Neonatal Nursing Lead

Final date to receive applications: 21 October 2026

Department: Nursing and Midwifery Adviser Team

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London or Edinburgh

Compensation: £57,317 - £68,481 / year

About the team and what we do

As part of our perinatal regulatory team and reporting to the Senior Midwifery Advisor (Education), you will provide specialist neonatal nursing advice to colleagues across the NMC, including senior leaders, our Executive Board and Council.

Your role and impact

You will contribute to the development, review, implementation and evaluation of regulatory standards, guidance, policy and other tools relating to nursing education, practice and public protection. You will help us understand developments in neonatal and perinatal care, assess their regulatory implications and identify where the NMC can make the most effective contribution.

You will work with nursing and midwifery colleagues to connect professional perspectives across the perinatal pathway. You will also build relationships with neonatal leaders, educators, employers, professional bodies, regulators and system partners throughout the four countries of the UK.

Listening to parents, families and service users will be an important part of ensuring that our work is informed, credible and focused on public protection.

The role will involve:

• Providing current, authoritative advice on neonatal nursing and perinatal care
• Contributing specialist expertise to corporate programmes and regulatory projects
• Helping to develop and review standards for education, practice, conduct and behaviour
• Supporting the implementation and evaluation of standards and guidance
• Monitoring research, national policy, safety concerns and developments in neonatal care
• Working with researchers and professional colleagues to strengthen our evidence base
• Supporting meaningful consultation and engagement with professionals, employers, educators, parents and families
• Developing relationships with government bodies, healthcare providers, education institutions, regulators and specialist networks across the UK
• Representing the NMC in professional discussions and external forums.

You must be a registered nurse with current NMC registration and substantial specialist knowledge and experience in neonatal and/or paediatric nursing.

You will bring:

• A master’s-level qualification or equivalent specialist knowledge and experience
• A strong understanding of neonatal, paediatric, children’s and young people’s health and care services
• An informed understanding of the current perinatal landscape and neonatal nursing’s contribution to safety and quality
• Experience gained in a complex health, care, education or regulatory organisation
• Evidence of contributing to policy, standards, guidance, education or practice improvement
• The credibility and confidence to work with senior professional and system leaders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• An inclusive, collaborative approach and the ability to work across professional boundaries
• Resilience, sound judgement and the ability to remain calm when navigating complex or contested issues.

Experience of neonatal education, workforce, safety or quality governance at regional or national level would be valuable. Knowledge of professional regulation and experience of engaging parents, families, carers, children or young people would also be welcome.

We recognise that candidates may have developed this expertise through different clinical, educational, leadership, policy or professional routes. We are interested in the depth and relevance of your experience, not simply your current job title.

You will help give neonatal nursing a stronger voice within professional…