Chief operating officer jobs in London, greater london

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements 
• 40 days paid leave per year: 25 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 3 days between Christmas and New Year and 4 wellbeing days
• Strong commitment to professional development with a dedicated training budget
• Annual performance and pay progression reviews
• Up to 5% pension contribution
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering access to free therapy
• Work phone and laptop
• A supportive and inclusive culture with regular team social events
• Scope to take real ownership in a fast-growing charity   

Personal development programme: 

• You will have a line manager dedicated to growing your strengths and supporting your professional skills development 
• You can work with your manager to set your own objectives within the scope of the job description 
• You will have a dedicated buddy within the team 
• You will take part in external and internal training to help grow your knowledge and skills

Please note that care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. We are actively trying to increase the diversity of our team and we encourage applications from people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. We are dedicated to being a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging and where diversity is celebrated. In our last staff survey, 95% said they feel a sense of belonging at Settle. Please see our website for more information on our approach to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. 

We’re on the hunt for a Programme Manager to join us at this exciting stage of Settle’s development. Over the next few years, we hope to grow the number of young people we are working with and develop new services to support young people with a range of support needs.

The Programme Manager will report to our COO. You’ll be managing a team of Settle Coaches working on the frontline, delivering one-to-one sessions with care-experienced young people across London. You’ll use your skills to ensure that the Settle Programme is the best it can be, coach our frontline teams and ensure high quality delivery is maintained for the young people we work with.

You will work with our COO and wider Programme Management team to deliver and develop our safeguarding practice and ensure that the frontline perspective and young people’s experiences are embedded across the organisation. You’ll manage existing referral partnerships and help develop new partnerships as and when needed, as well as share best practice with the partners you manage. You will also have the opportunity to be involved in strategic projects across the organisation.

The Operations Director is a  senior leadership role at St Stephen’s, helping turn vision and strategy into effective day-to-day delivery. A highly relational role, combining strong operational leadership with collaboration, trust-building and a genuine care for people. The person we are looking for will lead across people, finance, systems, buildings and operations helping the church respond to the Holy Spirit and deliver our mission well.

Working hours: This is a full-time role (35 hours per week) with the opportunity for hybrid working and flexible working. Attendance in person will be required at the Diocesan Office or venues within the Diocese for relevant committee meetings.

Part-time working may be considered for an exceptional candidate, with a minimum of 28 HPW (0.8 WTE).

Salary: £42,000- £46,000 per annum, subject to qualifications and experience.

Benefits: We offer a range of benefits including hybrid and flexible working, 11% non-contributory pension scheme, 25 days holiday rising to 29 after five years’ service.

ROLE DUTIES

• Act as the primary governance support for the COO, ensuring all governance activities align with strategic priorities.
• Lead and manage the administration of the Finance Executive, Audit & Risk Committee, and Property Committee
• Support the COO, Diocesan Secretary and Head of Service Delivery in managing risk processes, including risk registers and compliance reporting.
• Prepare governance and Committee reports and relevant dashboards for the COO, CEO and senior leadership, including the Management Team and Bishops Leadership Team.
• Acting as a liaison between governance bodies and internal/external stakeholders.

CRITERIA

• Degree or equivalent level of relevant experience in governance, business administration, or a related field.
• Relevant and substantial experience in committee administration and governance support.
• Experience of working with and familiarity with regulatory compliance and risk management.
• Experience of working with, alongside a strong understanding of governance principles and compliance frameworks

For more information  please see the job description, and to apply please visit the Chelmsford Diocese website to complete a application form.

Closing Date: Midday Thursday 12th February

Interview Date: Tuesday 24 February

We reserve the right to invite candidates for preliminary interviews.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close the role early and we cannot consider candidates who do not complete and return a completed application form.

Please refer to the CDBF Privacy Policy found on the Chelmsford Diocesan website for guidance on how we will process your data.

