Senior Policy Advisor - MedTech Strategy, Policy and Regulation
| Posting date: | 17 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £40,025 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Leeds - £40,025, London - £44,043 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 May 2024 |
| Location: | London |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 353917/2 |
Summary
These roles offer an exciting opportunity to deliver on the aims of the UK’s first Medtech Strategy, focusing on streamlining the innovation pathway so that impactful new products reach those in need as quickly as possible.
The posts sit within the Medical Technology (MedTech) Strategy, Policy and Regulation Team. The team are responsible for setting the UK priorities for medical technology and ensuring their successful implementation and delivery. The posts directly link to the Government’s priorities, specifically investment in technology, a critical aspect of the life sciences sector and health system. You will play a key role in enhancing the performance of medtech that can drastically improve patient outcomes.
DHSC’s MedTech Directorate works closely with leaders across the health and care system to drive innovation, adopt high-quality products and achieve value for tax-payer money. The team also fulfils DHSC’s regulatory policy role for medical devices, supporting the regulator to design a framework that supports innovation within the life sciences sector and improve patient access to innovative medical devices, while protecting patient safety.
The first ever government MedTech Strategy launched in February 2023, with a vision to get the right products, into the right place, for the right price. A year into delivery, medtech and innovation remains a priority to drive excellent patient outcomes and improve the attractiveness of the UK as a global life sciences hub.
This is a prominent area with a lot of interest from No 10, DHSC Ministers, and public stakeholders, so proactivity and attention to detail are essential for timely delivery. These are a stretching and rewarding roles, ideally suited for individuals looking to further develop skills in policy development and delivery in a fast-paced and high-interest area.
Due to its high-profile nature, the posts involve frequent engagement with leaders within the Department and across government, as well as the Devolved Administrations. It also offers the holder opportunity to work closely with stakeholders at all levels across the health system, such as NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), patient groups, and the medtech industry. This is a complex policy area with multiple moving parts. There are internal and external stakeholders accountable for delivery to DHSC, with progress reporting to ministers monthly and with a quarterly programme boards.
Senior Policy Advisor, Strategy and Policy
The postholder will play a key role in establishing the strategic direction and maintaining momentum behind MedTech Strategy initiatives. In particular, the initiatives focused on improving the adoption of medtech with the greatest potential to help patients and the NHS. This includes high-profile work championed by Number 10 to streamline the medtech innovation pathway to enable groundbreaking technology to reach patients faster.
The postholder will also play a leading role in maintaining the framework within which the MedTech Strategy Programme can successfully deliver. This includes overseeing a HEO to develop tools and techniques to standardise methodologies and realise efficiency potential. It includes delivering advice and recommendations at pace on how projects can expand to help more patients have faster access to technologies that would transform their care. The role will involve working closely with the Initiative Leads and Analytical Leads to develop implementation plans for medtech adoption initiatives. The post holder will lead work in mapping and assessing programme benefits to create evidence-based investment cases for the upcoming Spending Review.
Senior Policy Advisor, Regulatory Policy
The postholder will support the development of the future regulations for medical devices, finding solutions to strike the balance between innovation and patient safety. This includes providing evidence-based analysis and recommendations for seniors, ensuring ministerial and cross-government priorities are reflected in policy development, and creatively considering mitigations to the challenges faced by the sector. The postholder will lead and contribute to cross-departmental and external initiatives or reports impacting medical devices regulations.
The postholder will also help to shape the Government position on the reporting of industry payments to the healthcare sector, exploring a recommendation from the "First Do No Harm" report published by the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review. This includes working across DHSC and Whitehall, as well as with industry and patient groups, to develop policies that work for the whole MedTech sector. They will ensure alignment of the team’s work with ministerial priorities and engage collaboratively on the team’s work with counterparts in the Devolved Administrations.
Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support.
You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.
Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need.
There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.