, assurance and coordination of major strategic programmes.Embed consistent project, programme and portfolio management standards, ensuring strategic work is well‑sequenced, risk‑managed and aligned to organisational priorities.Produce insightful, action‑oriented reporting for the Executive and Council that supports confident oversight and timely decision‑making. 5. Strategic Funding and Resource AlignmentBuild strategic relationships with current and potential funders, identifying where aligned investment can accelerate AMS’s mission and shared system goals.Secure funding, shaping compelling, strategic propositions that reflect both organisational priorities and funder interests.Work closely with Finance and Fundraising to ensure strategic plans are supported by sustainable income models and clear long‑term financial assumptions.Identify funding gaps, capacity constraints and resourcing risks, enabling informed choices by the Executive and Council. 6. Horizon Scanning, Foresight & External ContextMonitor and interpret major external developments — scientific, policy, geopolitical, funding, regulatory and technological — across the UK and internationally.Ensure the Academy’s strategy is globally informed and forward‑looking, enabling AMS to anticipate change, seize emerging opportunities and mitigate strategic risks.Translate horizon scanning into actionable strategic insight, equipping leaders and governance bodies with the intelligence needed to steer the organisation confidently. 7. Leadership, Organisational Alignment and Executive SupportLead and develop your team, ensuring strategic planning, international insight, planning, governance support and the CEO’s office operate as a cohesive, high‑performing unit.Act as a strategic partner to directors and colleagues across the Academy, supporting alignment across directorates while preserving operational accountability.Champion strategic discipline, prioritisation and organisational focus, ensuring the Academy remains aligned around the work that matters most.Closing date for completed applications is 2pm on 7th September 2026 Interviews will likely be held online on the week commencing 14th September 2026RequirementsStrategic leader with substantial experience setting organisational direction and running effective strategic and business planning.Proven ability to build influential external partnerships across government, funders, industry, academia, NHS bodies and international organisations, acting as a credible ambassador and convener.Skilled at governance and decision‑making support, including shaping agendas, preparing high‑quality papers and enabling effective Board/committee oversight.Strong analytical judgement, able to synthesise complex evidence, assess risk and present clear strategic options.Experience overseeing planning or programme functions, ensuring aligned, well‑sequenced and risk‑managed delivery.Financially literate, with the ability to align resources with strategic priorities and engage funders.Excellent communicator and collaborator, able to influence senior leaders and lead high‑performing teams.BenefitsWe offer a competitive and evolving benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development and work–life balance, including:Competitive salary and pension26 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidaysOption to buy or sell annual leaveAdditional paid closure between Christmas and New YearHybrid and flexible workingHealth, wellbeing and employee support programmesCycle-to-work scheme and everyday benefitsStructured learning and developmentEnhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leaveEnhanced occupational sick pay.A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period

Salary: £84,080

Role duration: Permanent (37.5 hours per week)

Location: London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)

Summary Purpose – what you will be achieving:

The Head of Strategy and Planning provides organisation-wide leadership on strategic thinking, prioritisation, and planning. The role is responsible for developing and maintaining the Academy’s strategic framework and planning processes, ensuring that strategic ambitions are clear, evidence-based, affordable, and deliverable.

Working in close partnership with the Chief Operating Officer and senior leaders, the postholder supports the organisation to make informed choices, manage trade-offs, and focus resources where they will have the greatest impact. The role does not hold responsibility for day-to-day operations, but instead enables effective delivery through strong planning, insight, and performance frameworks.

About the role – what you will be doing:

1. Strategic Direction

Lead the development and stewardship of a bold, coherent strategy that positions AMS as an influential voice across both UK and global medical science.

Design and embed organisation‑wide strategic and business planning processes, enabling clear prioritisation, coordinated action and disciplined alignment across all directorates.

Integrate domestic and international priorities seamlessly into the Academy’s strategic framework, ensuring AMS shapes — and is shaped by — both UK and global developments.

Facilitate high‑quality strategic conversations with senior leaders, bringing structure, creativity, evidence and options to complex organisational decisions.

2. Whole‑System Partnerships, Influence and Strategic Engagement

Build and nurture influential partnerships across the entire health, science, research and innovation ecosystem, including government, funders, industry, academia, learned societies, the NHS, international bodies and philanthropic organisations.

Maintain a deep, organisation‑wide understanding of the Academy’s stakeholder landscape, ensuring strategic clarity about who our key partners are, what they value, and how AMS can work with them most effectively.

Enhance AMS’s role as a convener and connector, identifying opportunities for cross‑sector collaboration, joint influence and shared system impact across the UK and globally.

Act as a visible strategic ambassador, representing AMS’s priorities externally and ensuring strategic intelligence flows back into organisational decision‑making.

3. Governance Leadership and Strategic Decision Infrastructure

Oversee all governance functions for the Academy, ensuring that Council and its committees are supported to operate effectively, efficiently and strategically.

Ensure the right business goes to Council at the right time, leading your team to manage forward plans, agenda setting, and the sequencing of decisions so that governance bodies can provide true strategic oversight.

Oversee the preparation of high‑quality papers and briefings that support rigorous, insight‑driven decision‑making by Council, committees and the Executive.

Strengthen governance as a strategic asset, ensuring that Board and committee structures, cycles and information flows enable clarity, accountability and long‑term organisational stewardship.

4. Planning

Lead a high‑performing planning function that provides cross‑Academy visibility, assurance and coordination of major strategic programmes.