Reports to: Operations Director (Head of Delivery) 
Contract: Part-time (0.5 FTE) 

Role Purpose 

As Payroll Lead, you will manage HOST’s global payroll operations — ensuring that all staff, contractors, and hosted partners are paid accurately, compliantly, and on time. 

You will bring structure, care, and precision to one of HOST’s most essential services: ensuring the people driving climate and social action receive the financial stability they need to do their best work. 

This role supports both internal HOST staff and hosted partners, liaising across HR, Finance, and Community Support to deliver secure, compliant, and efficient payroll management. You will also help develop new systems and processes as HOST expands internationally, ensuring our operations remain smooth, transparent, and aligned with local legislation. 

Core Responsibilities 

1. Payroll Management 

• Manage all aspects of monthly payroll for UK and international employees, contractors, and hosted partner staff. 

• Prepare and process payroll changes (new hires, terminations, pay adjustments) in line with internal procedures. 

• Ensure timely submission of payroll information to Finance and external providers. 

• Reconcile payroll each month, identifying and resolving any discrepancies. 
   

• Reporting cadence: Monthly payroll cycle; quarterly summary to Operations Director. 

2. Compliance and Record-Keeping 

• Ensure full compliance with UK employment law, tax regulations, and international payroll requirements in collaboration with external providers. 

• Maintain accurate and confidential employee and contractor records. 

• Support statutory reporting, including PAYE, HMRC, and pension submissions. 

• Liaise with HOST’s Finance Team on audits and compliance reviews. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly compliance report; annual payroll compliance review. 

3. System Management and Improvement 

• Maintain and improve digital payroll systems, ensuring data accuracy and secure integration with Finance and HR tools. 

• Support the development of HOSTHub payroll features and automation processes with the Tech Team. 

• Identify opportunities to simplify workflows and strengthen reporting. 
  Reporting cadence: Quarterly system and process improvement review. 

4. Contractor and International Payroll Support 

• Coordinate with the Community Support and Finance Teams to process international contractor payments, ensuring correct deductions and documentation. 

• Liaise with local payroll providers and Employer of Record (EoR) partners to ensure compliance in each jurisdiction. 

• Track and report on cross-border payroll performance and issue resolution. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly report; immediate escalation of compliance concerns. 

5. HR and Staff Support 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll queries from staff and contractors, providing clear and timely responses. 

• Collaborate with the HR & Operations teams to ensure policies and processes reflect payroll updates and legislation. 

• Support onboarding and offboarding processes for staff and contractors. 
  Reporting cadence: Ongoing; monthly summary of staff queries and resolutions. 

6. Risk and Confidentiality 

• Identify potential payroll or compliance risks, escalating concerns to the Operations Director and Finance Manager. 

• Ensure all payroll data and personal information are handled securely, in line with GDPR and HOST’s data protection policies. 
  Reporting cadence: Ongoing; quarterly inclusion in organisational risk report. 

Key Relationships 

Internal: Operations Director, Finance Manager, Accountant, Community Support Leads, HR & Payroll External Specialist, and Legal Lead. 
External: Payroll providers, Employer of Record partners, and hosted partner representatives. 

Performance Indicators 

• 100% accuracy in payroll delivery and documentation. 

• 100% on-time monthly payroll completion. 

• All compliance and statutory submissions completed by deadline. 

• 100% confidentiality maintained in payroll data handling. 

• Measurable improvements in payroll efficiency and staff satisfaction. 

Qualifications/Experience:  Member of recognised payroll body e.g. CIPP/GPA 

The Stag operates through a low-risk hall-hire business model. It is not allowed to promote its own shows – it provides the professional facilities for others to hire space and put on shows.

Reporting to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the CEO leads a small, professional and dedicated team (currently 20 employees (17.8 FTE)) boosted with part-time casuals in the box office plus a team of volunteers at events. The CEO will ensure the charity fulfils its mission and achieves its charitable objectives whilst maintaining the strong financial sustainability it now enjoys.

The role requires the CEO to a be a BIIAB personal licence holder and to act as Designated Premises Supervisor as well as being the Company Secretary. More details from The Stag's website.

