Public Health Principal - Maternity

Milton Keynes City Council; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave with pay

Local Government Pension Scheme

Family friendly policies

Health benefits programme

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Blue Light Card

Job summary

Milton Keynes City Council's Public Health team is recruiting a Public Health Principal - Maternity to lead strategic development and delivery of maternity-focused public health interventions for mothers, babies and families.

This site-based, full-time fixed-term two-year post will work across the maternity system, including MK University Hospital, to design, implement and monitor pathways into commissioned services, with priorities such as reducing smoking in pregnancy and addressing obesity.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse, midwife or health visitor with a degree-level qualification and continuing professional development.
• Experience working within complex maternity and wider health systems, with understanding of commissioning, transformation and service improvement.
• Ability to develop, deliver and evaluate public health programmes improving outcomes for women, babies and families.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of pathways into commissioned public health services across the maternity system to reduce smoking in pregnancy and support for obesity.
• Build partnerships across the Milton Keynes maternity system to improve collaboration, data sharing and targeted support.
• Provide specialist public health advice to health and care partners shaping pathways and interventions.
• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of pathways into public health commissioned services with focus on smoking in pregnancy and obesity.
• Manage project budgets and ensure programmes are evidence-based, delivering measurable improvements.
• Champion public health priorities through evaluation, learning and system leadership.

Education

Degree in a relevant subject

Public health qualification (desirable)

Job description

Job Introduction

We're recruiting a Public Health Principal - Maternity to join our Public Health team and help improve outcomes for mothers, babies and families across Milton Keynes.

This is a specialist Public Health Principal (Maternity) role to lead on the strategic development and delivery of public health interventions that improve outcomes for mothers, babies and families from pre-conception through pregnancy and the neonatal period.

The post holder will work across the maternity system, including Milton Keynes University Hospital, to design, implement and monitor pathways into commissioned public health services.

Key priorities include reducing smoking in pregnancy, including exposure to second-hand smoke, and improving identification, referral and support for women with obesity through strong partnership working and system leadership.

This is a new post established to deliver recommended actions from the MK Child Death Annual Report 2024-25 and 2025-26 and strengthen outcomes for pregnant women and their babies.

Working as part of Milton Keynes City Council's Public Health service, you'll work closely with health, care and community partners to influence system-wide change, reduce health inequalities and ensure support reaches those who need it most.

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference by creating cleaner, safer and healthier communities, tackling social inequalities and working with partners to improve outcomes for local people.

This is a Full time - Fixed Term - Two Years Position

Site-Based role

This is a Site-Based role, and you'll be expected to work from the designated workplace.

Interviews for this role will be held on 14th October 2026 2026

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We're dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.

We take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile when it comes to investing in our colleagues.

Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk

Main Responsibility

• Lead the development and delivery of pathways into commissioned public health services, working with partners across the maternity system to reduce smoking in pregnancy, improve support for women living with obesity, strengthen partnerships and help give babies the best start in life.
• Build strong partnerships across the Milton Keynes maternity system to improve collaboration, communication and data sharing so support is targeted where it will have the greatest impact.
• Provide specialist public health advice to health and care partners, helping shape pathways, services and interventions that improve outcomes for pregnant women and their families.
• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of pathways into public health commissioned services, with a particular focus on reducing smoking in pregnancy and improving support for women with obesity.
• Manage project budgets and ensure programmes are evidence-based, represent value for money and deliver measurable improvements.
• Champion public health priorities by evaluating programmes, sharing learning and supporting colleagues and partners through education, advice and system leadership.

The Ideal Candidate

• A registered nurse, midwife or health visitor with a degree-level qualification in a relevant subject and evidence of continued professional development.
• Bringing significant experience of working within complex maternity and wider health systems, with a strong understanding of commissioning, transformation and service improvement.
• Confident in developing, delivering and evaluating public health programmes that improve outcomes for women, babies and families.
• Skilled at building partnerships and influencing a wide range of stakeholders across health, care and community organisations to achieve shared goals.
• Able to analyse complex information, interpret data and evidence, and use insight to inform decision-making, policy development and service design.
• Committed to reducing health inequalities and delivering services in line with Milton Keynes City Council's values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

Safer Recruitment

Safer Recruitment applies to this role. This means that, before any appointment is confirmed, we'll carry out a range of pre-employment checks to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults. These checks may include identity verification, where candidates will be required to provide original identification documents, including a full birth certificate, employment history and reference checks, qualification checks and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, (unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service). check where required.

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us?

Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Roles are either 'site based' or 'home based'.

Site based roles are mainly based at the workplace, with the option to work from home for up to two days a week, depending on service needs.

Home based roles are mainly based at home, with the expectation of attending the workplace up to one day a week.

The working arrangement for each role is set by the manager, based on service requirements.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We're very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it's time for a new role.

If you'd like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.