Executive Director for RCN Wales

ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 137,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization is seeking an Executive Director for RCN Wales to deliver strategic leadership, influence national policy, and ensure high standards of service across Wales. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in health and social care, proven ability in strategic planning, and a current NMC registration. This role involves regular travel and offers flexible working arrangements, competitive pay, and excellent benefits.

Benefits

Annual leave up to 32 days

Health and wellbeing programme

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• Current NMC registration required.
• Significant senior-level experience in health and social care.
• Strong media presence and excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver strategic leadership for RCN Wales.
• Influence national policy and ensure high standards of services.
• Represent RCN at senior levels across government and health sectors.

Skills

Leadership in strategic planning

Change management

Team development

Stakeholder engagement skills

Political acumen

Education

Higher degree or equivalent

Job description

Executive Director for RCN Wales

Contract type: Permanent, 35 hours per week (flexible working required)

Salary range: £137,196 – £150,756 per annum

Location: RCN Wales HQ, Ty Maeth, Cardiff, with regular travel to London and occasionally across the UK

Ref: RCN02768

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for nursing, health and social care? Do you thrive in strategic roles that shape policy, drive transformation, and amplify the voice of nursing professionals? If so, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

The Royal College of Nursing is seeking an exceptional individual to lead RCN Wales as Executive Director. As a key member of the UK Executive Team, you’ll be responsible for delivering strategic leadership, influencing national policy, and ensuring the highest standards of professional and trade union services across Wales.

In this varied role every day will be filled with possibilities. As well as leading the strategic direction of RCN Wales in alignment with UK-wide priorities, you will act as Board Secretary for Wales, supporting governance and member engagement and representing the RCN at senior levels across government, media, and health sectors.

You will be responsible for driving transformation, innovation, and business agility across the directorate as well as championing professional nursing excellence and influencing health and social care policy and leading campaigns and negotiations on behalf of RCN members in Wales.

You’ll need a current NMC registration and a higher degree or equivalent with significant senior‑level experience in health and social care. You will need proven leadership in strategic planning, change management, and team development as well as a strong media presence and political acumen. An excellent communicator you will need a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills.

The ability to foster strong professional relationships and encourage close collaboration between departments is at the heart of this leadership role.

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.

Ready to lead the future of nursing in Wales?

Apply now and help shape the profession, support our members, and drive excellence in care.

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 selection process

Please click the ‘apply now’ button to submit a CV and answer the supporting questions online demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this role. You may not be shortlisted if you don’t. Please ensure your CV is in a simple format with minimal tables and sections. Any identifying information in your application will automatically be anonymised for shortlisting purposes.

Closing date: Midday 12.00 noon, 02 December 2025.

Selection dates: 19 December 2025 in person at RCN UK HQ in London.

If we receive many applications after a week of advertising, we may close this vacancy earlier.

We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We may hold our interviews and assessments in person or by video call. If you foresee any problems, please let us know.

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.

Contact details

For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact Danielle Boyle Executive Assistant at [e-mail].

For more information about the recruitment and selection process please contact [e-mail].