The International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation (IPWSO) is seeking a talented and motivated CEO who will deliver our organisational strategy which aims to improve the lives of all those affected by a rare genetically determined disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). 

The role of CEO at IPWSO is both challenging and rewarding. You can help deliver change for people affected by PWS from across the globe by helping us build solidarity, promoting scientific reasoning and research, helping to foster new relationships, supporting our members, and striving for equality for everyone affected by the syndrome.

You will work alongside passionate volunteers and experts in PWS from across all continents and with a skilled and small staff team based in the UK. We are all dedicated to making a tangible difference!

For the full person specification and the JD, please refer to the attachment below.

#CEO #Chief Executive #Chief Executive Officer 

Harris Hill is delighted to be working with Citizens Advice Westminster to recruit its new Chief Executive Officer.

Citizens Advice Westminster provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice and information to local residents, some of whom are the most vulnerable in society. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

We work with local community organisations to make a difference to the lives of people in Westminster through advice, research and campaigning. Citizens Advice Westminster delivers a high quality, agile advice service which reflects the issues and needs of our communities, and which puts clients first.

As Chief Executive, you will:

•Lead and manage the work of Citizens Advice Westminster in its mission to improve the lives of residents through delivery of a comprehensive information, advice, and casework service across the City of Westminster.

•Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to shape the organisation’s strategy, direction, and policies.

•Provide a strong and influential voice for Citizens Advice Westminster as the ‘public face’ of the organisation.

If you are inspired and excited by what Citizens Advice Westminster does, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £67,991 p.a. (The salary is on a progressive pathway)

Contract: Permanent / Full-time

Location: The Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road, London W2 5ES

How to apply:

Please review the Recruitment Pack for further information about Citizens Advice Westminster, the CEO position and for details on how to apply.

Closing date for applications: 9am Friday 20th February 2026

Both Citizens Advice Westminster and Harris Hill operate an equal opportunity policy and commit to treating all of our candidates and jobseekers fairly. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

The Chief Executive provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, ensuring the organisation delivers meaningful impact, remains financially sustainable, and continues to be a respected voice in social change and activism.

Leading a small, committed team, the Chief Executive will set the strategic direction, secure and steward funding, and ensure effective delivery of programmes and services. They will work closely with the Board of Trustees, act as an ambassador for the Foundation, and foster strong relationships with partners, funders, and stakeholders.

This is a hands-on role suited to a versatile leader with a passion for social change and building communities, who thrives in a small charity environment.

Please note this is a UK-based role and applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and values-led Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead East London Waterworks Park in this next phase of our development. This is a rare opportunity to shape the first paid executive leadership role in a pioneering environmental charity.

The CEO role is wide-ranging and dynamic, and will evolve as East London Waterworks Park grows. The CEO will provide strategic leadership to help realise our ambition to purchase the Thames Water depot site in East London, while strengthening our capacity to deliver community-led rewilding and nature-recovery projects across London in partnership with landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders.

An important aspect of the role will involve introducing a sustainable staffing model that complements and develops East London Waterworks Park’s existing volunteer ecosystem, and strengthens our culture, vision and values. The CEO will be supported in this work by long-standing volunteers at both trustee board and operational level, who believe in the benefits this organisational change will bring.

About East London Waterworks Park

East London Waterworks Park is a community-led charity working to reconnect people and nature. Starting from nature-first principles, and with inclusivity at the heart of everything we do, we work with communities to co-design spaces to unlock a chain of positive changes that culminate in the long-term transformation of people and place.

Our work includes:

• co-designing East London Waterworks Park with the East London community, working towards purchasing a 14-acre Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest and transforming it into a biodiverse urban park with free, accessible wild swimming and welcoming community spaces

• co-designing other nature-first spaces on disused or brownfield land in London, returning land to nature in collaboration with local communities to encourage long–term community stewardship

• hosting engagement, education, and empowerment activities that build skills, confidence and deeper connections to nature.

