Standards Development Specialist
Standards Development Specialist
Our vision is for safe and effective nursing and midwifery practice across the four countries of the UK – regulated and supported by the NMC – a fit for the future organisation, with fairness and equity at the heart of everything we do.
Our role is to protect the public and maintain confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions. As the largest independent regulator in Europe of more than 860,000 nursing and midwifery professionals, we have a crucial role in making this a reality.
We do this by setting and promoting high education and professional standards for all future and registered nurses and midwives in the UK and nursing associates in England.
We also ensure every nurse, midwife and nursing associate on our Register meets clear standards of conduct and practice which protects the public and the reputation of our professions.
We have a duty to investigate concerns and to take steps to protect the public in the relatively rare instances where we need to limit or restrict a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s right to practise.
We are building a new NMC with integrity, fairness, respect, equity and effectiveness at its core.
We are determined to improve and modernise our culture and ways of working. This will ensure that the public and professionals feel confident in our work.
About the team
The Standards Development team plays a vital role in how we protect the public. We develop and maintain the standards and guidance that regulate the education and practice of nurses, midwives and nursing associates across the UK.
Working at the heart of the Professional Practice Directorate, we bring together evidence, intelligence and stakeholder insight to ensure our standards and guidance are outcome-focused, legally robust and aligned with the evolving health and education landscape. We work collaboratively across the organisation and with external partners, including other strategic leaders, regulators, education bodies and service user groups, to ensure our standards reflect real-world practice and emerging risks.
This is a team that values thoughtful analysis, inclusive engagement and a strong sense of regulatory purpose.
Your role and impact
As a Standards Development Specialist, you will lead and shape the application of the methodology that underpins how we develop standards and guidance. Your work will directly influence how professionals are educated, how practice is regulated, and ultimately how the public is protected.
You will:
- Lead the development, review and evaluation of standards and guidance regulating the education and practice of nurses, midwives and nursing associates, ensuring they are evidence-based, outcome-focused and within our statutory powers
- Develop and maintain the policy and methodology for standards development, working closely with internal teams such as communications, registration and education quality assurance
- Gather and analyse evidence, intelligence and stakeholder insight to identify areas of risk and opportunities for regulatory intervention
- Analyse the impact of external health, education and policy drivers, translating these into implications for our standards and strategic priorities
- Produce high-quality briefings and papers for senior leaders and Council, providing expert advice on standards and policy matters
- Lead and support stakeholder engagement, managing enquiries and complex correspondence while identifying themes, risks and intelligence to share across the organisation
- Deliver standards development projects to time and budget, managing risks, monitoring progress and contributing to effective project and change management
- Promote understanding of our standards and provide expert guidance on their interpretation and application internally and externally
- Represent the Directorate and organisation at meetings and events, building strong, collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders
Your work will help ensure our standards remain credible, proportionate and focused on what matters most — safe, effective care for the public.
What you’ll bring
You will combine regulatory or policy expertise with strong analytical skills and the ability to work confidently across complex stakeholder environments.
You will bring:
- Experience of developing professional, regulatory or practice standards, policy or guidance in a complex setting
- Experience of delivering complex, time-bound projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
- Experience of analysing legislation, policy or system-level drivers and assessing their impact on organisational work
Alongside this, you will demonstrate:
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret legislation, policy and evidence in a regulatory context
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including producing high-quality reports, briefings and presentations for senior audiences
- The ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, facilitating constructive discussions on complex or sensitive issues
- A clear commitment to public protection, regulatory integrity and inclusive, collaborative ways of working
If you are motivated by work that shapes professional practice at a national level and want to contribute to standards that make a real difference to public safety, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits
- 30 days annual leave
- Enhanced Pension Contributions via our attractive Pension Scheme – with a basic 8% employer contribution as standard which increases up to 14% with optional added Employee Contributions
- Life Insurance – 4 x current salary
- Hybrid working
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
- 24 Hours Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Perkbox membership
- Subsidised restaurant in our Portland Place office
- Season ticket loans
Additional Information
The role you are applying for is a flexible role, and whilst you will be posted initially to a team, this may require movement between teams as the flow of work dictates. You will of course understand that this flexible approach enables us to provide the best possible service to our registrants and reach the outcomes to our cases quickly and within a reasonable timeframe. This will not change your terms and conditions and will be discussed with you prior to you taking up the post.
We are currently working to a policy of office attendance for two days per week with the rest of the time working from home. Before submitting your application, please ensure you are able to commit to working in one of our office locations twice per week. If you are applying for a part-time role, please pro-rata office attendance based on the number of days you would be working.
Our Pay Policy
It is expected that staff new to the NMC will ordinarily be appointed to the bottom of the relevant pay band. However in exceptional circumstances, it may be possible to offer a salary above the bottom of the relevant pay band but we may request proof of current earnings. Please note that we offer an annual review of salaries and adopt a generous progressive pay approach. Further details of which are available on request.
For our internal colleagues, you will be paid in accordance to our internal pay policy.
Reasonable adjustments
We will provide reasonable adjustments to support disabled candidates throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you need any additional support to enable you to make an application with us.
Screening and vetting
All of our roles are subject to pre-employment checks. We are in the process of introducing a vetting policy, and it is possible that this role may become subject to DBS and further vetting checks in future.
About The Nursing and Midwifery Council
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