Embed consistent project, programme and portfolio management standards, ensuring strategic work is well‑sequenced, risk‑managed and aligned to organisational priorities.

Produce insightful, action‑oriented reporting for the Executive and Council that supports confident oversight and timely decision‑making.

5. Strategic Funding and Resource Alignment

Build strategic relationships with current and potential funders, identifying where aligned investment can accelerate AMS’s mission and shared system goals.

Secure funding, shaping compelling, strategic propositions that reflect both organisational priorities and funder interests.

Work closely with Finance and Fundraising to ensure strategic plans are supported by sustainable income models and clear long‑term financial assumptions.

Identify funding gaps, capacity constraints and resourcing risks, enabling informed choices by the Executive and Council.

6. Horizon Scanning, Foresight & External Context

Monitor and interpret major external developments — scientific, policy, geopolitical, funding, regulatory and technological — across the UK and internationally.

Ensure the Academy’s strategy is globally informed and forward‑looking, enabling AMS to anticipate change, seize emerging opportunities and mitigate strategic risks.

Translate horizon scanning into actionable strategic insight, equipping leaders and governance bodies with the intelligence needed to steer the organisation confidently.

7. Leadership, Organisational Alignment and Executive Support

Lead and develop your team, ensuring strategic planning, international insight, planning, governance support and the CEO’s office operate as a cohesive, high‑performing unit.

Act as a strategic partner to directors and colleagues across the Academy, supporting alignment across directorates while preserving operational accountability.

Champion strategic discipline, prioritisation and organisational focus, ensuring the Academy remains aligned around the work that matters most.

Closing date for completed applications is 2pm on 7th September 2026

Interviews will likely be held online on the week commencing 14th September 2026

Requirements

Strategic leader with substantial experience setting organisational direction and running effective strategic and business planning.

Proven ability to build influential external partnerships across government, funders, industry, academia, NHS bodies and international organisations, acting as a credible ambassador and convener.

Skilled at governance and decision‑making support, including shaping agendas, preparing high‑quality papers and enabling effective Board/committee oversight.

Strong analytical judgement, able to synthesise complex evidence, assess risk and present clear strategic options.

Experience overseeing planning or programme functions, ensuring aligned, well‑sequenced and risk‑managed delivery.

Financially literate, with the ability to align resources with strategic priorities and engage funders.

Excellent communicator and collaborator, able to influence senior leaders and lead high‑performing teams.

Benefits

We offer a competitive and evolving benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development and work–life balance, including:

• Competitive salary and pension
• 26 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell annual leave
• Additional paid closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Health, wellbeing and employee support programmes
• Cycle-to-work scheme and everyday benefits
• Structured learning and development
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave
• Enhanced occupational sick pay.

A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period

We are the independent, expert voice of biomedical and health research in the UK.The Academy’s vision is good health for all supported by the best research and evidence.Our mission is to help create an open and progressive research sector to improve the health of people everywhere. We support researchers with innovative funding and career development opportunities We help create a more sustainable environment for delivering outstanding research We help researchers to work with academia, the public, policy makers and industry to make the greatest difference to health Our strategy will deliver the following strategic priorities over the next 10 yearsWe will influence policy and practice to improve the lives of patients, the public and communitiesWe will support UK biomedical and health research to strengthen its global competitiveness and reputationWe will support the next generation of researchers to reach their full potentialWe will work with our partners to increase the Academy’s impact on global healthWe will build our resources to ensure our long-term independence and effectivenessOur strengths A Fellowship of the most influential scientists in the UK and worldwide An inspiring community of emerging and established research leaders Connections across the science sector including National Academies, charities and industry A vibrant and growing network of European and global partnerships and collaborations An ability to influence policy by connecting the insights of our Fellowship, researchers, patients and the public The meaningful involvement of patients and the public to shape our work A talented and committed staff team who embody our values Our valuesWe strive for excellenceWe act on evidenceWe behave with integrityWe collaborate widelyWe are inclusive and actively seek diversity in all formsWe are agile, kind and resilient.Please visit our website for more information.

We are the independent, expert voice of biomedical and health research in the UK.

The Academy’s vision is good health for all supported by the best research and evidence.

Our mission is to help create an open and progressive research sector to improve the health of people everywhere.

• We support researchers with innovative funding and career development opportunities
• We help create a more sustainable environment for delivering outstanding research
• We help researchers to work with academia, the public, policy makers and industry to make the greatest difference to health

Our strategy will deliver the following strategic priorities over the next 10 years

We will influence policy and practice to improve the lives of patients, the public and communities

We will support UK biomedical and health research to strengthen its global competitiveness and reputation

We will support the next generation of researchers to reach their full potential

We will work with our partners to increase the Academy’s impact on global health

We will build our resources to ensure our long-term independence and effectiveness

Our strengths

• A Fellowship of the most influential scientists in the UK and worldwide
• An inspiring community of emerging and established research leaders
• Connections across the science sector including National Academies, charities and industry
• A vibrant and growing network of European and global partnerships and collaborations
• An ability to influence policy by connecting the insights of our Fellowship, researchers, patients and the public
• The meaningful involvement of patients and the public to shape our work
• A talented and committed staff team who embody our values

Our values

We strive for excellence

We act on evidence

We behave with integrity

We collaborate widely

We are inclusive and actively seek diversity in all forms

We are agile, kind and resilient.

Please visit our website for more information.