About this role
Job summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the heart of work to support the NHS. In the Finance and Planning Directorate, we:
work closely with government to agree NHS funding; ensure the NHS lives within its annual budget; decide how to distribute the funding to the different NHS services and parts of England support innovative programmes that improve the care and experience of NHS patients or people using NHS services; set out the financial and performance priorities the NHS should be delivering each year report how much the NHS has spent on providing services each year; explore how the NHS can make the best use of its money; look at how spend on building or equipment can improve the care and experience of people using NHS services. consider how nationally we use these resources to improve healthcare outcomes, reduce inequality, improve health and support the NHS. As a Senior Lead, Payment Development, you will be part of a dynamic team working on the NHS Payment Scheme, which governs transactions between providers and commissioners of secondary healthcare. This includes developing policy for new payment approaches and financial incentives to support the wider commitments of NHS England and the priorities set out in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. In this role, you will support the Head of Payment Development and Deputy Director, and work closely with other parts of the financial strategy and payments team and wider NHS to develop these payment approaches.
Main duties of the job
The team offers high profile, fast-paced projects. This requires adaptability, rigour and innovation and provides exciting development opportunities for those developing their careers in the NHS, health or the public sector.
This role involves applying strong problem-solving, strategic thinking, analytical, communication and leadership skills to:
lead the development of payment models and approaches for NHS services, to support wider strategic aims
engage with other NHS England and DHSC teams and the wider healthcare system to inform policy development and problem-solving
explore the use of innovative payment approaches to support the longer-term ambitions of the NHS
contribute positively to wider team culture and development.
This role may also involve responsibility for managing other members of the team.
About us
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description for further information about the responsibilities of this role. You can find further details about the role, a letter from the Deputy CFOs and advice on completing your application in the Document to download section.
Interested in applying and want to find out more about our team and the work we do?
Please contact Kylie Stephen (Head of Payment Development) at email [email protected].
Below are the types of skills and experience that we are looking for. Even if you feel you only meet some of the criteria, we encourage you to apply.
Secondments Applicants from within the NHS willbe offered on a secondment basis only, agreementshouldbeobtainedfromtheiremployerpriortosubmittingtheapplication.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to masters' level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
Knowledge and experience Essential
Experience of developing and implementing strategies and policies within a health or regulatory environment Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals A strong understanding of the background and aims of current healthcare policy
Skills Essential
Strong policy development, analytical, strategic thinking and problem-solving skills Strong communication and engagement skills and ability to provide highly complex information to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders Demonstrable ability to deliver at pace in complex environment Strong ability to deliver results through the development and management of teams
Values Essential
Commitment to equality of opportunity, focussed on removing barriers to full participation and values diversity and difference Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop Demonstrate honesty and integrity and promote organisational values
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 England
Address This role can be based in any NHSE Office
133-155 Wellington House
Nationally
SE18UG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)