Director of External Affairs January 2018
Dear Prospective Candidate Thank you for your interest in the post of Director of External Affairs. At the Nursing and Midwifery Council we have a statutory duty to protect the public through our work to regulate nurses and midwives working in the UK. Over the last few years our improvement and sustained performance as a regulator has been acknowledged externally but I want our organisation to improve further and to become the leading healthcare regulator. To do this we must become a modern, dynamic and intelligence-led organisation. The creation of this director-level role is key to achieving this ambition. As the new director you will work closely with me and the NMC Chair to influence key external stakeholders across the health, regulatory and wider landscape in the four UK countries. You will exercise political judgement and identify opportunities to promote our public protection work. There is also a significant internal role to educate both your peers and the wider organisation in leveraging external communication channels to have the required impact and create a unified and consistent position for the NMC. As the new director, you will inherit a capable and enthusiastic team with expertise in parliamentary and stakeholder relations, media, digital and corporate communications. You will be joining us at a time of great change for the nursing and midwifery professions, where the expectations of the public they care for have never been higher. This is an exciting time for the NMC - and the wider healthcare regulatory sector - and this role is a great opportunity to play a leading role in our important work. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Jackie Smith Chief Executive and Registrar 2 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018
All of our strategic priorities for 2015-2020 are supported by a determination to be a modern, effective and efficient organisation NMC Strategy 2015 2020 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018 3
About Us We are a healthcare regulator with a responsibility for maintaining the largest registered care workforce with over 690,000 nurses and midwives. We have 650 staff and a revenue of c. 85m p.a. We are driven by a dedication to provide value for money for our registrants. Our regulatory responsibilities are to: maintain a register of all nurses and midwives who meet the requirements for registration in the UK set standards for education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives are able to deliver high-quality healthcare consistently throughout their careers take action to deal with individuals whose integrity or ability to provide safe care is questioned, so that the public can have confidence in the quality and standards of care provided by nurses and midwives We were established under the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 and came into being on 1 April 2002. Sign up for our e-newsletters at www.nmc.org.uk/newsletters Follow us on Twitter @nmcnews Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nmcuk 4 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018
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Our Strategy Setting and applying standards of practice and behaviour for 690,000 registered nurses and midwives the largest registered care workforce in the UK is no small task. We have a significant and vital role. In the context of today s economic, political and social climate there are additional complexities and challenges. We meet them through communication and collaboration - one of the pillars of our Strategy 2015-2020. This strategy sets out how we protect the public by building on our strengths as a modern, effective and efficient organisation. We cannot work in isolation. We work closely with other regulators and employers, unions, educators, professional bodies, charities and governments of the four countries of the UK. Public and professional expectations of regulation are changing, and yet for a long time we have been held back by out-of-date legislation. Now, we have an opportunity to work with Government to modernise our legislation, helping us to be 6 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018
the modern regulator we want to be. We have to acknowledge the challenging conditions that the nurses and midwives we regulate are practising in, particularly around staffing levels and working conditions. As their regulator, we have to respond appropriately. As you can see in the data we publish, nurses and midwives are also responding to global mobility trends and are influenced by external factors such as Brexit. These are just a few of the challenges which make working in our team fast paced, high-profile and exciting. We don t know everything that the next few years will bring but we must be ready to be a leading voice in shaping our sector. Where needed, we will adapt our plans to meet unexpected challenges. This dynamic form of regulation is innovative, forward looking, and enables us to better protect the public in a changing environment. Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018 7
Our Staff Our people are vital to the delivery of the Nursing and Midwifery Council s Strategic Plan 2017 2020. The People Strategy will ensure the development of a progressive, sustainable and engaged working environment that contributes to the development of our culture as a dynamic regulator. The NMC s People Strategy supports the organisation s vision to become a dynamic and leading healthcare regulator enabled by modern technology. For example we will prioritise: Becoming a collaborative regulator that works with other organisations and regulators to develop better relationships and enable higher quality results Building resilient and high performing teams to meet the evolving requirements of regulation 8
Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018 9
The Purpose and Scope of the Role Reporting to the Chief Executive and Registrar (CE&R) you will oversee our work in campaigns, policy and communications throughout the four countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The nature and context of nursing and midwifery practice is shifting rapidly, at the same time the workforce is responding to demographic trends as well as the global mobility of both patients and professionals. Allied to the increased public expectations of regulators our approach to regulatory work must continue to evolve to respond to a changing landscape. The successful post holder will be pivotal in building our intelligent accountability which is a key part of our strategy. This involves ensuring that we have stronger evidence which will help us to provide assurance to those who hold us to account. For example it will help our Council to hold the Executive to account and assist the Professional Standards Authority and the Health Select Committee in their scrutiny of our work. This role will work with the CE&R to ensure the NMC is a leading voice in shaping our sector and, where needed, adapt our plans to meet unexpected challenges. This role will be significant in pressing for reforms to our legislation, knowing what our stakeholders expect from us and performing well in meeting these expectations. The team prides itself on the creation of impactful briefing documents to support the CE&R with her numerous appearances to different audiences. These documents inspire and promote a clear vision of professionalism as a force for public protection and confidence. We already work in partnership with other bodies involved in public protection, including system regulators, but we want to improve our