Strategic Healthcare Partnership Director 

Vanguard partners with the NHS and Independent Healthcare Providers (IHP) to deliver innovative clinical infrastructure and service solutions that support our clients in the delivery of safe, effective, and timely patient care.

We support healthcare organisations in creating additional capacity and greater flexibility within their estates and clinical operating models, combining award-winning facilities with clinical and professional services to deliver solutions that create measurable value for our clients. 

Our strong market position is built on clinical expertise, high-quality solutions, delivery agility and exceptional client service – together with a reputation for speed and innovation. 

As we continue to grow, we're looking for an experienced Strategic Healthcare Partnership Director to develop senior-level relationships across the NHS and Independent Healthcare sector and create long-term, high-value strategic partnerships. 

The Opportunity

This is a senior, business-critical role within our Commercial Team, focused on developing strategic healthcare partnerships across the UK. 

You'll build and develop relationships at C-suite and Executive Board level within NHS organisations and Independent Hospital Groups, helping senior healthcare leaders explore how greater flexibility in their estates, capacity and clinical operating models can support their strategic objectives. 

Using Vanguard's existing relationships, market intelligence and evidence-led segmentation, you'll identify and develop significant near and long-term opportunities that have the potential to become sustainable, high-value contracts delivering measurable outcomes for our clients. 

This is a highly networked role. You'll work collaboratively with clients, partners and colleagues across Vanguard, drawing on specialist expertise in surgical, endoscopy, clinical and professional services to develop compelling solutions and position Vanguard as a strategic partner of choice. 

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop and execute engagement strategies for priority NHS organisations and Independent Healthcare Groups at C-suite and Executive Board level. 
• Build trusted relationships with senior healthcare leaders and influence strategic capacity, estate and clinical service planning. 
• Identify and develop near and longer-term opportunities capable of delivering significant, sustainable commercial value. 
• Position Vanguard as the partner of choice for healthcare organisations seeking innovative solutions to their capacity and infrastructure challenges. 
• Interpret healthcare strategy, policy, funding and client data to identify emerging opportunities and shape compelling propositions. 
• Work closely with Vanguard's sales specialists and subject matter experts to develop proposals, projects and programmes that respond to client requirements. 
• Lead early-stage opportunity development, including qualification, value proposition and win strategy, before ensuring an effective handover to specialist commercial colleagues. 
• Coordinate market and client intelligence across Vanguard's chosen markets, providing leadership and insight to the wider Commercial Team. 
• Work with Commercial Marketing to develop strategic engagement plans for priority clients and markets. 
• Build effective relationships with internal teams, external partners and Vanguard's assured supply chain to create differentiated client solutions. 

What We're Looking For

You'll be an experienced and commercially astute healthcare business development professional who is comfortable operating with senior decision-makers and can turn strategic conversations into valuable long-term partnerships. We're particularly interested in candidates who have: 

• Strong knowledge and working experience of the NHS and Independent Healthcare Provider landscape. 
• A proven track record in strategic business development and complex solution selling within healthcare. 
• The confidence, credibility and gravitas to engage and influence at C-suite and Executive Director level. 
• The ability to identify and create opportunities rather than simply respond to existing requirements. 
• Strong presentation, influencing and relationship-building skills. 
• The ability to interpret healthcare strategy, policy, funding and client intelligence and translate this into commercial opportunities. 
• Experience contributing to opportunity qualification, value propositions and win strategies. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across specialist commercial, clinical and operational teams while also working independently. 
• Strong digital capability, including Microsoft 365 and an understanding of how AI can support effective ways of working. 
• At least three years' experience in complex solution selling or strategic business development within healthcare. 

A degree or equivalent level of experience would be advantageous. 

What You Can Expect

• A competitive salary that rewards your skills and experience and is benchmarked to ensure we attract the best candidates. 
• Performance-related bonus with the opportunity to maximise your earning potential. 
• Company car or car allowance. 
• Multiple options to build a benefits package that suits your needs. 
• A supportive, ambitious team environment built around shared success. 
• Access to experienced in-house subject matter experts across our surgical, endoscopy, clinical and professional services teams. 
• The opportunity to develop relationships with some of the most senior leaders in UK healthcare and play a direct role in shaping innovative solutions to their capacity challenges. 
• A company culture that is open, responsive to feedback and committed to employee engagement. 

This is an opportunity to join a market-leading healthcare organisation in a genuinely strategic role – developing the relationships and partnerships that will help shape Vanguard's next phase of growth. 

Full job description available upon request.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our team.

Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd and Q-bital Healthcare are part of the Vanguard Group of companies. www.vanguardhealthcare.co.uk