NHS AfC:

Band 8b

Job overview

Band 8b to Band 8c - dependent on experience

The Strategy Unit is seeking an experienced individual to lead our simulation modelling service. This is an area of growth with the Strategy Unit being recognised as a provider of high-quality simulation expertise. We are looking for someone who can continue to develop and expand our work in this area.

You will be a valued member of the team, supporting the development of our services, systems, strategy and reputation for excellence. You will be based within the Analytics and modelling team.

We strongly value diversity within our workforce, and recognise that different people bring different perspectives, lived experience, ideas, and culture to the team. This difference brings with it great strengths, including diversity of thought and innovation. 

We'll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process to accommodate your needs, feel free to contact Lorna Crofts ([email protected]) who will be happy to support you.

ML is committed to our process of redeployment at risk members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Main duties of the job

As an Analytics Manager (Simulation)you will work closely with those that commission or sponsor our work and will be responsible for developing detailed analytical proposals that respond to a clients’ needs. You will primarily lead and deliver stand-alone simulation-based projects Discrete event, system dynamics, agent based etc.). There will also be opportunities to lead and deliver other analytical projects including analytical components of complex mixed methods work programmes.

You will be responsible for identifying, and developing opportunities for new business to build the simulation function within the Strategy Unit and ensuring that you and your team have a sufficient pipeline of projects to keep you engaged throughout the year. You will support the development of the use of simulation methods within the wider NHS, through the leading and delivery of an established community of practice, conference presentations and training workshops.

We are committed to open-source reproducible analytical pipelines to ensure the methods are shared widely across the NHS, including sharing code and transferring skills to national and local teams.

Analytics and modelling sit within our wider organisational structure that also includes:

Business Management Data science Evaluation Research and policy

Working for our organisation

The Strategy Unit is a specialist NHS team, hosted by NHS Midlands and Lancashire (ML). We work with NHS and social care organisations, universities, charities, and government organisations to deliver clear thinking and applied analysis that improves decision-making, implementation, and results. Our basic proposition is simple: better evidence, better decisions, better outcomes.

The NHS and its partners face significant challenges, so our services are in high demand. The Strategy Unit covers all its costs through project funding which is driven by need and any surplus is recycled for public benefit. We host the and . For more information about our work including recent and current projects, please visit our website: 

We are based in central Birmingham but work on projects from across the UK and have a hybrid model of working for team members. This means that, although we sometimes need to come together face-to-face for Strategy Unit and/or client events (either in the office or at other locations nationally), there is otherwise no minimum requirement for working from the office. The office is a resource for collaboration and mutual support; it is not a duty. 

Where you need to travel for Strategy Unit and/or client events, travel which is excess of the home to agreed work base will be reimbursed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities and skills required

Discipline

(S)kills and (R)esponsibilities

Project Management

(R) Provide leadership to quantitative and mixed methods projects and programmes, including acting as Project Director

(R) Proactively generate or identify opportunities for commissions through existing or developing networks

(S) Be calm under pressure and able to juggle competing priorities and tight deadlines

(S) Be able to think clearly and analytically in complex, dynamic and ambiguous situations

(S) Manage risks and interdependencies in order to deliver your own work programme and anticipate and communicate the impact on others’ work areas.

(R) Quality assure quantitative analytical projects to ensure the analysis and reporting is done to the highest standards

Analysis

(R) Work closely with our customers to identify and structure the problems they need to address using your analytical experience and knowledge of the health sector, its organisational structures and operational processes and the context within which our customers operate

(R) Translate requirements into detailed briefs for analytical projects including devising or identifying appropriate analytical methods or approaches to meet the clients' needs

(S)Locate relevant data and information sources, including negotiating access (including IG responsibilities) where required

(S) Using quantitative analytical and simulation methods you will manage complex projects. This will include the selection and application of appropriate analytical or simulation techniques, tools and methods. The work will require the use of large and complex datasets.

(S) Design and produce high quality analytical outputs applying a range of data presentation and visualisation techniques

(S) Interpret and explain the results of analyses to senior managers within our clients’ organisations. This will include writing reports as well as presenting the results, confidently conveying key findings, critical uncertainties, business risks and opportunities and recommendations

Leadership

(R) Provide leadership within the Analytics and Modelling team, supporting colleagues to develop and implement simulation methods

(R) Provision of line management and/or contributing to the development of colleagues

(R) Build and maintain good working relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders on a range of strategic and business sensitive issues in a highly political environment

(R) Keep up to date with new developments in analysis and data science and develop your ideas about how to support the health services through innovative analyses, sharing these with colleagues

(S) High quality interpersonal skills, alongside an analytical mindset.

If you have any queries relating to specific areas of our work or what it’s like to work at the Strategy Unit, please get in touch: [email protected].

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of designing, leading and delivering complex simulation modelling projects or work programmes in a healthcare setting Experience of proposal writing, leading responses to ITTs and winning work in a competitive environment Experience of producing and presenting high quality outputs of analyses to support decision-making

Skills, Knowledge and Competencies

Essential criteria

Extensive theoretical and practical expertise in at least one simulation modelling approach for example discrete event, system dynamics, agent based modelling etc, and associated software, for example using Simul8, Stella, R and Python. Able to lead in the application of techniques from other specialist analytical disciplines such as: •quantitative evaluation methods •epidemiology •econometrics •statistical modelling regression models •statistical process control •machine learning cluster analysis

MLCSU is committed to our process of redeployment at risk members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

Job Description Analytics Manager (Simulation) (PDF, .0KB) Applicant Recruitment Journey (PDF, .6KB) MLCSU Careers - Information Pack (PDF, title="Megabytes"> MB)

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

NameJake ParsonsJob titleHead of Analytics and ModellingEmail address[email protected]