East London Waterworks Park is a sociocratic organisation, with a decentralised organisational structure and a transparent and collaborative approach to decision making. We have grown organically since 2019, responding flexibly to the challenges we have encountered but always committed to our core vision: creating a new kind of urban green and blue space: one that is ecologically rich, inclusive, and shaped by the people and wildlife who use it.

East London Waterworks Park is currently entirely run by volunteers but we recognise the need to transition to a more sustainable structure. We want to introduce paid employees to ensure we can deliver the exciting projects planned in 2026 and beyond, while retaining our strong community-led ethos.

More information

If this sounds exciting, please review the attached recruitment package.

Lead a movement tackling issues that matter more than ever

GoodGym is seeking an ambitious, inclusive and growth-minded leader who cares about connection, community and creating positive urban futures to achieve the potential of GoodGym over the coming years.

GoodGym is a community of people who combine their exercise with helping their communities. We run, walk, and cycle to help community projects and older people. Our goal is to create healthier, happier and better connected communities.

GoodGym is a unique proposition globally, it is recognised by the mainstream media, in the charity industry, and the running world as a pioneering innovation. It has won awards from multiple prime ministers, it has been named as one of most important innovations in running in the last 50 years by Runners World and won the University of Cambridge Social Innovation prize.

GoodGym is an active community across the UK. We have 26,000 members in 65+ urban areas of England and Wales.

Direct reports4

TeamBusiness operations

Hours5 days (37.5 hours) per week with flexible arrangements

LocationHolborn, London with some hybrid working

Report to Board of Trustees

Salary £65-70k

Application Closing Date 12 noon, 27th of February 2026

Why join us?

GoodGym is a growing, high-impact organisation, and a great place to work. We're launching new programmes (including new work in Scotland and a youth focus in 2026), improving our sector-leading volunteering platform, and benefiting from a major media partnership with Sky (TV ad this Spring). Backed by multi-year funding, strong leadership and governance, and recent parliamentary endorsement, we are a forward-thinking, respected brand tackling critical issues from loneliness to urban sustainability. Join our committed, friendly team at a time of maximum relevance and opportunity.

Why what we do matters

In a world in which screen time is growing, real life connection is declining, communities are fracturing and mental health issues are rising, GoodGym provides an important antidote. Independent evaluation shows that:

• GoodGym improves connection and belonging to an “extraordinary” extent
• GoodGym provides essential support to older people and reduces loneliness
• GoodGym increases wellbeing to a significant extent
• GoodGym contributes thousands of hours to projects making our cities greener

The potential is even greater, cities around the world have requested that we start there and the goal is to make our activity ubiquitous. Doing so would transform urban life and make cities greener, happier and healthier.

Representing the cities in which we operate

GoodGym aims to bring people together across demographic divides, in order to do this we seek to be representative of the communities in which we operate.

We see diversity as a strength and are committed to having a culture where everyone feels safe, respected and valued. We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, disability, age, nationality, religious or philosophical belief, sexual orientation, educational attainment, family status, trade union activity or any other factor.

What we’re looking for

GoodGym is in a strong position - long term funders, a strong team and ambitious plans for the future. Now is the right time for our founder to hand on the baton to a new CEO.

Our new CEO will have:
- scaled a new initiative, created a big change in their community or created an organisation, project or movement from scratch.
- generated significant income
- the ability to communicate the importance of our work to lots of different people

In addition, the person we are looking for:

• Has the ability to spot opportunities and make things happen
• Has a deep belief that positive change is possible
• Combines ambition with thoughtful reflection, listening and diplomacy
• Has a passion for our mission of creating happier and more connected communities
• Is driven by a desire to bring people together, not by ego and loves helping others to succeed
• Is a proactive collaborator and build connection easily with all sorts of people

For the full list of responsibilities and skills, please review our job pack.

Process:

Closing date for applications: 12 noon on the 27th of February.

