CF is a leading consultancy dedicated to making an enduring impact on health and healthcare. We work with leaders and frontline teams to improve health, transform healthcare, embed life‑science innovation and boost growth through investment. Our multidisciplinary team delivers end‑to‑end services – strategy, finance, performance, organisational improvement, data and digital – across the entire healthcare sector, from payors and providers to life‑science companies, health‑tech and sector suppliers.

About the role

The Associate Partner is a senior member of CF’s leadership team focused on driving the growth of our Health Systems business. The role shapes and delivers the Health Systems strategy, builds CF’s reputation in the market, secures new revenues and provides leadership to client delivery. It requires deep experience in business development, trusted relationships with health system leaders, providers and commissioners, and a proven track record of improving performance, efficiency and outcomes across the NHS and broader healthcare ecosystem.

What makes this role distinctive

This role offers a clear, structured trajectory to Partner, supported by CF’s apprenticeship model. You will receive mentorship from senior leaders, exposure to business development and client relationship management, and opportunities to shape CF’s service offerings and thought leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of CF services within Health Systems, identifying emerging trends and areas for future client impact.
• Deliver personal revenue targets and support the wider team in achieving collective goals.
• Contribute to robust business plans alongside the leadership team.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior NHS leaders and other healthcare stakeholders.
• Act as a credible and reliable advisor, expanding CF’s client network and facilitating key collaborations.
• Promote a distinctive personal and CF brand in the market.
• Lead and contribute to high‑quality thought leadership and insights.
• Represent CF at key industry events and across digital channels.
• Support internal capability building and codify client delivery knowledge for wider use.
• Act as Delivery Partner across complex engagements, ensuring high‑quality, timely outcomes.
• Lead project teams, manage performance, and mentor team members.
• Collaborate closely with accountable partners to maintain strong client relationships.
• Mentor and develop client delivery teams and bid managers.
• Act as a Development Sponsor for up to five team members.
• Role‑model CF’s values and foster an inclusive, high‑performing team culture.

Requirements

• 10+ years’ experience in management consulting or a combination of consulting and senior healthcare leadership, with a strong focus on NHS performance improvement.
• Extensive experience leading complex, high‑impact projects in NHS systems or healthcare delivery.
• Proven project leadership and client management skills, including oversight of multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Exceptional team management and people development skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, able to influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong ability to delegate effectively while maintaining accountability for outcomes.
• A well‑established network in the healthcare sector and/or demonstrable track record in business development and revenue generation.
• Deep industry knowledge with an eye on emerging trends and innovations across NHS and global healthcare systems.

Preferred

• Experience in consulting on service redesign or operational transformation in healthcare.
• Experience in data‑driven performance improvement or workforce improvement.
• Experience in digital health initiatives that enable improved organisational performance.

Benefits

• Hybrid working model: standard work from home one day per week, with up to 44 remote working days per year and core in‑person hours 10 am–4 pm.
• 25 days annual leave for staff (30 days for leadership), increasing by one day per year of service up to 35 days.
• 7 % salary contribution to pension (staff contribute 3 % or more).
• Flexible benefits programme (pension enhancements, cash plan, ClassPass subscription).
• Annual leave purchase for those with less than 35 days entitlement.
• Income protection and enhanced sick pay up to 12 weeks.
• Life insurance covering four times basic salary in tax‑free lump sum.
• Flexible family leave policies and interest‑free loans up to £10 000.
• Workplace nursery scheme and employee assistance and wellness programme.
• Vision‑Express and Evans Cycles discount vouchers, and ride‑to‑work scheme.