PCN Strategic and Operations Lead

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and PCN Development

Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the PCNs strategic priorities

Translate national policy, PCN DES requirements, and system priorities into local PCN plans

Support the Clinical Director and Networking practices in shaping the long-term sustainability and development of the PCN

Provide strategic advice and insight to the PCN Board and member practices

Corporate Governance and Statutory Compliance

Lead on corporate governance and statutory compliance for the PCN Limited Company

Ensure effective Board, Director, and member governance arrangements are in place and operating effectively

Support compliance with the Articles of Association, shareholder/member agreements, and Network Agreement

Ensure appropriate decision-making frameworks, documentation, and assurance processes are maintained

Maintain oversight of corporate risk management and assurance arrangements

Performance Management and Contractual Assurance

Lead oversight of PCN performance against DES and other contractual requirements

Monitor delivery against agreed KPIs and PCN priorities

Identify performance risks, under-delivery, and emerging issues, and coordinate corrective action

Provide regular assurance reporting to the Directors and the PCN Clinical Leads, Board, and member practices

Financial Oversight and Assurance

Provide strategic oversight of PCN financial governance and sustainability

Work with the Operational Support Officer and external accountants to ensure appropriate financial controls and reporting

Monitor PCN income, expenditure, and funding risks

Support financial oversight of PCN budgets, funding streams, and claims, working with the Clinical Director and Finance Lead, and ensuring financial decisions remain within agreed budgets and approvals

Workforce and ARRS Strategic Oversight

Provide strategic oversight of the PCN workforce, including ARRS roles

Monitor workforce capacity, utilisation, and sustainability risks

Support workforce planning and service development discussions

Provide assurance on workforce governance and compliance

Care Quality Commission CQC Preparation and Registration

Lead the PCNs preparation for Care Quality Commission CQC registration, where applicable

Develop and coordinate a structured approach to achieving CQC registration for the PCN Limited Company

Maintain oversight of CQC regulatory requirements relevant to PCN-delivered services

Support the Clinical Director and Board in understanding CQC registration responsibilities, risks, and timelines

Ensure appropriate governance arrangements, policies, and evidence are developed in readiness for registration

Coordinate engagement with the CQC and relevant system partners in relation to registration and compliance

Provide assurance to the Clinical Directors, Clinical leads and member practices on progress towards CQC registration.

System Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

Act as a senior strategic link between the PCN and the ICB and wider system partners

Coordinate and oversee PCN responses to system-level requests and priorities

Represent the PCN at relevant system forums alongside the Clinical Directors or Clinical Leads where indicated.

Oversight of Operational Support

Provide strategic direction and prioritisation to the PCN Operational Support Officer

Ensure effective alignment between strategic priorities and operational delivery

Maintain appropriate separation between strategic leadership responsibilities and administrative support

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience working in a senior or strategic role within primary care, PCN, or wider NHS environment
• Experience supporting or leading governance and assurance arrangements within a complex organisation
• Experience overseeing performance against contractual, regulatory, or organisational requirements
• Experience working with senior clinicians, Boards, or multi-practice stakeholders
• Experience coordinating work across multiple organisations or partners

Desirable

• Experience working within a PCN Limited Company
• Experience supporting Board or Director-level decision-making
• Experience supporting regulatory or compliance preparation within a healthcare setting

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to provide strategic leadership and translate strategy into clear plans and oversight.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret performance, financial, and workforce data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to work autonomously and take ownership of complex areas of responsibility.

Desirable

• Experience preparing or coordinating assurance reports for Boards or senior leadership
• Experience working at system or place-based level within the NHS

Knowledge

Essential

• Strong understanding of PCN DES requirements and the wider primary care landscape.
• Knowledge of NHS governance and assurance frameworks.
• Knowledge of limited company governance and statutory compliance requirements.
• Understanding of performance management and risk management within healthcare.

Desirable

• Knowledge of ARRS funding and workforce governance.
• Knowledge of CQC regulatory requirements and inspection frameworks.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Pragmatic and delivery-focused.
• Able to operate with calm authority, particularly in periods of transition, change, or uncertainty.
• Able to exercise sound professional judgement in complex, ambiguous environments and to escalate appropriately where decisions have strategic, financial, or reputational impact.
• Comfortable operating within defined authority boundaries
• Keen interest in the organisational direction and governance
• Able to manage competing priorities without destabilising teams
• Politically astute, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments while maintaining organisational integrity and independence.

Desirable

• Experience supporting commissioning, service development or contract mobilisation
• Exposure to bid preparation, business cases or tender support
• Understanding of PCN financial flows and funding mechanisms

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent level of experience in a relevant field e.g. healthcare management, business, public sector leadership.

Desirable

• Management, leadership, governance, or project management qualification
• Evidence of continued professional development relevant to the role

Other Requirements

Essential

• Care Quality Commission CQC Registration and Compliance
• Essential.
• Understanding of CQC regulatory requirements relevant to primary care and PCN-delivered services.
• Awareness of CQC registration responsibilities and the preparation required for compliance.
• Ability to work flexibly across multiple sites and organisations as required.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Understanding of confidentiality, information governance, and data protection principles.

Desirable

• Experience supporting CQC registration, inspection readiness, or regulatory assurance activity.

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

Pendle East Primary Care Network

Address

Pendle East Community Hub

Colne Health Centre

Colne

Lancashire

BB8 0JZ

Employer's website

https://www.pendleeastpcn.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)