Planned interview dates:
First round: 6th of March
Second round: 12th of March
These dates will be confirmed with you when you submit your application.
- During the process you’ll meet a range of staff and Trustees and have the opportunity to learn more about the organisation.
- If you require any adjustments or adaptations at any stage of the process please let us know in your email.

How to apply:

Send a CV and supporting statement each of no more than two pages. In your supporting statement please why you think this role is the right move for you and how your experience matches our person specification. In particular, please outline clear evidence for your ability to initiate change at scale, your ability to generate income, and your ability to communicate ideas and create partnerships.

For more information on the role and the organisation see our job pack linked to this joblisting on our company website. 

Send your application to jobs@goodgym. org no later than 12 noon on the 27th of February.

If you would like to speak about the role with our Chair or CEO before applying, please email: getinvolved@goodgym. org

A leading anti-slavery charity is operating where most organisations do not: at the intersection of real-time victim insight, systemic prevention, and market-level change. Through its safehouses and community support, the organisation empowers survivors to reclaim their lives and dignity. As operators of a UK-wide Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, it provides vital national infrastructure that drives urgent action and delivers real-time data on exploitation trends.

The organisation is working to end modern slavery by empowering, equipping, and influencing others to bring about positive and transformational change. Its work combines frontline intelligence with policy influence and business transformation, turning hidden exploitation into actionable reform. It is a values-led organisation – honourable, insightful, dynamic, collaborative, and ambitious – relentless in its pursuit to build a future free from exploitation.

The organisation is seeking an inspirational, confident, and values-led Chief Executive Officer to lead it in its mission to tackle modern slavery and support survivors to rebuild their lives. The successful candidate will act as the organisation’s principal ambassador, engaging credibly and persuasively with government, policymakers, media, and the public.

The postholder will balance strong external leadership with rigorous internal excellence, ensuring the organisation remains a leading authority in the fight against modern slavery.

Chief Executive Officer
A leading anti-slavery charity

Salary: £85,000 – £90,000
Location: Remote, with a minimum of one day a week based at head office in Bristol

About you

The organisation is seeking a highly collaborative and competent leader, with:

• Significant senior leadership experience working with/reporting to a Board in progressive organisations across the charity, NGO, social justice, or public/private sectors.

• Proven ability to provide strategic direction and oversight in complex, mission-driven organisations.

• An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to drive growth and diversify income.

• Strong advocacy skills with a track record of influencing government, legislative processes, and diverse stakeholders.

• A consistent commitment to diversity and inclusion, with experience advancing inclusive policies and organisational culture.

• Strong financial and operational expertise, with a record of maintaining robust financial controls and regulatory compliance.

Crucially, candidates will be inspired by the organisation’s vision of a world without slavery and its commitment to turning hidden exploitation into actionable reform that empowers survivors and informs broader public understanding.

How to Apply

For further information, to access the appointment brief and to apply to this role, please click 'redirect to recruiter'.

Recruitment Timetable

Deadline for applications:
25th February

First interviews with Prospectus:
w/c 2nd March

First stage interviews with the organisation (online):
w/c 16th March

Second stage interviews with the organisation (in person):
w/c 23rd March

Chief Executive - Help & Care
Location: Home-based within easy reach of Dorset (regular travel across the region)
Salary: circa £85,000 per annum
Contract: permanent, either full-time basis (37 hours per week) or part-time (30 hours per week). We are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements for part-time hours, including how these are worked across the working week.

Are you an innovative leader who will put communities and social justice at the heart of transforming how health and social care is delivered in Dorset and the south of England?

Help & Care has been supporting communities across Dorset and the south coast since 1985. We deliver person-centred services that promote dignity, independence and connection - from dementia coordination and health coaching to our award-winning Roots gardening programme and social prescribing partnerships. Working with over 25 partners across health, housing and the voluntary sector, we co-produce services that make a real difference to older people, those with long-term conditions, carers and people at risk of isolation.

