Senior Policy Officer (Data and Digital)

Royal College of General Practitioners

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation solely for GPs in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1952, it has over 50,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills, and promoting general practice as a discipline. General practice is the largest branch of the medical profession. It provides some 1 million consultations for patients in the UK every working day and deals with 86% of the health problems experienced by the UK population.

About the role

We are looking for a senior policy professional with experience working on policy issues related to data, digital and AI to join our policy team, which is part of our Policy, Research and Campaigns department. If successful, you will help to make the case for resources in primary care to meet the health needs of our population, develop policy solutions to improve general practice, and influence decision-making at senior levels of government.

You will contribute to efforts in overcoming some of the biggest changes and challenges faced by the NHS in its history, with a particular focus on supporting general practice to engage with and respond to dynamic digital developments. You will work closely with our public affairs and campaigns team and our press team, as well as a range of others across the organisation, to ensure that the voice of general practice is heard at the most senior levels.

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic policy professional who can hit the ground running and help drive forward our influence in key areas within a fast-paced policy landscape. The successful individual will be responsible for data, digital and AI-related policy areas affecting general practice, as well as engaging in a range of policy areas as required.

If you are a driven professional looking for a dynamic role where you will quickly be able to have an impact, we would like to hear from you. You should:

• Demonstrable experience working in policy. Be confident in taking a lead on policy development and be able to quickly become an expert in complex policy areas of general practice.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with an eye for detail and an ability to explain complex problems to different audiences.
• Strong self-starter who is confident in taking initiative. Be confident in using evidence to help make a case for change.
• The successful candidate will share our corporate values. In return, the College offers excellent terms and conditions and a great working environment.

Responsibilities

• Successfully lead programmes of work on assigned policy areas, providing expertise and project management.
• Provide expert advice, guidance, and thought leadership on data, digital and AI (and other policy areas as needed) to internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft and project manage policy reports, establish policy positions on complex areas related to data, digital and AI using evidence and membership engagement, compile responses to consultation exercises, and write briefings for RCGP Officers and senior management.
• Represent RCGP at external meetings as required and maintain strong working relationships with key external stakeholders.
• Take a proactive role in formulating and implementing the College’s response to relevant emerging issues relating to data, digital and AI, including supporting the media team to respond to press enquiries across key policy areas.
• Provide expertise and advice to the Chair of Council, other College officers and senior management on data, digital and AI.
• Support the Chairs of the RCGP in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and relevant staff in policy development relating to data, digital and AI across the UK.
• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including the Professional Development and Standards and the Membership Communities, to ensure a coordinated approach to matters relating to data, digital and AI, including on the development of guidance for RCGP members.
• Act as the key point of contact and provide support for RCGP’s clinical representatives on data, digital and AI policy issues.
• Manage external and internal contracts, timesheets and invoicing as required.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the range of policy areas relating to general practice and act as an adviser on key emerging issues.
• Lead wider areas of RCGP’s policy activity as required.
• Attend regular internal meetings, including policy team meetings, departmental meetings, media meetings, and meetings with the Chair of Council.
• Deputise for the Head of Policy at meetings where needed and appropriate.
• Work with the Head of Policy and Head of Research and Innovation to conduct research into areas of policy relating to data, digital and AI.
• Contribute to the effective functioning of the Policy Research and Campaigns department by supporting cross-cutting areas of work as appropriate.
• Line management opportunities possible where required.
• Proactively build links with our policy activity across the College on matters relating to data, digital and AI. 

Internal:

• Staff in Policy, Research and Campaigns directorate, staff across the devolved nations, the Policy & Communications directorate, including press, departments/directorates across the College, including senior management.
• RCGP Officers, Devolved Nation Officers, Clinical Leads, Council members, faculties and other clinical representatives.
• RCGP Clinical Lead for Data and Digital.
• RCGP special interest groups for AI and Health Informatics.

