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

Hours
Full Time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary
£84,080 per annum

About the Role
The Head of Strategy and Planning provides organisation-wide leadership on strategic thinking, prioritisation, and planning. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the Academy of Medical Sciences’ strategic framework and planning processes, ensuring that strategic ambitions are clear, evidence-based, affordable, and deliverable. Working closely 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. While not responsible for day-to-day operations, the role enables effective delivery through strong planning, insight, and performance frameworks.

Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Direction: Lead the development and stewardship of a bold, coherent strategy positioning AMS as an influential voice in UK and global medical science. Design and embed organisation-wide strategic and business planning processes to enable clear prioritisation, coordinated action, and disciplined alignment across all directorates. Integrate domestic and international priorities into the strategic framework and facilitate high-quality strategic conversations with senior leaders.
2. Whole-System Partnerships, Influence and Strategic Engagement: Build and nurture influential partnerships across health, science, research, and innovation ecosystems including government, funders, industry, academia, NHS, international bodies, and philanthropic organisations. Maintain a deep understanding of the Academy’s stakeholder landscape and enhance AMS’s role as a convener and connector.
3. Governance Leadership and Strategic Decision Infrastructure: Oversee governance functions ensuring Council and committees operate effectively and strategically. Manage forward plans, agenda setting, and sequencing of decisions to enable strategic oversight. Prepare high-quality papers and briefings supporting insight-driven decision-making.
4. Planning: Lead a high-performing planning function providing cross-Academy visibility, assurance, and coordination of major strategic programmes. Embed consistent project and portfolio management standards ensuring well-sequenced, risk-managed delivery aligned to priorities.
5. Strategic Funding and Resource Alignment: Build strategic relationships with funders, secure funding through compelling propositions, and work closely with Finance and Fundraising to ensure sustainable income models and clear financial assumptions. Identify funding gaps and resourcing risks.
6. Horizon Scanning, Foresight & External Context: Monitor and interpret major external developments across scientific, policy, geopolitical, funding, regulatory, and technological areas. Ensure the strategy is globally informed and forward-looking, translating insights into actionable intelligence.
7. Leadership, Organisational Alignment and Executive Support: Lead and develop the team to operate as a cohesive, high-performing unit. Act as a strategic partner supporting alignment across directorates while preserving operational accountability. Champion strategic discipline, prioritisation, and organisational focus.

Additional Information
Closing date for completed applications is 2pm on 31st July 2026. Interviews will likely be held online during the week commencing 10th August 2026.

Experience
- Substantial experience as a strategic leader 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.
- Skilled in governance and decision-making support, including agenda setting, preparing high-quality papers, and enabling effective Board/committee oversight.
- 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.

About You
- Strong analytical judgement with the ability to synthesise complex evidence, assess risk, and present clear strategic options.
- Excellent communicator and collaborator, able to influence senior leaders and lead high-performing teams.
- Credible ambassador and convener with a strategic mindset and organisational focus.

Qualifications
Not explicitly specified, but a background relevant to strategic leadership in health, science, or related sectors is implied.