work by information sharing, joint activity and collaborating strategically with key partners. We will therefore establish and develop international links where this aids our overarching purpose. As a public body accountable to Parliament, we will prioritise developing public awareness of the NMC s role and what to expect from nurses and midwives. Our role needs to be clear and our services must be easy to use - for nurses and midwives and the public alike. We will maintain a comprehensive programme for communication and stakeholder relationships, ensuring there is a clear plan for engaging with and listening to others and to promote our objectives. Maintaining positive and valueadding relationships with the media in all its various forms will be a priority and we will invest to ensure this important stakeholder group is managed effectively. We will have more active relationships and networks that contribute to public protection in each of the UK nations. This role will plan and evaluate our communications and engagement activity to ensure it is delivering the impact and value required. We, together with other regulators, have long pressed for modernisation of our legislation. We look forward to working with the Governments and contributing to help shape and influence the future of regulation. 10 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018
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Role Description Job title: Reporting to: Direct reports: Director of External Affairs Chief Executive and Registrar Head of Media and Digital Head of Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations Location: London 12 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018
Role Purpose Lead the external affairs directorate to support the Chair and Chief Executive and Registrar to deliver the NMC s strategy. Position the organisation to create the maximum impact and influence key audiences in healthcare, government(s), other regulatory bodies, patients and the public in the four UK countries Have executive accountability for the leadership and evaluation of external affairs functions including public and strategic relationship management, media, digital communications and brand management Play a key role in delivering our vision to be a modern, dynamic and intelligence-led regulator, ensuring that messages are integrated to maximise reach and impact Key Responsibilities Advise thechair and Chief Executive and Registrar on the strategic approach to engaging with the NMC s key audiences in the four UK countries Support the senior executive team and Council on political issues representing the NMC, including deputising for the Chief Executive and Registrar when required Provide briefings, media training and support to the Chair, Chief Executive and Registrar, members of Council and others who represent the NMC externally Establish strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the health and regulatory landscape in the four nations, for the purposes of influencing policy, intelligence gathering, collaboration and reputation management Take responsibility for the production, agreement and dissemination of strategic messaging, ensuring that they are shared proactively, accurately, fairly and effectively and that the NMC s reputation is protected and enhanced through external-facing communications Develop and execute action plans on a wide variety of public policy and business issues of importance to the NMC Be accountable for the NMC s external relations, media management, brand, impact strategies and associated implementation plans, ensuring all areas deliver high impact externalfacing activities that enhance the NMC s external profile and that are evaluated to demonstrate impact Lead on the development of the identity and external brand of the NMC Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018 13
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Person specification Qualifications and experience Educated to degree level, or equivalent, with a higher qualification in a relevant field Substantial experience of working at executive level in a high-profile and politically complex environment with diverse stakeholder interests A seasoned leader of external relations and public affairs Strong track record of delivering high impact interventions, cultural change and service improvement Significant management experience at strategic level Budgetary management experience Knowledge You will have highly developed skills in networking, relationship development, partnership, communication, influencing and collaboration along with the ability to work at pace and to manage a complex, high-profile and multi-faceted portfolio of work Your experience does not have to be from inside the healthcare sector, but you will be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of the external context in which the NMC operates (including political, regulatory, health and social policy) and of the challenges and opportunities associated with external engagement, media and communications in a regulatory environment You will have an understanding of impact measurement in the context of a statutory regulator, and how impact measurement can be used to further the strategic goals of the NMC 15
Salary and Benefits At the NMC we put our people at the heart of everything we do. We value the contribution our people assets make to the success of our organisation. In return, we can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including: Salary 120,000-140,000 p.a. 33 days annual leave (plus 8 days paid bank holidays), with an added option to buy and sell three days annual leave Attractive pension scheme - Up to 8% of salary contributed to pension scheme (NMC will contribute 4% on starting, increasing each year until 2018 when it becomes 8%) We operate two salary sacrifice schemes: 1. Cycle to work 2. Childcare vouchers Employee discount portal Subsidised restaurants in two locations 16 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018
Director of External Affairs Director of Education, Standards & Policy Director of Registration & Revalidation Head of Media & Digital Communications Digital Communciations Manager Media Manager Corporate Comunications Manager + 1 Officer + 2 Officers + 1 Officer CEO Organisation Structure OCCE Director of Fitness to Practise Director of People & OD Director of Resources Head of Public Affairs & Stakeholder Relations Deputy Director Technology & Business Innovation Communications Administrator Events Manager Parliamentary & Stakeholder Manager Senior Commuincations Advisor - NA Senior Commuincations Advisor - Educ. + 1 Officer + 4 Officers + 1 Officer + 2 Officers Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018 17 17
How to Apply To apply, please forward a CV together with a supporting statement (maximum two pages of A4). Please ensure that you have included mobile, work and home telephone numbers, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable. Applications should be made via the Prospectus website at: https://www.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00171289 18 Director of External Affairs Nursing & Midwifery Council January 2018
Queries Recruitment Timetable Deadline for applications: 7th February 2018 Interviews with Prospectus: 14th-23rd February 2018 If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Thea Robson or Selam Petros at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or e-mail thea.robson@prospect-us.co.uk selam.petros@prospect-us.co.uk Interview with the NMC: 16th March 2018 Final interview with the NMC: 20th March 2018 19
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