Job Description
Working across all four countries of the UK, our vision is to be an effective, relevant and compassionate regulator, who supports the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care. As health services in the UK continue to face intense pressure, regulation has a pivotal role to play in protecting patients and promoting the wellbeing of the workforce. We have set ambitious commitments to address inequality, embrace diversity, and support inclusion within healthcare, both as a regulator and an employer. Championing this work is a key focus for our Medical Director and Director, Education and Standards and you will play a vital part in shaping our organisation and our impact on healthcare in the years ahead.
This is a significant senior leadership position, coming at an exciting and challenging time of change for us. Our Education and Standards Directorate is central to our work, influencing the future of medical education in the UK and delivering a challenging programme of regulatory work. With responsibility for a Directorate of around 140 staff based in Manchester and London, you will provide critical leadership and strategic direction to the Education and Standards Directorate. Key areas of focus will include education reforms and driving improvement in the quality of medical education and training from entry to medical school, through all stages of postgraduate medical education and continuing professional development and leading the Directorate’s regulatory duties for physician associates and anaesthesia associates when regulation starts at the end of 2026. You will have an important and prominent ambassadorial role for the GMC, representing the organisation’s work with senior stakeholders and on public platforms. As a member of the GMC’s Executive team, you will have an important corporate leadership role and will make a direct contribution to our strategic and operational objectives, ensuring that the GMC meets its extensive statutory and policy responsibilities.
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will provide high quality professional advice to the Chief Executive, Chair, council members, directors and staff as the GMC’s Medical Director and Responsible Officer.
To be eligible for this role the post holder will have been on the UK medical register continuously for the last five years (to meet the role’s Responsible Officer requirements). You will ideally bring a substantial track record in medical education and training and a portfolio of evidence of successful implementation of wider health policy, in particular in the areas of clinical governance, professional development and patient safety.
An exceptional strategic thinker, with strong and inclusive leadership skills, you will bring significant experience of developing and leading large, high-performing teams, together with the ability to shape policy and strategy and make a major corporate contribution to a national regulator. You will demonstrate outstanding interpersonal and influencing skills, be politically astute, with excellent relationship-building and communication skills and the clear ability to be a credible ambassador for the GMC.
Our organisation is built on fairness and trust – the trust of patients and the medical profession. Underpinned by our core values of Excellence, Fairness, Transparency, Collaboration and Integrity, we provide an inclusive working environment where everyone is valued and we welcome new perspectives and ideas that you may bring. We have placed equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our corporate strategy, both as a regulator of an increasingly diverse registrants and as an organisation.
We particularly encourage and welcome applications to this role from women, black and minority ethnic people and disabled applicants as part of our commitment to address under-representation in our senior leadership.
You will benefit from being part of an organisation that is genuinely committed to its people with several excellent benefits including 30 days holidays per year, a defined contribution pension scheme with a generous employer contribution of 15%, and hybrid and flexible working.
For a confidential conversation please call our advising consultants at GatenbySanderson, Duncan Ewart or Katrina Paget on 0747XXXXXX.
To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of
How To Apply
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application by no later than 5pm, Friday 4 October 2026.
Please Submit The Following
• Some basic, personal information, when prompted;
• A CV (max 3 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps.
• A Supporting Statement (max 2 pages) detailing how you can address the Essential criteria in the person specification, providing evidence of your suitability for the role.
As part of the online application process, you will be asked to complete an online form which will ask you a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'.
If you are unable to apply online, or have any issues with the online application process, please contact
Once you have applied, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment. If, once you have checked your spam, you have not received this, please contact
Directorate
Education and Standards
Location
London or Manchester
Level
1
Salary
Excellent package
Contract
Permanent
Closing date
Friday 4th October 2026 at 5pm
Assessment date
Preliminary Interviews w/c Monday 21st and w/c 28th October 2026 Assessments w/c Monday 11th November 2026 Final Panel Interview Tuesday 3th December 2026
Job reference
GMC430+
This is a significant senior leadership position, coming at an exciting and challenging time of change for us. Our Education and Standards Directorate is central to our work, influencing the future of medical education in the UK and delivering a challenging programme of regulatory work. With responsibility for a Directorate of around 140 staff based in Manchester and London, you will provide critical leadership and strategic direction to the Education and Standards Directorate. Key areas of focus will include education reforms and driving improvement in the quality of medical education and training from entry to medical school, through all stages of postgraduate medical education and continuing professional development and leading the Directorate’s regulatory duties for physician associates and anaesthesia associates when regulation starts at the end of 2026. You will have an important and prominent ambassadorial role for the GMC, representing the organisation’s work with senior stakeholders and on public platforms. As a member of the GMC’s Executive team, you will have an important corporate leadership role and will make a direct contribution to our strategic and operational objectives, ensuring that the GMC meets its extensive statutory and policy responsibilities.
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will provide high quality professional advice to the Chief Executive, Chair, council members, directors and staff as the GMC’s Medical Director and Responsible Officer.
To be eligible for this role the post holder will have been on the UK medical register continuously for the last five years (to meet the role’s Responsible Officer requirements). You will ideally bring a substantial track record in medical education and training and a portfolio of evidence of successful implementation of wider health policy, in particular in the areas of clinical governance, professional development and patient safety.
An exceptional strategic thinker, with strong and inclusive leadership skills, you will bring significant experience of developing and leading large, high-performing teams, together with the ability to shape policy and strategy and make a major corporate contribution to a national regulator. You will demonstrate outstanding interpersonal and influencing skills, be politically astute, with excellent relationship-building and communication skills and the clear ability to be a credible ambassador for the GMC.
Our organisation is built on fairness and trust – the trust of patients and the medical profession. Underpinned by our core values of Excellence, Fairness, Transparency, Collaboration and Integrity, we provide an inclusive working environment where everyone is valued and we welcome new perspectives and ideas that you may bring. We have placed equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our corporate strategy, both as a regulator of an increasingly diverse registrants and as an organisation.
We particularly encourage and welcome applications to this role from women, black and minority ethnic people and disabled applicants as part of our commitment to address under-representation in our senior leadership.
You will benefit from being part of an organisation that is genuinely committed to its people with several excellent benefits including 30 days holidays per year, a defined contribution pension scheme with a generous employer contribution of 15%, and hybrid and flexible working.
For a confidential conversation please call our advising consultants at GatenbySanderson, Duncan Ewart or Katrina Paget on 0747XXXXXX.
To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of
How To Apply
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application by no later than 5pm, Friday 4 October 2026.
Please Submit The Following
• Some basic, personal information, when prompted;
• A CV (max 3 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps.
• A Supporting Statement (max 2 pages) detailing how you can address the Essential criteria in the person specification, providing evidence of your suitability for the role.
As part of the online application process, you will be asked to complete an online form which will ask you a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'.
If you are unable to apply online, or have any issues with the online application process, please contact
Once you have applied, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment. If, once you have checked your spam, you have not received this, please contact
Directorate
Education and Standards
Location
London or Manchester
Level
1
Salary
Excellent package
Contract
Permanent
Closing date
Friday 4th October 2026 at 5pm
Assessment date
Preliminary Interviews w/c Monday 21st and w/c 28th October 2026 Assessments w/c Monday 11th November 2026 Final Panel Interview Tuesday 3th December 2026
Job reference
GMC430+
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Medical Director| Director of Education Standards position is now open for candidates interested in the Health Jobs sector. This role in City of London offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Health Jobs is a plus.
