Job summary
BPAS is the UKs leading specialist provider of abortion care, contraception, and reproductive health services. For over 55 years, we have been proud to advocate for womens rights, expand access to high-quality care, and support people to make the choices that are right for them. Today, our work is as vital as ever.
As Chief Medical Officer, you will play a central role in shaping the future of BPAS's medical services. You will provide strategic leadership to our medical teams, ensuring we continue to deliver safe, compassionate, evidence-based care to every person who accesses our services. You will also be an ambassador for BPAS in national conversations about reproductive healthcare, helping to influence policy and practice at a critical moment in our sector.
This is a unique opportunity to combine medical expertise with visionary leadership in an organisation that is unapologetically pro-choice and committed to advancing reproductive freedom. You will join a passionate, talented team of Chief Officers, united by a shared belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality reproductive healthcare, without judgment or barriers.
If you share our values and are excited by the opportunity to shape the future of reproductive healthcare in the UK, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please see the further information section below for details on how to apply.
Main duties of the job
Lead the vision and strategic direction for BPASs medical workforce, ensuring excellence in clinical standards, patient safety and quality of care.
Co-develop and deliver BPASs clinical strategy with executive colleagues, fostering an integrated, evidence-based approach to abortion and reproductive healthcare.
Act as the organisations Responsible Officer, ensuring professional standards, revalidation, and effective appraisal processes for medical staff.
Provide expert advice to the Board and senior leaders on clinical governance, risk, patient safety, and compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements.
Champion innovation, research and continuous improvement in medical practice, promoting compassionate, person-centred care.
Represent BPAS nationally and internationally, building constructive relationships with regulators, Royal Colleges, academic partners and other stakeholders.
Lead the development of sustainable workforce plans, ensuring BPAS attracts, develops and retains a high-quality, motivated medical workforce.
Contribute to corporate leadership and financial stewardship, supporting the organisations strategic, operational and business planning objectives.
About us
British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is the UK's largest independent women's reproductive healthcare charity. We work mainly on behalf of the NHS across the country providing abortion, contraception, STI testing & treatment. We specialise in evidence-based, not-for-profit care reproductive healthcare.
Working with us:
Alongside a supportive and friendly working environment, BPAS has generous benefits:
- Life assurance cover at 3 times salary
- 34 days annual leave per year
- A defined contribution pension scheme.
- You will have access to our employee benefits programme through BHSF which includes special health & wellbeing services & lifestyle offers for you & your family. This includes various salary sacrifice schemes, counselling services & free private GP appointments.
BPAS is committed to safeguarding & promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children & young people through a safer recruitment framework. This includes a thorough selection process & a number of pre-employment checks.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further Information
Indicative Timetable:
We are pleased to announce, Prospectus are working with us on this role. Please apply directly through their website -
https://www.prospect-us-site.co.uk/bpas
Closing date for applications: 23rd October 2025
Preliminary Interviews (with Prospectus): WC 3rd November 2025
Interviews (with BPAS): WC 17th and 24th November 2025
Please note: applications should not be submitted directly through NHS and you should follow the process outlined above.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further Information
Indicative Timetable:
We are pleased to announce, Prospectus are working with us on this role. Please apply directly through their website -
https://www.prospect-us-site.co.uk/bpas
Closing date for applications: 23rd October 2025
Preliminary Interviews (with Prospectus): WC 3rd November 2025
Interviews (with BPAS): WC 17th and 24th November 2025
Please note: applications should not be submitted directly through NHS and you should follow the process outlined above.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration and evidence of revalidation.
- Completion of Responsible Officer training (or willingness to complete on appointment).
- Formal management/leadership training or significant experience gained within a healthcare setting at a senior level.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- In-depth understanding of abortion law, ethical frameworks, and best practice guidelines.
- Understanding of statutory duties under the Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations.
- Strong awareness of NHS structure, clinical governance, and independent healthcare requirements.
- Insight into current and emerging reproductive health policy and evidence-based care.
- Understanding of health inequalities and strategies to address barriers to access. (Desirable)
- Highly effective communication skills must be able to articulate complex issues to a wide range of recipients, both written and verbally.
- Capable of analysing complex information, balancing clinical and organisational priorities.
- Excellent presentation skills with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences.
- Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with the ability to engage, build and sustain relationships both within BPAS and within external organisations.