As our new Chief Executive, you will collaborate with a dedicated Board and a strong, highly motivated team focusing on the following key areas of responsibility:

• Strategic leadership: Define an ambitious, values-led strategy and deliver it, securing long-term impact alongside sustainable financial growth.
• Values leadership: Place Help & Care’s values - social justice, innovation, personal and collaborative - at the heart of decision-making and model them through visible leadership.
• Growth & income diversification: Lead business development to diversify income streams, winning commissioned contracts and developing social-enterprise opportunities to reduce reliance on public commissioning.
• Partnerships & advocacy: Strengthen and sustain senior-level relationships across the NHS, local authorities, commissioners and the voluntary sector; represent Help & Care across systems, media and stakeholder networks.
• Service quality & impact: Embed rigorous monitoring and evaluation so outcome evidence drives commissioning decisions, improves financial performance and enhances the organisation’s reputation.

• People leadership: Inspire, retain and develop a high-performing, compassionate leadership team and workforce, focused on talent development, wellbeing and accountability.
• Governance & financial stewardship: Provide the Board with timely, high-quality reporting, oversee financial recovery or sustainability plans as required, and ensure robust risk, compliance and governance arrangements.

Who you are:

• An experienced CEO or senior director from complex, multi-service health, social care or community organisations, with experience of developing and delivering multi-agency contracts.
• Proven track record of securing commissioned contracts, leading tendering and contract oversight, and developing income diversification, including social-enterprise opportunities.
• Comfortable driving strategic transformation and financial sustainability, with demonstrable expertise in strategic financial management.
• A values-led, collaborative and visible leader with high emotional intelligence and resilience, committed to social justice, person-centred practice and co-production; an effective public representative and mentor.

Why Help & Care?

• Lead a highly respected regional provider with an outstanding track record of co-production and innovation.
• Shape an organisation poised for growth and greater regional influence.
• Hybrid, home-based working, regular travel across Dorset, and the chance to safeguard vital services for local communities.

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 23rd February 2026. Interviews and assessments on 3rd, 4th and 5th March.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Opportunity: Head of Finance

Are you a hands-on finance professional who excels at balancing high-level strategy with meticulous operational control? We are seeking a fully qualified accountant to drive the end-to-end financial management, reporting, and stability of a small but impactful international development organisation.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will serve as a key advisor on strategic financial decisions while ensuring the accuracy of accounts and compliance standards.

The Role

You will be responsible for all aspects of finance and delivering timely, accurate financial reports to internal stakeholders, funders, and regulatory bodies.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Producing monthly consolidated management accounts with variance analysis and reporting to the Board and Finance Sub-Committee.
• Leading annual budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning.
• Overseeing cashflow, treasury management, and the drafting of statutory accounts.
• Managing external audits and specialised donor financial reporting.
• Identifying financial risks for escalation to the COO/Board and providing direct line management for the Finance & Systems Officer.

Your Profile

You will be a grounded leader who brings a focus on delivery and stability.

• You must be a fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, or CIMA).
• 8–10 years of experience working within complex, multi-entity environments.
• Experience within the Charity or International NGO (INGO) sector.
• A proven ability to manage end-to-end financial controls and provide high-level strategic advice.

Salary range is £55,000 - £60,000 Depending on Experience.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore please apply ASAP to ensure your details are considered.

Job Title: Chief Medical Advisor (SCS2)

Organisation: Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)

Salary: Circa £145,000

Locations: London, Leeds, Sheffield (hybrid, 60% in the office)

Key Benefits: Civil Service pension scheme (28.97% employer contribution), 25 days annual leave (+9 days of Bank Holiday leave)

Application Closing Date: Monday 2nd March, 10am

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is seeking a permanent Chief Medical Advisor. This is an SCS2 grade role and an outstanding opportunity to work in the largest Civil Service Department that touches the lives of citizens the length and breadth of the UK.

This is a unique opportunity for a senior medical professional to provide expert advice to inform policy, legislation, and delivery decisions at the UK’s biggest public service department, where we administer the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers.

