Private Secretary

About the NMC

Our vision is safe, effective and kind nursing and midwifery practice that improves everyone's health and wellbeing. As the independent regulator of more than 826,000 nursing and midwifery professionals, we have an important role to play in making this a reality.

Our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

The NMC is an exciting organisation with the ambition to be the leading healthcare regulator. To achieve this, we are working in an agile way that offers great opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive employer.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy, maternity, disability, or gender identity and welcome applications from under-represented groups.

Details of our EDI work and plans are here:

About the role

The Private Secretary to the Chair and Chief Executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has a vital role in supporting our most senior leaders to deliver on the organisation's strategic objectives and drive positive change.

This is a difficult time for the NMC. The Independent Culture review by Nazir Afzal and Rise Associates has shone a spotlight on our culture and held up a mirror to life in the organisation. It makes very difficult reading, but we have accepted all its recommendations and are clear that this is a turning point for the NMC.

Both Council and the Executive Board are committed to eradicating the unacceptable behaviour that the Review identifies within the NMC, and to ensure that there is zero tolerance for racism, sexism, bullying and harassment. We will also work more effectively to reduce our Fitness to Practise caseload, to deal with all referrals in a more timely fashion while ensuring that we do so safely, and to do this in a way that reduces the levels of stress that are imposed on registrants and the public going through our protracted processes and on our colleagues who administer them.

As Private Secretary, you will be instrumental in ensuring the smooth coordination of priorities and actions, enabling the leadership to focus on driving cultural transformation and operational improvement. Through efficient support and communication, you will help foster trust, accountability, and collaboration across the organisation during this critical turning point.

You'll be at the heart of the NMC's operations, responsible for:

• Strategic Coordination: Managing the Chair and Chief Executive's forward plan, ensuring their time is effectively allocated to advancing the NMC's mission.
• High-Impact Initiatives: Leading cross-organisational projects, resolving escalated complaints with sensitivity, and supporting transformational work, including Fitness to Practise improvements and cultural change.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Acting as a trusted conduit between the Chair, Chief Executive, and the wider organisation, while building robust relationships with senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Team Leadership: Driving continuous improvement within the executive support team to deliver high-quality, efficient services, and managing a small team of dedicated professionals.
• Operational Excellence: Innovating processes to enhance the quality and timeliness of briefings and materials, ensuring the Chair and Chief Executive are well-prepared to meet their responsibilities.
  This is an exciting, fast-paced role requiring strategic insight, excellent judgment, and the ability to handle high-profile, complex matters with empathy and professionalism.

About You

We are looking for someone who can navigate complexity and deliver results in a fast-moving environment. You will bring:

• Leadership Expertise: Proven experience leading small teams and managing competing priorities, with a focus on collaboration and performance improvement.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong networks, manage sensitive relationships, and represent senior leadership with credibility.
• Project Delivery: A track record of successfully leading high-profile initiatives and managing complex issues requiring cross-organisational collaboration.
• Process Improvement: An innovative approach to driving continuous improvement in administrative and support processes.
• Strategic Vision: Strong understanding of organisational priorities and the ability to align team objectives with broader strategic goals.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional ability to produce high-quality briefings, correspondence, and materials, with attention to detail and strategic insight.
• Cultural Competence: A commitment to fostering inclusivity, empathy, and respect in all aspects of work.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in governance, executive support, or stakeholder engagement, and a passion for enabling leadership success at the highest level.

Benefits

• 30 days annual leave - plus eight days paid bank holidays
• Enhanced Pension Contributions via our attractive Pension Scheme - with a basic 8% employer contribution as standard which increases up to 14% with optional added Employee Contributions
• Life Assurance - 4 x current salary
• Hybrid/Flexible working policies
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• 24 Hours Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Perkbox membership
• Subsidised restaurant in our Portland Place office
• Season ticket loans

About Us

Our core role is to regulate. First, we promote high education and professional standards for nurses and midwives across the UK, and nursing associates in England. Second, we maintain the register of professionals eligible to practise. Third, we investigate concerns about nurses, midwives and nursing associates - something that affects a tiny minority of professionals each year. We believe in giving professionals the chance to address concerns, but we'll always take action when needed.

To regulate well, we support our professions and the public. We create resources and guidance that are useful throughout people's careers, helping them to deliver our standards in practice and address new challenges. We also support people involved in our investigations, and we're increasing our visibility so people feel engaged and empowered to shape our work.

Regulating and supporting our professions allows us to influence health and social care. We share intelligence from our regulatory activities and work with our partners to support workforce planning and sector-wide decision making. We use our voice to speak up for a healthy and inclusive working environment for our professions.

Check out our NMC LinkedIn page here for an insight into the NMC, our vacancies and the world of healthcare regulation.

Additional Information

Our Pay Policy
It is expected that staff new to the NMC will ordinarily be appointed to the bottom of the relevant pay band. However in exceptional circumstances, it may be possible to offer a salary above the bottom of the relevant pay band but we may request proof of current earnings. Please note that we offer an annual review of salaries and adopt a generous progressive pay approach. Further details of which are available on request.

For our internal colleagues, you will be paid in accordance to our internal pay policy.

Reasonable adjustments

We will provide reasonable adjustments to support disabled candidates throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you need any additional support to enable you to make an application with us.

Screening and vetting

All of our roles are subject to pre-employment checks. We are in the process of introducing a vetting policy, and it is possible that this role may become subject to DBS and further vetting checks in future.