Job Description
We are seeking a high-profile and engaging senior policy professional who can make a positive impact. The ideal candidate will possess a high degree of political awareness and the ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment within the Cancer & Rehabilitation Unit.
Your role will involve supporting priority programmes, ensuring the delivery of the Cancer Strategy and Action Plan , which includes 136 actions to be completed by 2026. Our goals are to improve cancer survival rates and provide excellent, equitable care. The unit offers policy support for Cancer Waiting Times and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery's (CfSD) Cancer Programme. It also holds responsibility for Robotic Assisted Surgery Policy and Rehabilitation Policy, though leading these policies is not a requirement for this role.
Cancer policy is a high-profile area with significant ministerial, parliamentary, and media attention. The successful candidate will have substantial exposure to Ministers and will support them during visits, debates, events, and meetings. The role requires the ability to respond promptly to immediate policy requests while managing longer-term policy development.
Although based in the Directorate for the Chief Operating Officer NHS Scotland, the role involves regular collaboration across Health & Social Care Directorates. Engagement with stakeholders, including Health Boards, the third sector, research and clinical communities, and the public, will be essential. You will join a motivated and supportive team of 10, including the Senior Medical Officer for Oncology. While team members have specific workstreams, the team often collaborates to support priority tasks.
Responsibilities
- Line manage a Policy Officer.
- Assist budget owners with finance monitoring, forecasting, and reporting.
- Lead on key policy areas within the Cancer Strategy and Action Plan.
- Provide high-quality advice to Ministers, including briefings, submissions, and speeches for debates, visits, and events.
- Manage relationships with Public Health Scotland regarding the Cancer Data Roadmap.
- Respond to and support responses to high-level correspondence such as PQs, micases, FOIs, and media requests.
- Oversee monitoring and reporting for the Action Plan, including annual progress reports and governance of the Scottish Cancer Strategic Board.
- Lead the integration of the new National Cancer Quality Improvement Board and work with the Cancer Quality Performance Programme on Quality Performance Indicators reporting by Health Boards.
- Support policy initiatives aimed at improving Cancer Waiting Times and related workstreams in collaboration with CfSD.