Pay band: Circa £135,567 FTE. There may be some flexibility given clinical salaries and responsibilities.
February 2026
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a leader in the provision of robust, independent, and trusted advice to the health and care system with a global reputation for excellence. The organisation was established more than 25 years ago as an independent non-departmental government body with a core purpose “to improve health and wellbeing by putting science and evidence at the heart of health and care decision-making”, and has established itself, through continued evolution and ambition, as an expert organisation making a critical contribution to the health and care ecosystem in the UK, and beyond.
Following the appointment of the previous Chief Medical Officer to the Chief Executive’s role, the organisation is now seeking the right successor into this important, high-profile role. The Chief Medical Officer brings visible clinical leadership to NICE, representing the organisation externally, including in the media, in government, and with clinical stakeholder and academic groups, including professional societies and Royal Colleges. The Chief Medical Officer is the Board’s senior professional medical advisor, and a critical leader in NICE’s prioritisation decisions and horizon scanning. Through their clinical experience, connection and breadth of system understanding, the CMO will ensure NICE guidance is highly relevant across the health and care system.
Within NICE, they will lead the Clinical Directorate, sustaining and building visible clinical leadership across the organisation. They will be accountable for clinical colleagues’ revalidation, delivery of the Caldicott Guardian role, and for patient safety. The CMO is the professional lead for all medically qualified clinical staff employed by NICE, working closely with the directors of guidance programmes to lead a wider team of interprofessional clinical advisors in supporting the delivery of NICE’s programmes of work, and providing advice and leadership on all clinical issues.
The CMO will lead, motivate and develop a highly skilled team and build effective and successful working relationships across NICE as well as externally with key stakeholders. In addition to an understanding of the political context in which NICE operates, personal credibility, and a track record of engaging with and influencing external partners, the CMO will be a role-model leader, in line with NICE’s values.
Candidates must be fully registered with the General Medical Council and committed to on-going clinical practice in the NHS, with regular sessional commitments.
The role may be based in either London or Manchester, where NICE has its offices. In order to be a visible leader for its 800 staff, the CMO will be expected to be spend at least two days a week in NICE’s offices, with a reasonable amount of time spent in both locations. NICE is, however, supportive of flexible working arrangements and open to discussions on how this might be achieved.
NICE particularly welcomes applications from historically under-represented groups, including disabled people and members of minority ethnic communities, as these groups are not yet well represented at senior levels of the organisation.
The MBS Group is acting as NICE’s advisors on this appointment. Please find candidate pack here. To apply please send a covering letter and CV, with the subject line “Application for the role of Chief Medical Officer” to [email protected] by midnight on Sunday 22nd February 2026.