Standards Development Specialist in London

Application Deadline: 25 February 2026

Department: Education and Standards

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London or Edinburgh

Reporting To: Aditi Chowdhary

Compensation: £52,241 - £62,416 / year

About the team

The Standards Development team plays a vital role in how we protect the public. We develop and maintain the standards and guidance that regulate the education and practice of nurses, midwives and nursing associates across the UK. Working at the heart of the Professional Practice Directorate, we bring together evidence, intelligence and stakeholder insight to ensure our standards and guidance are outcome-focused, legally robust and aligned with the evolving health and education landscape. We work collaboratively across the organisation and with external partners, including other strategic leaders, regulators, education bodies and service user groups, to ensure our standards reflect real-world practice and emerging risks. This is a team that values thoughtful analysis, inclusive engagement and a strong sense of regulatory purpose.

Your role and impact

As a Standards Development Specialist, you will lead and shape the application of the methodology that underpins how we develop standards and guidance. Your work will directly influence how professionals are educated, how practice is regulated, and ultimately how the public is protected.

You Will

• Lead the development, review and evaluation of standards and guidance regulating the education and practice of nurses, midwives and nursing associates, ensuring they are evidence-based, outcome-focused and within our statutory powers.
• Develop and maintain the policy and methodology for standards development, working closely with internal teams such as communications, registration and education quality assurance.
• Gather and analyse evidence, intelligence and stakeholder insight to identify areas of risk and opportunities for regulatory intervention.
• Analyse the impact of external health, education and policy drivers, translating these into implications for our standards and strategic priorities.
• Produce high-quality briefings and papers for senior leaders and Council, providing expert advice on standards and policy matters.
• Lead and support stakeholder engagement, managing enquiries and complex correspondence while identifying themes, risks and intelligence to share across the organisation.
• Deliver standards development projects to time and budget, managing risks, monitoring progress and contributing to effective project and change management.
• Promote understanding of our standards and provide expert guidance on their interpretation and application internally and externally.
• Represent the Directorate and organisation at meetings and events, building strong, collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders.

Your work will help ensure our standards remain credible, proportionate and focused on what matters most — safe, effective care for the public.

What You'll Bring

You will combine regulatory or policy expertise with strong analytical skills and the ability to work confidently across complex stakeholder environments.

You Will Bring

• Experience of developing professional, regulatory or practice standards, policy or guidance in a complex setting.
• Experience of delivering complex, time-bound projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience of analysing legislation, policy or system-level drivers and assessing their impact on organisational work.

Alongside This, You Will Demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret legislation, policy and evidence in a regulatory context.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including producing high-quality reports, briefings and presentations for senior audiences.
• The ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, facilitating constructive discussions on complex or sensitive issues.
• A clear commitment to public protection, regulatory integrity and inclusive, collaborative ways of working.

If you are motivated by work that shapes professional practice at a national level and want to contribute to standards that make a real difference to public safety, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits

• 30 days annual leave
• Enhanced Pension Contributions via our attractive Pension Scheme – with a basic 8% employer contribution as standard which increases up to 14% with optional added Employee Contributions.
• Life Insurance – 4 x current salary.
• Hybrid working.
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave.
• 24 Hours Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Perkbox membership.
• Subsidised restaurant in our Portland Place office.
• Season ticket loans.

Additional Information

The role you are applying for is a flexible role, and whilst you will be posted initially to a team, this may require movement between teams as the flow of work dictates. You will of course understand that this flexible approach enables us to provide the best possible service to our registrants and reach the outcomes to our cases quickly and within a reasonable timeframe. This will not change your terms and conditions and will be discussed with you prior to you taking up the post.

Hybrid Working Policy

We are currently working to a policy of office attendance for two days per week with the rest of the time working from home. Before submitting your application, please ensure you are able to commit to working in one of our office locations twice per week. If you are applying for a part-time role, please pro-rata office attendance based on the number of days you would be working.

Our Pay Policy

It is expected that staff new to the NMC will ordinarily be appointed to the bottom of the relevant pay band. However in exceptional circumstances, it may be possible to offer a salary above the bottom of the relevant pay band but we may request proof of current earnings. Please note that we offer an annual review of salaries and adopt a generous progressive pay approach. Further details of which are available on request. For our internal colleagues, you will be paid in accordance to our internal pay policy.

Reasonable adjustments

We will provide reasonable adjustments to support disabled candidates throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you need any additional support to enable you to make an application with us.

Screening and vetting

All of our roles are subject to pre-employment checks. We are in the process of introducing a vetting policy, and it is possible that this role may become subject to DBS and further vetting checks in future.