Head of Strategy– Strategy and Policy Directorate
London or Manchester
The General Medical Council (GMC) work with doctors, patients, and other stakeholders to support good, safe patient care across the UK. We set the standards doctors and those who train them need to meet and help them achieve them. If there are concerns these standards may not be met or that public confidence in doctors may be at risk, we can investigate, and take action if needed.
We’re looking for a Head of Strategy to lead the team responsible for the overall delivery and assessment of progress against our strategic aims and objectives. You will have a unique role in leading the development of the next corporate strategy, working closely with colleagues from across the organisation and the wider healthcare system. This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside colleagues and senior leaders to agree our priorities and objectives for 2026-2030.
While strategy and policy work will be a key part of your role, so will team leadership. You’ll manage workload, develop individuals and act as a coach and mentor. Your ultimate aim will be to drive continuous improvement, encouraging quality, empathy and fantastic customer service. With your energy and can-do attitude, you’ll motivate those around you and create a positive culture to ensure a timely and efficient service.
As a skilled strategy professional, you’ll have experience of delivering at pace on a wide range of strategic policy issues and providing professional, clear and balanced advice to senior management. You will be comfortable working with a range of stakeholders on cross organisational priorities and experienced in delivering through others to achieve mutual objectives. A Healthcare background would be an advantage but isn’t essential; you’ll be given support to become an expert on the regulatory framework in healthcare and broader external environment. Positive leadership is key, along with the ability to connect with a range of stakeholders. Articulate and collaborative, you can engage, influence and provide the right advice for complex situations.
You’ll benefit from being part of an organisation that is genuinely committed to its people with several excellent benefits including:
30 days holiday with the option to buy and sell more
A generous employer pension contribution of 15%
Access to a range of learning and development opportunities designed to support your ongoing progression
Hybrid and flexible working
Attractive salary that’s reviewed annually
Private medical insurance
Bike lockers and shower facilities
To find out more please click here.
How to apply for the role
Please provide a CV and covering letter. The covering letter should clearly set out how you meet the essential skills for the role, which are listed in the job description. You should also include a paragraph outlining your reasons for applying for the role.
We recommend no more than 2 sides of A4 for the covering letter, but it can be more if required.
We will assess the information you provide against the skills required for the role and let you know whether you will progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Please note, if you do not provide all the above, we will not be able to progress your application.
The GMC can consider a range of flexible working options. Flexible working requests will be considered in line with the policy.
Diversity and inclusion
The GMC values diversity and has made a public commitment to processes and procedures that are fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination. We are also committed to the Disability Confident employer scheme and support the requirements of the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you have a disability and meet the cut-off mark for the essential criteria for this role as outlined in the person specification document, you will be offered an interview.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.