This role will be the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for Clinical Governance and Clinical Profession. The postholder will build strong relationships with senior leaders, including the Permanent Secretary, ministers, and external stakeholders, ensuring clinical advice is accurate and of the highest quality. The role requires strong team leadership, promoting an inclusive environment for clinicians to encourage development and growth while ensuring compliance with legislative requirements.

As the Department’s most senior medical professional, you will provide expert advice on clinical policy and clinical governance matters to DWP Ministers and senior leaders across DWP including the DWP Executive team. The role will also work closely with other clinical teams across government as well as external organisations such as regulatory bodies, external providers and charities.

The Department has an ambitious reform agenda including priorities set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper and the Pathways to Work Green Paper and a focus on tackling rising youth inactivity.

As Chief Medical Advisor you will bring professional expertise to complex problems, influencing right at the heart of decision making. You will be a strong relationship builder, able to work effectively across a large and complex organisation, and operate as an inspiring leader.

This role has four major components:

1. Leading a team of approximately 50 colleagues providing clinical advice across DWP, you will act as the Department’s expert on clinical policy matters and work with officials across the Department to ensure Ministers receive the highest quality advice on clinical policy.
2. Provide the in-house clinical advice relating to disability, work, and health within DWP for Ministers and the Executive team.
3. Operate as Head of Clinical Profession, where you will be responsible for training, appraisal, and revalidation of c.200 clinicians in DWP, ensuring they are in good standing with their regulatory body. There is also a dotted line of professional responsibility to 5,500 healthcare professionals within contracted provider organisations.
4. As SRO for Clinical Governance, you will oversee the DWP Caldicott Guardian and Clinical Safeguarding Lead, providing final sign-off for sanctions and waivers on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skills against the following essential criteria:

• Excellent strategic thinking skills, with the ability to understand both complex policy detail and high level, strategic connections across a broad portfolio and an outstanding eye for critical detail.
• Experience of delivering practical and innovative responses to complex issues and responding to unplanned circumstances.
• Strong technical skills relevant to clinical safeguarding with expertise in occupational health or functional medicine.
• Evidence of exceptional leadership and ability to lead multidisciplinary clinical education teams and / or programmes to ensure understanding of all roles across the 5,500 strong clinical profession, including the ability to motivate and inspire an experienced and diverse clinical team.
• Ability to demonstrate credibility to inspire the respect of both internal and external stakeholders at Director level and above.

Applicants must also meet the following qualification and membership requirements:

• A clinically active doctor with license to practise with GMC.
• Candidates must meet minimum ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (CPD) requirements (i.e. be up-to-date) in accordance with the requirements of the appropriate recognised professional body.
• Medical qualification MBChB or equivalent.

It is desirable that applicants hold a faculty of medical leadership recognition to ensure profession leadership is credible.

A detailed candidate pack is available for more information on the vacancy.

Prior Civil Service experience is not a pre-requisite, however, applicants must demonstrate the ability to operate at scale in a complex environment. DWP are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our organisation, we welcome applications to help us reflect the citizens we serve.

This role can be based in the following DWP Hub locations: London, Leeds, or Sheffield.

Hybrid working policy: The expectation is that that this role would require the successful candidate to be in the office more than 60% of the time. Travel to other DWP and official locations including London is required which may include overnight stays.

Alongside your salary, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes 28.97% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Applicants will be required to provide an up-to-date CV and supporting statement (up to 1,250 words) detailing how you meet the role’s requirements. You will also provide a completed online diversity monitoring form.

The closing date for applications is Monday 2nd March 2026 at 10:00am.

In addition to Security Check (SC) level clearance, this role will also be subject to an Enhanced Check. Candidates who do not already have this level of clearance can have this undertaken post-appointment. In all cases the appointment remains conditional on this level of security clearance.

DWP is recognised as a Disability Confident Leader, demonstrating the departmental commitment to attracting, recruiting and retaining disabled people and supporting them in achieving their full potential. We run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the advertised role. This vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.