Activist Learning and Development Officer

Royal-College-of-Nursing; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave up to 32 days + bank hols

Hybrid working up to 60% from home

Flexible working

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

Royal College of Nursing is recruiting an Activist Learning and Development Officer to empower RCN reps across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You will deliver learning opportunities online and in person, enabling activists to lead from the workplace and support the RCN’s five-year strategy to move from servicing to organising.

The role involves supporting learning delivery across the four nations, with travel and overnight stays as required.

Qualifications

• Experience and commitment to learner development
• Understanding of how we empower others to participate in RCN activity in their workplace
• Knowledge of delivery styles and accessibility issues
• Experience of facilitating learning to a range of audiences
• Background in healthcare is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Deliver learning and development opportunities to RCN reps and activists online and in person.
• Support learning delivery across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as required.
• Travel and overnight stays will be required.

Job description

Main area Activist Learning and Development Officer Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Home or remote working

35 hours per week (35 hours per week - hybrid working)

Employer Royal College of Nursing Employer type Public (Non NHS) Town Birmingham Salary £46623 - £58089 per annum Closing 27/09/2026 23:59

Activist Learning and Development Officer

RCN East Midlands (Nottingham) or RCN West Midlands (Birmingham)

35 hours per week - hybrid working

At the Royal College of Nursing we’re an optimistic organisation. And we’ve got good reason to be. As the largest trade union of nursing staff and students in the UK – with over half a million members – we can see a brighter future ahead. Join us and you will too.

RCN Workplace Representatives are the lifeblood of our union and the voice of the nursing profession. They shape the health policies of the future by organising, lobbying and campaigning for positive change for the nursing profession, for patent care and for a better society.

Our people are our greatest asset, and we want people who can contribute to our purpose and share our values.

As our Activist Learning and Development Officer working across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland you will use your experience and enthusiasm to empower RCN reps to lead from the workplace, playing your part in delivering on the RCN’s 5 year strategy to move the organisation from a servicing model to an organising model of trade unionism.

As part of the Activist L&D team, the role holder will be required to deliver learning and development opportunities to RCN reps and activists through both online and in person leaning. You will occasionally be asked to support learning delivery across all 4 nations of the UK as required. Travel and overnight stays will be required.

You will need to be able to demonstrate your experience and commitment to learner development and an understanding of how we empower others to participate in RCN activity in their workplace.

Knowledge of delivery styles and accessibility issues is essential. Experience of facilitating learning to a range of audiences is highly desirable as we support the learning and development of all RCN members and activists from the newest of RCN Stewards to the most experienced committee members. Background in healthcare is also beneficial.

To succeed at the Royal College of Nursing all you need to do is think bigger, better and brighter. And with an attitude like that, anything’s possible.

What we offer you

We expect you to look after our members. And we expect you to be rewarded for it. We offer an impressive range of benefits, a broad range of learning development opportunities and an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. We offer annual leave up to 32 days plus bank holidays and three additional days for the Christmas break plus generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages.

We offer a competitive pay structure with annual pay progression until you reach the top of the salary scale. We normally offer new employees the first point of the salary range, although you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary depending on your skills, experience and current salary.

We are a diverse organisation and understand everyone has different needs and many of our employees enjoy flexible working enabling them to deliver results whilst having a good work life balance. Our hybrid working model allows for up to 60% of your working time to be carried out from home. At least 40% of your working time will be spent working in person.

Our selection process

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – candidates are expected to complete applications using their own knowledge, skills and experience, and that whilst AI may be used for basic support such as spelling, grammar and formatting, applications must accurately reflect the candidate's own work and genuine work experiences. Where AI has been used to generate, fabricate or substantially create application content, the application may be withdrawn from the recruitment process.

We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We will hold the interviews and assessments in person. If you have any additional requirements, please let us know.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 6 October 2026. You will be invited to prepare a presentation to the panel and will have 7 days to prepare. On the day, you will be assessed in an unseen activity prior to the presentation and interview.

Equal opportunities for everyone

Equity, diversity and inclusion are a priority for us and we aim to foster an inclusive environment so our people can bring their authentic selves to work. This is integral to our mission to enable you to support our members and ensure their voice is heard by all UK governments to get the best outcomes for them and their patients.

As proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Opening date: 28 August 2026

Closing date: 11.59pm on 27 September 2026

Assessment & interview date: 13 October 2026 at RCN HQ in London

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.