- Exhibits a drive, energy and enthusiasm and resilience to drive through and achieve end results and improvements.
- Able to demonstrate sound financial management skills and understand business centred approach to healthcare provision.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills to meet competing priorities.
- Able to take 'tough' decisions and calculated risks and see required action through.
- Demonstrates strong commitment to action to achieve equality and diversity in the workforce and for the community.
- Ability to share vision and engender ownership in others.
General
Essential
- Able to travel to other sites, and work additional hours as necessary
- Able to participate in the on call rota outside of core working hours
- Participation in the on call rota at weekends and evenings
- Commitment to a womans right to choose abortion
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of setting clear objectives with teams, encouraging personal development and addressing performance management issues.
- Proven experience of operating at a board level within a comparable organisation.
- Proven experience of leading a team of senior clinicians, including surgeons and anaesthetists, and ensuring effective communication from floor to board.
- Proven experience and ability in managing operational performance with tight financial constraints demonstrating effective budget management.
- Extensive clinical experience in womens sexual and reproductive health, including abortion care and contraception provision Knowledge & Skills.
- Experience of capacity planning and translating organisation strategy and vision into operational objectives.
- Evidence of successfully leading significant organisational change in developing new models of healthcare delivery.
- Demonstrate experience of building, maintaining, and utilising successful relationships with all staff especially clinicians within complex organisations.
- Experience of delivering abortion care, or other relevant reproductive health service.
Values & Behaviours
Essential
- Possesses a genuine passion for the organisation's charitable aims, mission, vision and values.
- Able to lead with compassion and empathy whilst remaining clear on expectations and deliverables.
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality.
- Remains clam under pressure.
- Possesses drive, enthusiasm and energy.
- Builds professional and personal credibility to gain support.
- Confidence in ability to deliver.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration and evidence of revalidation.
- Completion of Responsible Officer training (or willingness to complete on appointment).
- Formal management/leadership training or significant experience gained within a healthcare setting at a senior level.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- In-depth understanding of abortion law, ethical frameworks, and best practice guidelines.
- Understanding of statutory duties under the Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations.
- Strong awareness of NHS structure, clinical governance, and independent healthcare requirements.
- Insight into current and emerging reproductive health policy and evidence-based care.
- Understanding of health inequalities and strategies to address barriers to access. (Desirable)
- Highly effective communication skills must be able to articulate complex issues to a wide range of recipients, both written and verbally.
- Capable of analysing complex information, balancing clinical and organisational priorities.
- Excellent presentation skills with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences.
- Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with the ability to engage, build and sustain relationships both within BPAS and within external organisations.
- Exhibits a drive, energy and enthusiasm and resilience to drive through and achieve end results and improvements.
- Able to demonstrate sound financial management skills and understand business centred approach to healthcare provision.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills to meet competing priorities.
- Able to take 'tough' decisions and calculated risks and see required action through.
- Demonstrates strong commitment to action to achieve equality and diversity in the workforce and for the community.
- Ability to share vision and engender ownership in others.
General
Essential
- Able to travel to other sites, and work additional hours as necessary
- Able to participate in the on call rota outside of core working hours
- Participation in the on call rota at weekends and evenings
- Commitment to a womans right to choose abortion
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of setting clear objectives with teams, encouraging personal development and addressing performance management issues.
- Proven experience of operating at a board level within a comparable organisation.
- Proven experience of leading a team of senior clinicians, including surgeons and anaesthetists, and ensuring effective communication from floor to board.
- Proven experience and ability in managing operational performance with tight financial constraints demonstrating effective budget management.
- Extensive clinical experience in womens sexual and reproductive health, including abortion care and contraception provision Knowledge & Skills.
- Experience of capacity planning and translating organisation strategy and vision into operational objectives.
- Evidence of successfully leading significant organisational change in developing new models of healthcare delivery.
- Demonstrate experience of building, maintaining, and utilising successful relationships with all staff especially clinicians within complex organisations.
- Experience of delivering abortion care, or other relevant reproductive health service.
Values & Behaviours
Essential
- Possesses a genuine passion for the organisation's charitable aims, mission, vision and values.
- Able to lead with compassion and empathy whilst remaining clear on expectations and deliverables.
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality.
- Remains clam under pressure.
- Possesses drive, enthusiasm and energy.
- Builds professional and personal credibility to gain support.
- Confidence in ability to deliver.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
