Senior Policy Advisor

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose � to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you�d like to work in, we�d love to hear from you.

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.

Job description

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.����

Person specification

Senior Policy Advisor, Strategy and Policy

The role will play a key part in delivering the MedTech Strategy.

Responsibilities will include:���

- Thinking strategically to advance policy goals around improving medtech adoption, considering the wider policy environment across the MedTech Strategy, department and government with regular stakeholder touchpoints and progress tracking.��

- Critically assessing options for medtech adoption plans and priority areas, working closely with NHS system and clinical leaders to ensure plans align with local needs. This includes engaging with commercial teams on how to identify impactful technology to scale at pace, in a fair and competitive way that secures value for the NHS and encourages innovative suppliers to engage with the UK market.

�- Collaborating with analytical and policy colleagues to map benefits across programmes, and use this evidence to develop convincing investment cases for the upcoming Spending Review.

- Supporting the programme manager and wider programme management function to deliver effective programme management, which drives programme delivery of programme goals.

- Delivering advice and recommendations at pace to initiative leads on how projects can expand.

- Overseeing the work of the HEO to strengthen and evolve the key programme tools and techniques including risk and issue management and planning approaches across the programme.

- Contributing to a team approach responding to PQs, correspondence and briefing requests.��

- Supporting and leading where appropriate the drafting of policy documents including submissions and briefings.��

- Problem solving at pace, as much of the work looks to develop pilots into sustainable programmes, so unforeseen challenges are common. A timely resolution is crucial to maintaining delivery confidence.��

Senior Policy Advisor, Regulatory Policy

Responsibilities will include:

- Contributing to and coordinating the MedTech Directorate�s input into the MHRA�s development of a future regulatory framework for medical devices, and subsequent regulations, ensuring alignment with emerging ministerial and departmental priorities.

- Contributing to and coordinating on areas for further regulatory reform to ensure the UK remains an attractive place for innovation while maintaining high standards of patient safety. This includes engaging with stakeholder engagement leads to understand industry views and horizon scanning the sector.

- Drafting and providing contributions to medical device related issues, including international engagement. This includes working with other departments, arm�s-length bodies or international organisations.

- Supporting and leading on certain areas relating to the disclosure of industry payments to the healthcare sector. This includes analysis of evidence to recommend a Government position, preparation of public documents to outline the Government�s intentions, and leading engagement with the Devolved Administrations.

- Liaising with other government departments with regulatory responsibility for the regulation of other �new approach� goods, including with DBT colleagues on manufactured goods related regulation. Monitoring the landscape and approaches taken for regulating other �new approach goods�, presenting the medical devices position and reporting on issues or potential conflicts.

- Running the Four Nations Medical Devices Working Group, supporting the G7 and G6 as Chairs with preparation of materials. Developing the agenda and tracking outcomes and actions.

- Developing accurate, high-quality advice, briefings and submissions to ministers and senior officials for your policy area of responsibility, often at pace.

- Drafting responses or contributions to PQs, ministerial correspondence and ad hoc Government advice.

Both roles will equally have access to great L&D opportunities and be able to take advantage of opportunities offered within the Directorate, such as front-line visits to see technology deployed.

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Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Seeing the Big PictureDelivering at PaceCommunicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes �10,806 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA with an average employer contribution of 27%

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