Head of Strategy at The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE)

Job Purpose

The Head of Strategy will be responsible for:

• leading the development, communication, and execution of AMCE’s long-term strategic plan, ensuring alignment with its mission, vision, and financial objectives.
•  driving sustainable growth, competitive advantage, and operational excellence through rigorous market analysis, strategic initiative management, and performance monitoring.
•  providing insights and recommendations to navigate a complex and dynamic healthcare landscape.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Strategic Formulation & Planning

• Lead the end-to-end strategic planning process, including environmental scanning, SWOT analysis, and scenario planning.
• Develop and refine the hospital’s 3-5 year strategic plan, defining strategic pillars, goals, and priorities.
• Identify and evaluate new growth opportunities, including service line expansion, geographic reach, and strategic partnerships.
• Benchmark the hospital’s performance against regional and international competitors.
• Ensure all strategic plans are financially viable and supported by robust business cases.
• Present the strategic plan to the Executive Management for review and approval.

Strategic Execution & Performance Management

• Translate the strategic plan into actionable initiatives with clear owners, timelines, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Establish and manage a Strategic Initiative Portfolio Office to track and report on progress.
• Facilitate cross-directorate collaboration to ensure seamless execution of strategic priorities.
• Identify and mitigate risks and obstacles that impede strategic execution.
• Conduct regular performance reviews with initiative owners to ensure accountability.
• Prepare comprehensive quarterly and annual strategy performance reports.

Market Intelligence & Business Development

• Oversee market research to identify trends, patient demographics, and competitor strategies.
• Analyze data to forecast demand for existing and new clinical services.
• Develop market entry strategies for new service lines or geographic markets, including medical tourism.
• Support the development of business cases for major capital investments.
• Foster relationships with potential partners for clinical collaborations and joint ventures.
• Provide strategic insights to shape the hospital’s brand and market positioning.

Financial Analysis & Strategic Sourcing

• Model the financial impact of strategic initiatives, including ROI and payback period analyses.
• Develop long-term financial forecasts linked to the strategic plan.
• Identify opportunities for revenue enhancement and cost optimization through strategic sourcing.
• Evaluate the financial viability of potential mergers, acquisitions, or partnerships.
• Ensure strategic priorities are reflected in the annual budgeting process.
• Monitor macro-economic factors and their potential impact on the hospital’s financial strategy.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Develop and implement a communication plan to ensure all staff understand the hospital’s strategic direction.
• Facilitate strategy workshops with the Executive Team and leaders.
• Build consensus and buy-in for strategic priorities across the organization.
• Act as a liaison between the Executive Team and the Board on strategic matters.
• Manage relationships with external consultants and advisors.
• Represent the hospital at industry conferences to enhance its strategic profile.
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• International Accreditation & Quality Alignment
• Ensure AMCE’s strategic plan incorporates requirements for international accreditations (e.g., JCI).
• Align strategic goals with clinical quality and patient safety objectives.
• Use quality and safety data to inform strategic priorities.
• Integrate evidence-based medicine into the strategic planning process.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Sustainability
• Integrate CSR and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into the strategic plan.
• Develop strategies for community outreach and public health initiatives.
• Identify and manage strategic risks related to environmental sustainability.
• Enhance the hospital’s reputation as a socially responsible organization.
• Report on CSR and sustainability performance to key stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in strategic planning, corporate development, or management consulting.
• At least 5-7 years of this experience must be in a senior leadership role (e.g., Head of Strategy, Senior Strategy Manager) within a large, complex organization, preferably in the healthcare or hospital sector.
• Demonstrated, hands-on experience in leading the end-to-end strategic planning cycle for a multi-divisional organization.
• Possession of a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Healthcare Administration (MHA), Economics, or a related field.
• Additional certifications in Strategic Management, Project Management (PMP/PgMP), or Data Analytics are highly desirable.