Head of System Flow - Gloucestershire

This is an exciting opportunity to lead system flow commissioning and provider oversight across Gloucestershire, helping to improve outcomes, reduce pressure across pathways and support a resilient, integrated health and care system.

As Head of System Flow, you will lead the day-to-day commissioning of a defined portfolio of services, translating strategic priorities into deliverable, outcome-based specifications and effective commissioning plans. Working across organisational boundaries, you will connect system-level commissioning with place-based teams, providers, clinicians and other partners to ensure plans, contracts and operational delivery remain aligned.

You will use performance, quality, demand and financial intelligence to shape decisions, identify risks and variation, and drive improvement. The role also provides senior leadership across complex programmes, provider performance, governance, resources and workforce, with a strong focus on quality, value for money and better outcomes for local populations.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will:

Lead the day-to-day commissioning and oversight of services within an agreed portfolio.

Develop, implement and manage robust, outcome-based service specifications with providers, clinicians and system partners.

Monitor provider performance against operational standards and contractual requirements, identifying risks, variation and opportunities for improvement.

Coordinate relevant elements of the Cluster Operational Plan, tracking milestones and aligning commissioning, contracts and operational delivery.

Act as a key link between system commissioning and place-based teams to support priorities that improve system flow and pathway resilience.

Develop meaningful reporting with analysts and partners, using performance, quality, demand and financial information to inform decisions.

Lead programmes, improvement initiatives and complex workstreams, managing interdependencies, risks, resources and delivery.

Build effective relationships, represent commissioning in system forums and negotiate confidently on complex or sensitive issues.

Manage budgets and staff, support procurement and deliver agreed benefits, quality and value for money.

About us

We are committed to creating an inclusive organisation that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community; from people of all ages, disabled people, all genders, people from ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ people, people with diverse gender identity and expression, people from all religions and beliefs and other diverse characteristics, and we have processes in place to ensure that all applications are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

Details

Date posted

15 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year

per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,

Part-time

Reference number

461-ICB-6238TG

Job locations

Bristol, Gloucester and hybrid working

Floor 2, North Wing, 100 Temple Street

Bristol Gloucester

BS1 6AG

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

You will provide senior commissioning leadership for defined pathways, providers or service portfolios, ensuring services are planned, specified, procured and overseen in line with strategic objectives and local priorities. You will translate policy, population need and operational intelligence into evidence-based plans and outcome-focused service specifications, while maintaining effective governance and clear reporting.

You will analyse complex performance, quality, activity, demand and financial information; identify risks and unwarranted variation; and agree improvement action through appropriate contract and governance routes. You will lead workstreams and programmes, prepare business cases and reports, manage dependencies and contingency arrangements, and ensure delivery remains timely, affordable and outcome focused.

The role requires confident engagement with senior internal and external stakeholders, including negotiation on complex or contentious matters. You will manage budgets, support procurement, oversee staff and resources, and promote continuous improvement, inclusion and partnership working. You will also deputise for senior leaders when required and ensure compliance with relevant governance, information, financial, safeguarding, risk and organisational requirements.

Job responsibilities

You will provide senior commissioning leadership for defined pathways, providers or service portfolios, ensuring services are planned, specified, procured and overseen in line with strategic objectives and local priorities. You will translate policy, population need and operational intelligence into evidence-based plans and outcome-focused service specifications, while maintaining effective governance and clear reporting.

You will analyse complex performance, quality, activity, demand and financial information; identify risks and unwarranted variation; and agree improvement action through appropriate contract and governance routes. You will lead workstreams and programmes, prepare business cases and reports, manage dependencies and contingency arrangements, and ensure delivery remains timely, affordable and outcome focused.