External:

• Government officials across the UK (including the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England).
• The Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
• GP IT system providers
• AI software developers.
• Professional bodies and trade unions.
• Think tanks, pressure groups and academic bodies.
• External suppliers and contractors.
• Media/promotional agencies and channels.
• GPs working and training in the UK.
• Other primary care professionals.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Significant experience in policy development across a range of issues, utilising a variety of engagement and policy development tools.
• Experience of working on policy and/or implementation of data, digital and AI projects, ideally related to a healthcare setting.
• Good knowledge of issues and emerging intelligence relating to data, digital and AI.
• Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to write high-quality papers, as well as edit and sub-edit a range of policy documents for various audiences.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and respond quickly to shifting priorities.
• Ability to work effectively with limited supervision and to exercise own initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to represent the RCGP effectively and professionally in a variety of external forums.
• Substantial experience in successfully planning and delivering policy work.
• Demonstrable track record of engaging with decision-makers and opinion formers and the ability to influence.
• Ability to think critically and creatively with a positive approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to take complex issues and to present them succinctly and accessibly, both orally and in writing.

Attributes:

• Passionate about wanting to make a difference and to complete work to a high standard.
• Strong personal resilience, tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent team player and people person.
• Self-starter with demonstrable ability to take initiative.
• Flexible and proactive in responding and adapting to changing priorities and environments.

Desirable:

• Good knowledge of the UK health system and the issues affecting general practitioners.

Required Qualifications

• Educated to degree standard, or equivalent work experience.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees). You can buy five additional days of annual leave and sell up to two days of annual leave. This will be pro rata for part-time employees.
• Employer supporter volunteering scheme: Up to two paid days to volunteer (pro rata for part-time employees).
• Flexi-time: Our flexi-time system allows you to vary your start and finish time to ensure you fulfil your contractual commitments to the College. There is also the ability to bank time to allow you to carry out personal/family commitments.
• Special leave: Special leave with pay includes bereavement (compassionate) leave, emergency family/time off for dependents leave, and moving to a new house.
• Pension scheme: We operate a contributory pension scheme where you contribute a minimum 4% per month through salary sacrifice – the College pays 8% per month.
• Life assurance: Life assurance is provided at six times your salary, during employment. This benefit only applies to employees who are in the pension scheme.
• Long service award: We give a financial award to staff achieving long service.
• Membership of professional body fees: If membership is relevant and appropriate to the job, we will pay for one professional membership a year.
• Study grants and loans: Applications considered for study grants of up to £1,000 and loans of up to £3,000 for courses of study that are relevant to your role, subject to budget.
• Learning and development: We are committed to providing opportunities for your ongoing learning and development, helping you learn and grow through a combination of formal and informal learning.
• eLearning: You can upskill via our eLearning portal, which offers a variety of learning content, including bite-sized courses and resources.
• Mentoring scheme: Our mentoring scheme supports individual learning, growth and development. It is an opportunity for you to collaborate with colleagues outside of your immediate teams, sharing learning, knowledge and experience.
• Occupational leave: Maternity, paternity, adoption, parental and shared parental leave.
• RCGP Plus: Discounts on products and services from a wide variety of brands and retailers.
• Searcys: A 10% discount at Searcys venues.
• Bike loan: Cycle to work scheme interest-free loan, permanent staff only.
• Season ticket loan: Available once you have completed your probation period.
• Bike storage: Large inside bike store to leave your bike dry and safe at our 30 Euston Square, London office.
• Employee assistance program: Provided by Axa Healthcare and offers an employee support helpline, information services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Eye care vouchers: We contribute £25 towards eye tests and £75 towards spectacles for VDU use.
• On-site gym: Our London head office has a fully equipped gym that is free to use.
• Well scheme: Once you have passed probation, we will pay up to £50 per rolling year for you to attend a course, evening class, fitness suite, or other activity which will benefit your wellbeing.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Candidates should apply online via our website. Please kindly complete the application form.

Interviews

• The interviews week commencing 4th May or 11th May, TBC

Policies

The Royal College of General Practitioners is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

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