Associate director of clinical services jobs

Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Devolved Nations)
£59,640 pa plus excellent benefits
Home-based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
35 hours per week, full-time
Permanent

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an experienced and strategic policy and public affairs leader to head our devolved nations policy and public affairs function. This is a high-profile leadership role with a unique opportunity to influence policy, advocate for children and young people, and drive improvements in child health outcomes across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Policy and External Affairs and sitting on the Membership, Policy and External Affairs Divisional Management Team, you will lead the College’s policy and public affairs activity across the devolved nations. You will develop and deliver impactful advocacy strategies, build strong relationships with governments and policymakers, and ensure the College’s voice is heard on the issues that matter most to paediatricians, children and young people.

You will provide leadership to a team of Policy and Public Affairs Managers and work closely with College Officers, members, committees and colleagues across the organisation to maximise the College’s influence and impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the strategic planning and prioritisation of RCPCH policy and public affairs activities across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Developing and delivering influential public affairs and advocacy strategies to support the College’s policy priorities
• Providing expert advice on child health, healthcare delivery, workforce, public health and safeguarding policy across the devolved nations
• Managing and developing a team of three Policy and Public Affairs Managers
• Overseeing the production of high-quality policy reports, consultation responses, briefings and stakeholder communications
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with governments, policymakers, Royal Colleges, health bodies and external partners
• Working collaboratively with the Health Policy, Media and Public Affairs, Membership and Education teams to align priorities and maximise impact
• Supporting Devolved Nations Officers and committees to advocate effectively on behalf of members
• Leading the identification of opportunities to raise the College’s profile and influence policy development
• Managing a budget of approximately £60,000 and ensuring effective use of resources

Essential skills and experience include:

• Degree-level qualification, postgraduate qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Strong understanding of the UK political and health policy landscape, particularly within Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Significant experience leading policy development and public affairs activity
• Proven experience producing and overseeing policy reports, consultation responses and briefing materials
• Demonstrable success in delivering public affairs campaigns with measurable impact
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience influencing senior political, policy and clinical audiences
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages for different audiences and channels
• Strong leadership and people management experience
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes
• Experience of budget management, planning and forecasting

Desirable:

• Experience leading policy development relating to health services, children’s services or child health
• Experience working within healthcare, children's services or public sector organisations
• Experience working within a membership organisation or professional body

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide and employs around 200 staff across the UK. Our devolved nations teams play a vital role in ensuring that the needs of children and young people are represented at every level of government and policy-making.

Our values – Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire – are central to everything we do. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation.

We operate a flexible and modern hybrid working policy. While this role is home-based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, travel across the devolved nations and occasional travel elsewhere in the UK will be required.

Closing date: 24 June 2026.

Job Title: Executive Assistant
Salary: £32,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9:30am – 5:30pm
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Birmingham, with some home working and travel to other centres across the UK
Reports to: Director of Finance and Resources 
 
THE CHARITY 
Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle. 
 
James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.    
 
James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected.  We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 5,100 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.
 
In early 2026 we have opened our fourth centre in Birmingham. Our new centre in Birmingham will be there to support suicidal men living in the West Midlands.
 
THE OPPORTUNITY 
We are excited to offer a new opportunity to join a growing charity and support our Executive Leadership Team, as well as the administration and operational processes across the organisation, as an Executive Assistant. You will provide high level administrative support to the CEO, Directors, and the Consultant Suicide Prevention Therapist, and will take a key role in facilitating a professional and well organised executive function.
 
You will be expected to set and maintain the tone of the executive office and provide efficient and effective administrative support to senior leadership. Under the guidance of the Director of Finance and Resources, you will manage communications, coordinate schedules, conduct accurate record keeping and help to ensure the day-to-day operations of the organisation's leadership team runs smoothly and effectively.
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 
Executive Administration
Covering daily administrative tasks and duties including:

• Being the first point of contact for the CEO, Directors and Consultants, managing enquiries, greeting visitors, answering the phone, and responding to email enquiries.
• Dealing with enquiries over email and telephone, scheduling/amending meetings and taking messages as required.
• Managing multiple complex calendars, booking appointments, meetings, and making travel arrangements.
• Supporting the CEO, Directors and Consultants with day-to-day administration and coordination.
• Preparing, formatting, and issuing correspondence, reports, and presentations.
• Recording and sharing meeting minutes and tracking actions.
• Maintaining accurate records at all times in line with administrative procedures.
• Supporting communication between senior leadership and internal/external stakeholders.
• Maintaining effective systems to ensure time and resources are used efficiently.
• Always managing confidential information with discretion.

 
Operations

• Maintaining a professional and well-organised office environment.
• Supporting the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to ensure smooth operational processes.
• Completing electronic filing, document management, and general office administration.
• Supporting the coordination of meetings, events, and senior-level engagements.
• Providing occasional administrative support to the wider team as required.

 
Values

• Maintaining a professional, calm, and approachable manner in all interactions.
• Treating every person who contacts the organisation with respect and professionalism.
• Demonstrating discretion, integrity, and confidentiality at all times.
• Demonstrate commitment to the James' Place values of Focus, Bravery, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration, Respect and Hope through all aspects of work.

 
PERSON SPECIFICATION
This role requires someone with both excellent people and organisational skills and the ability to communicate professionally and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a range of stakeholders. Your administration skills will be vital, and you will be able to work with a broad range of IT, including shared Outlook inboxes and calendars.
 
You will feel comfortable using the full Office 365 suite and have the necessary organisation skills to maintain the highest standards of record keeping. You will have experience of supporting senior leadership to deliver organisational priorities, and an ability to work collaboratively is essential. You will be able to work proactively and have a high level of attention to detail.
 
Essential
Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience as an assistant to senior leaders or experience in a similar administrative role at this level
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with a range of colleagues including board members, external stakeholders, staff colleagues and peers
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise workload and meet deadlines
• Ability to maintain accurate records and follow set procedures
• Strong IT skills with the ability to learn new systems quickly and efficiently
• Competency with current office technology including MS Teams, Microsoft 365 applications, emails and calendars, and associated communication tools.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

 
Values

• Ability to engage with organisational values
• Ability to promote equality, diversity and inclusion
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Ability to be transparent, honest and show discretion when needed

 
Desirable

• Experience supporting multiple senior stakeholders
• Knowledge of governance or board-level administration
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment

 
WE OFFER

• A 7% employer contributory pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• Death in service insurance scheme 
• 25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period 

 
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please use the online application system to submit your CV detailing your experience, roles and responsibilities, and answer the screening questions. 
 
If you have any queries or experience challenges with the application process, please contact us directly.
 
Closing date: Wednesday 17th June 2026, 5pm
Interviews to be held w/c 29th June.
 
Here at James' Place, we want you to feel comfortable in sharing your authentic selves and personal experiences, so we ask that you do not submit an application that has been formulated by AI. You may wish to use AI to support with structural aspects such as grammar and formatting, however your application must reflect your own genuine experiences, critical thinking and creativity.
 
James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.
 
If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.
 
Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.
 
REF-228 901