Head of Policy and Campaigns

Head of Policy and Campaigns

London

£60,665 - £63,000

Contract type: Full time, 12 month fixed term contract

Working arrangements: 35 hours a week. Standard working hours between 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. Hybrid working, with a minimum of 6 days per month in the office. In office anchor days on Wednesday

Location: London, plus travel to Liverpool and Wales as required

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Policy and Campaigns to join us on a maternity cover contract at an exciting time for the organisation.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Communications, Policy and Research, you will lead the policy and campaigns team and oversee the creative, impactful delivery of our policy, campaigns and public affairs work in England and Wales. You will play a central role in shaping and delivering a new set of campaign priorities developed in consultation with our members.

This is a high‑profile leadership role, combining policy development, external influencing, stakeholder engagement and team management. You will work closely with RCP senior officers and colleagues, providing expert advice and ensuring the RCP remains a credible and influential voice with government, Parliament, the NHS and the wider health sector.

What you’ll do

• Lead and oversee the delivery of RCP policy, campaigns and public affairs plans.


• Drive the development of high‑quality policy reports, briefings and campaign materials.


• Provide senior‑level advice to the president, senior officers, CEO and executive directors.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders.


• Identify political and policy risks and opportunities and act decisively to manage them.


• Manage, support and develop a high‑performing policy and campaigns team.


• Contribute to the leadership of the Communications, Policy and Research directorate.

About you

You will be a confident and collaborative leader with a strong track record in health or social care policy and influencing. You will bring:

• deep understanding of the UK health and social care policy landscape and parliamentary process


• senior‑level experience of policy development and delivering successful influencing or campaigning work


• excellent leadership and people management skills


• strong strategic thinking, judgement and attention to detail


• the ability to build credibility quickly with senior stakeholders, including clinicians, politicians and civil servants.

Experience of working in a membership organisation, media and communications, or policy‑making in Wales would be an advantage.

Closing date: 27 March 2026

Interviewing date: 07 April 2026

The RCP positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity. 

The RCP is all about our people – our members, staff, volunteers and leaders. We educate, influence and collaborate to improve health and healthcare for everyone and know we can only do this by being inclusive, encouraging and celebrating diverse perspectives. Welcoming into our community people who represent the 21st-century medical workforce and the diverse population of patients we serve is a priority for us.