The role requires confident engagement with senior internal and external stakeholders, including negotiation on complex or contentious matters. You will manage budgets, support procurement, oversee staff and resources, and promote continuous improvement, inclusion and partnership working. You will also deputise for senior leaders when required and ensure compliance with relevant governance, information, financial, safeguarding, risk and organisational requirements.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

• Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
• Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
• Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
• A strong understanding of the relationship between NHS organisations and wider system, regional and national organisations.
• Demonstrates good overall digital literacy, with the ability to confidently use computers and digital systems required for day-to-day work
• Member of relevant professional body, if applicable.

Communication

Essential

• Developed communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at very senior level.
• Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts.
• Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.

Analytical

Essential

• Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
• Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and making decisions where opinions differ/no obvious solution

Planning Skills

Essential

• Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time.

Management Skills

Essential

• Abilities for financial and staff management.

Autonomy

Essential

• Ability to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales. Interpreting national policy for implementation

Physical Skills

Essential

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.

Equality and Diversity

Essential

Financial & Physical Resources

Essential

• Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes.

Other

Essential

• Team working skills
• Self-motivated
• Ability to move between details and the bigger picture.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.
• Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop

Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

• Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
• Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
• Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
• A strong understanding of the relationship between NHS organisations and wider system, regional and national organisations.
• Demonstrates good overall digital literacy, with the ability to confidently use computers and digital systems required for day-to-day work
• Member of relevant professional body, if applicable.

Communication

Essential

• Developed communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at very senior level.
• Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts.
• Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.

Analytical

Essential

• Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
• Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and making decisions where opinions differ/no obvious solution

Planning Skills

Essential

• Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time.

Management Skills

Essential

• Abilities for financial and staff management.

Autonomy

Essential

• Ability to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales. Interpreting national policy for implementation

Physical Skills

Essential

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.

Equality and Diversity

Essential

Financial & Physical Resources

Essential

• Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes.

Other

Essential

• Team working skills
• Self-motivated
• Ability to move between details and the bigger picture.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.
• Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop

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.

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Address

Bristol, Gloucester and hybrid working

Floor 2, North Wing, 100 Temple Street

Bristol Gloucester

BS1 6AG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://bnssg.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Address

Bristol, Gloucester and hybrid working

Floor 2, North Wing, 100 Temple Street

Bristol Gloucester

BS1 6AG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://bnssg.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

You will provide senior commissioning leadership for defined pathways, providers or service portfolios, ensuring services are planned, specified, procured and overseen in line with strategic objectives and local priorities. You will translate policy, population need and operational intelligence into evidence-based plans and outcome-focused service specifications, while maintaining effective governance and clear reporting.

You will analyse complex performance, quality, activity, demand and financial information; identify risks and unwarranted variation; and agree improvement action through appropriate contract and governance routes. You will lead workstreams and programmes, prepare business cases and reports, manage dependencies and contingency arrangements, and ensure delivery remains timely, affordable and outcome focused.

The role requires confident engagement with senior internal and external stakeholders, including negotiation on complex or contentious matters. You will manage budgets, support procurement, oversee staff and resources, and promote continuous improvement, inclusion and partnership working. You will also deputise for senior leaders when required and ensure compliance with relevant governance, information, financial, safeguarding, risk and organisational requirements.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

• Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
• Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
• Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
• A strong understanding of the relationship between NHS organisations and wider system, regional and national organisations.
• Demonstrates good overall digital literacy, with the ability to confidently use computers and digital systems required for day-to-day work
• Member of relevant professional body, if applicable.

Communication

Essential

• Developed communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at very senior level.
• Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts.
• Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.

Analytical

Essential

• Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
• Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and making decisions where opinions differ/no obvious solution

Planning Skills

Essential

• Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time.

Management Skills

Essential

• Abilities for financial and staff management.

Autonomy

Essential

• Ability to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales. Interpreting national policy for implementation

Physical Skills

Essential

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.

Equality and Diversity

Essential

Financial & Physical Resources

Essential

• Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes.

Other

Essential

• Team working skills
• Self-motivated
• Ability to move between details and the bigger picture.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.
• Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop