The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an internationally-recognised and highly prestigious organisation which continually improves outcomes for patients using the NHS and other public health and social care services by producing trusted, independent, and evidence-based guidance for practitioners across health, public health, and social care. Since its foundation as an independent non-departmental government body in 1999, NICE has endeavored to put “science and evidence at the heart of health and care decision-making”.
However, with new treatments, practices and technologies in the field of medicine emerging at an unprecedented pace, NICE recognises the need to rethink its role in the healthcare ecosystem – particularly given the impact that the pandemic has had, and will continue to have, on health inequalities for years to come. With a new Chief Executive (Dr. Sam Roberts – formerly the Director of Innovation, Research and Life Sciences at NHS England) at its helm, NICE has developed a five-year strategy to equip itself not only to continue to meet the needs of both patients and practitioners, but to pro-actively anticipate, recognise, and respond to the challenges and opportunities arising from new medical, technological and scientific advancements with an accelerated sense of pace and dynamism.
The Institute is therefore seeking to appoint a Chief People Officer (CPO) who will play a vital role in the pursuit of NICE’s goal to initiate (and sustain) a wholesale transformation of the way in which its guidelines are used by clinicians and the public – ultimately creating a future in which the translation of scientific and technological innovation into health and care is hastened and democratised across the health and care system.
As NICE’s ‘cultural architect’, the CPO will lead on the significant yet thoughtful cultural and organisational change agenda required to ensure that the Institute’s renewed sense of pace and pro-activity truly becomes part of its ‘DNA’ – maximizing its impact on patients, people and communities whilst also improving and enhancing the employee experience, wellbeing, and empowerment. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the CPO will lead a broad team across Human Resources, Organisational Development, Learning and Development, Recruitment, Employee Engagement, Wellbeing, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Facilities. This is a wonderful opportunity to join the Board of an organisation that has already proven its ability to work seamlessly across boundaries in order to hasten the speed of access to the latest, most effective treatments during the Covid-19 pandemic, but is now seeking to embed this agile approach for the long term.
In this appointment, NICE are looking for a strategic and values-led People leader with prior experience operating at (or reporting immediately to) Board-level and contributing to the direction of either a private or public sector organisation. Drawing on their personal credibility and influencing skills, the CPO will build highly effective working relationships across the Institute and with trade unions – inspiring, motivating and developing highly skilled teams through periods of change. Through their expertise in people and relationships, the CPO will also champion excellence in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to ensure that NICE is an engaging place to work that welcomes talent from all backgrounds. Prior experience of the health and social care system is not a pre-requisite for consideration, however all CPO candidates must possess a proven track record of successfully leading and delivering programmes of transformation within organisations of similar size and complexity to NICE.
To view the Job Specification click here.
The MBS Group are acting as NICE’s advisors on this appointment. To apply please send a covering letter, CV, and completed Equality Monitoring Form (available in Appendix I of the candidate information pack available below) with the subject line “Application for the role of Chief People Officer” to nice@thembsgroup.co.uk by midday on Monday 13th June 2022.
Please note that this is a full-time position and may be based in either London or Manchester, where NICE has offices. The Chief People Officer will receive a competitive salary with an upper limit of £113,625 and will have membership to the NHS Superannuation Pension Scheme. The role holder will also be entitled to 30 days per annum of annual leave, plus eight bank holidays per annum.