About this role
Job summary
The Design and Collaboration Manager is responsible for the development and delivery of innovation and collaboration practices, programmes and services within Q.
This role plays a central part in how Q influences the wider health and care system by building strong, trusting relationships with prospective and existing partners. By championing Qsexpertiseanddemonstratingthe value of collaborative improvement, the role helps to position Q as a credible and supportive partner.
A core aspect of the role is designing and leading projects and programmes that enable practitioners, seniorleadersand patients to make progress on complex challenges. By creating spaces where people can think differently, test ideas and learn together, the role directly contributes to building the conditions that allow improvement to spread and sustain.
This role is a core part of the Servicesteam. It will alsocontribute to the development and delivery of member offers.
Main duties of the job
As Design and Collaboration Manager you will:
Design and deliver impactful improvement programmes using service design, systems thinking and innovation approaches.Facilitate collaboration and learning through engaging workshops, coaching and participatory activities with diverse stakeholders.Lead projects from idea to impact, bringing together evidence, insight and people to deliver meaningful change.Build trusted partnerships and grow new opportunities, developing relationships, proposals and services that expand Q's impact.Shape and strengthen Q's work, contributing to learning, innovation and an inclusive approach across everything we do.
About us
Q is a membership community collaboratively accelerating the improvement of care in the UK and Ireland. We learn together, support each other and share insights to address health system challenges. And we provide a range of paid for services that draw on our expertise in improvement, innovation and transformation to help deliver sustainable change in health care organisations and systems. We operate as a distinct unit within the NHS Alliance, working in active partnership with the wider organisation, with a view to potential increased integration during 2026 and beyond.
The NHS Alliance is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive environment for our staff. We offer a range of inclusive employment policies including family friendly policies and flexible working and we have range of channels to support staff from different backgrounds including our staff networks and a staff forum.
The NHS Alliance is committed to being a flexible employer. We understand the value and benefit to our employees being able to work flexibly and our agile working principles are designed to empower our people to work with optimal flexibility and minimal constraints to support a work life balance and take care of employee health and wellbeing.
You will receive an excellent benefits package, including 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), pension scheme, cycle to work scheme, salary sacrifice schemes and travel season ticket loans.
Job description Job responsibilities
Work with colleagues, external stakeholders and associates to develop strategies and design new projects and programmes, navigating complexity and uncertainty. Design and deliver these programmes end to end, from initial scoping and design through to delivery and achieving impact.Coalesce matrix teams to deliver Qs work. Demonstrate excellent organisational, prioritisation, time-management and team co-ordination skills to lead and coordinate multiple projects and strands of work simultaneously.Design, lead and run inclusive, participatory activities to support people to understand and address complex problems and deliver equitable improvement, drawing on innovation, design, systems change and improvement practices. Regularly facilitate groups and coach individuals, being mindful of power dynamics and learning styles.Undertake real-time/ rapid synthesis and sense-making, drawing together evidence and insights. Distil information, develop written materials and present on both method and topic content.Work in an entrepreneurial way to support the development of new business offers in Q. Generate interest and secure buy-in for Qs work. Create content for proposals, reports and presentations.Build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with clients and partners, leading meetings and workshops, regularly updating clients on progress, and managing client expectations.Help the team develop its professional practices in relation to innovation, evaluation, learning, reflection and development. Actively seek and provide developmental feedback to peers and colleagues.Ensure Qs commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity is embedded and progressed through the content and conduct of all work.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Extensive experience of service design, systems thinking and/ or improvement approaches, both through direct experience and coaching others to use these approaches to achieve change.
Experience of creative facilitation, working with groups and teams from diverse backgrounds, including those in senior positions, to achieve objectives
Experience and confidence when working with people at senior levels, including when they are external stakeholders and the ability for building relationships is limited.
Experience of working in entrepreneurial and/ or client facing roles. Able to build confidence and communicate the value of your work to people from different backgrounds and organisations.
Strong project management and organisational skills, and experience managing multiple strands of work simultaneously
An understanding of, and commitment, to diversity and inclusion in employment and service delivery.
Desirable
Experience synthesising, analysing and interpreting data to draw out learning, assess impact and make recommendations for improvements.
Experience of drawing on techniques from systems thinking or social innovation to support systems change.
A good understanding of the health and care systems across the UK, including the roles local and national organisations play.
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 The NHS Alliance
Address 2nd Floor, 18 Smith Square
Westminster, London
SW1P 3HZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://thenhsalliance.org/ (Opens in a new tab)