Head of Policy

Salary: £86,065 | Closing Date: 27 July 2026 (11:59 pm)

About the role

We are looking to recruit a Head of Policy to join our Policy team within the Policy and Communications Directorate on a permanent, full-time basis. 

The Policy Team works across the organisation and with external stakeholders to drive improvements in professional regulation, in line with the PSA’s right-touch regulation approach and in support of public protection. It does this through providing policy advice, delivering events, and leading engagement activities. In doing so, the team helps make sure the PSA’s oversight work is informed by external developments, while using its system-wide perspective to generate and share insights that contribute to improvement across health and care regulation through a collaborative approach.

This is an exciting time to join the Policy Team. Major reforms to the legislation governing the regulators we oversee are underway, including proposals for expanded powers for the PSA, and we are working closely with UK governments to support successful implementation. We have also been commissioned by the Scottish Government to undertake a review of healthcare science roles. Alongside this, our work with the MHRA-led National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare is helping to shape a more joined-up and future-facing approach to regulation across the system.

The role involves: 

• Shaping and communicating the PSA’s policy positions on health and social care regulation, championing a joined-up, organisation-wide approach. 
• Leading the Policy Team and driving delivery of high-quality policy work, including publications, research, briefings and events. 
• Contributing to organisational leadership as part of the Senior Management Team and providing advice to the Executive Leadership Team and Board on regulatory policy. 
• Acting as the principal point of contact for policy engagement, representing the PSA externally and strengthening its influence across the sector. 
• Overseeing the delivery and maximising impact of policy work, ensuring effective response to emerging issues and embedding priorities such as equality, diversity and inclusion. On occasion this will include work commissioned by the UK Government, or other agencies. 

About you

We are looking to recruit a Head of Policy who can:

• Bring extensive experience of leading and coordinating policy development within a dynamic environment. 
• Provide strong leadership, building and developing a high-performing team that can respond in an agile way to emerging risks and opportunities. 
• Influence effectively, and have high-level written, editorial and presentation skills.
• Build and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, using influencing skills to create opportunities for co-production and collaboration. 
• Prioritise effectively and remain composed under pressure, with strong organisational and problem-solving skills. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in both leadership and policy work.

You will need and a strong commitment to protecting patients and the public. You will also need to share our values of integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork.

About the Professional Standards Authority

We are the UK’s oversight body for the regulation of people working in health and social care. There are 10 organisations that regulate health professionals in the UK and social workers in England by law. We audit their performance and review their decisions on practitioners’ fitness to practise. We also accredit and set standards for organisations holding registers of health and care practitioners not regulated by law. We share good practice, knowledge and our right-touch regulation expertise. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally, providing guidance to governments and stakeholders. 

We are committed to promoting a fair and inclusive workplace where all our staff can flourish and reach their full potential. We know that a diverse workforce, at all levels, allows for a more creative and productive environment bringing different viewpoints, knowledge and experience. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from everyone irrespective of age, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability, ethnicity and sexual orientation. 

As a Disability Confident employer, we will guarantee an interview for people with disabilities who meet all the essential criteria and so if you would like to be considered under this scheme then please let us know. 

We currently operate a hybrid policy. In the first six months of employment full-time staff working over five days will be expected to attend the office three days a week, after this the requirement is two days a week in the office. However, should you require any reasonable adjustments or wish to discuss the possibility of further flexible working please contact us directly to discuss. 

The PSA’s offices are currently located in Blackfriars, London.

We will not accept CVs or applications where CVs are attached in place of a personal statement. To apply, please see attachments at the bottom of this page for the job description and application form. Alternatively,  please contact our team for a copy of the application form at recruitment@professionalstandards.org.uk. 

If you have any questions, or would like reasonable adjustments to be made at any stage of the process, please do not hesitate to contact the HR team on 0207 389 8050 or email us at recruitment@professionalstandards.org.uk.

The closing date for applications is 27 July 2026 (11.59pm).

Interviews will be held on Monday 10 August 2026 in person, at our offices in Blackfriars, London. The interview will include a verbal presentation on a topic relating to the work of the PSA.  Please note that it is unlikely that an alternative interview date could be offered should you be unable to attend at this time. 

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