General Secretary And Chief Executive

General Secretary and Chief Executive

RCN UK HQ (20 Cavendish Square, London), Permanent

Salary £200,567 per annum

Imagine being able to lead over half a million registered nurses, nursing support workers, student nurses and midwives, and shape the health policies of the future.

For more than 100 years, we have stood at the forefront of championing professional standards, rights, welfare, and the advancement of nursing.

As the world’s largest trade union and professional body for nursing, we support our members with unwavering loyalty and total commitment. We represent and develop them, support their practice and lobby on their behalf to make a positive difference to their working lives and patient care.

This pivotal position in health care demands a visionary leader with an unwavering commitment to the nursing profession.

We are looking for a permanent General Secretary and Chief Executive to be a driving force for the challenges nursing continues to face as a profession.

A registered nurse with substantial board level experience, the General Secretary and Chief Executive will possess exceptional strategic acumen, the ability to influence at the highest levels of government, and a profound dedication to upholding the values and principles that underpin our organisation and the nursing profession.

The General Secretary and Chief Executive will steer the RCN through an ever-evolving health care landscape, ensuring that nursing staff are empowered, supported and equipped with the resources they need to deliver outstanding care.

Accountable to RCN Council, the General Secretary and Chief Executive works in partnership with them to deliver the RCN’s strategic vision through a culture of inclusivity, ambition and continual transformation.

They provide inspirational leadership to more than 1,000 dedicated members of staff working in RCN offices across the UK.

This is a truly unique role, offering the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the nursing profession and on patient care in the UK and beyond.

What we offer you

We expect you to look after our members and our staff. And we expect you to be rewarded for it.

We offer an impressive range of benefits including annual leave of 32 days plus bank holidays, and generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages. We are a diverse organisation and everyone has different needs. Our hybrid model supports our people to blend home and office working. All employees can ask for flexible working, and when personal circumstances change, we work together to find solutions. Many of our employees enjoy compressed hours and part-time working, enabling them to fulfil their goals and responsibilities inside and outside of work.

We hold the Investors in People Silver We invest in people and We invest in wellbeing accreditations. Our people are our greatest asset, and we want people who can contribute to our purpose in line with our values.

Our selection process

To apply, please visit our website via the button below.

If you are not able to apply online, or for more information about the role or application process, please contact recruitment partner Laura Hayward at laura.hayward@peoplescout.co.uk

Applications must be received by 11.59pm on 2 June.

Screening calls with selected candidates will take place followed by a shortlist meeting. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to undergo assessments and a panel interview currently scheduled to take place on Thursday 4 July 2024.

As a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme, we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Thank you for your interest.