NHS England

National Maternity Improvement Advisor - Obstetrics

The closing date is 07 July 2025

Job summary

Please note - This part time post is offered on a secondment basis to 31 October 2026.

We are seeking an Obstetrician for the role of National Maternity Improvement Advisor (NMIA). As an NMIA you will work in partnership with Trusts on the National Maternity Safety Support Programme who require additional support to improve their maternity services.

In line with national guidance, you will work with Perinatal teams to support the development needed to enable them to deliver sustainable outcomes and improvements to:

o Governance;o Staff engagement;o Increased responsiveness to women's voices;o Leadership;o Quality and safety systems and processes;o Workforce;o Trust Board Oversight and Support;o Estate.

This is an advisory, supportive and facilitative role, working closely with the senior and executive leadership teams of both the maternity service and the trust, but without cutting across the jurisdiction or responsibilities of their Boards.

This post is ideal for Obstetricians seeking to gain exposure to the national programme at a senior level, with further personal development of their clinical and management leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

MAIN DUTIES

Ensure that every maternity service being supported has a well formulated, appropriate, and meaningful maternity safety and quality improvement plan developed and understood by all stakeholders.

Ensure delivery of national maternity agendas, initiatives, and recommendations.

Support a positive safety culture within the organisations through inclusive leadership and role modelling adaptive and compassionate leadership.

Ensure appropriate oversight at all levels (Within the Trust, ICB and Region) and that systems/processes are in place to enable implementation of plans.

Support and advise on key risks/issues associated with ensuring appropriate actions are taken to mitigate/respond to those risks.

Support and advise on monitoring/establishing accountability on the overall progress of the plan to ensure completion within agreed timescales.

Advise and guide to ensure efficiency/effectiveness in delivery of the plan and overarching improvements and activity, utilising proven quality improvement methods and tools.

Ensure there is no destabilisation of business as usual. Identify areas of good practice that can be replicated and shared across the organisation and systems both regionally and nationally.

Support and actively promote relationships with key stakeholders served by the maternity services.
Be an active member of the Chief Midwifery Officer team, participating in key tasks as required.

About us

The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:

Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
Delivering value for money.

If you would like to know more or require further information, please visithttps://www.england.nhs.uk/.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.

If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.

Date posted

23 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£105,385 to £121,271 a year pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Duration

16 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

990-NUR-15264-E

Job locations

Any NHSE Office

Nationally

SE1 8UG

Job description

Job responsibilities

You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Member or Fellow of the Royal College Obstetrics and Gynaecology
CCT in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (or equivalent)
Educated to Masters or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Experience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2 or Managing Successful Projects
Proven board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment.
Experience and/or understanding of UK health economy.
Experience of successfully operating in and delivering priorities in a partnership environment.
Significant management experience at senior Obstetrics/ Gynaecology level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industry.
Demonstrated expertise in a healthcare environment.

Skills, Capabilities & Attributes

Essential

Significant experience of business & operational management, Health policy & current reforms, NHS financial frameworks, risk management & governance.
Highly developed communication skills.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Member or Fellow of the Royal College Obstetrics and Gynaecology
CCT in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (or equivalent)
Educated to Masters or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Experience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2 or Managing Successful Projects
Proven board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment.
Experience and/or understanding of UK health economy.
Experience of successfully operating in and delivering priorities in a partnership environment.
Significant management experience at senior Obstetrics/ Gynaecology level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industry.
Demonstrated expertise in a healthcare environment.

Skills, Capabilities & Attributes

Essential

Significant experience of business & operational management, Health policy & current reforms, NHS financial frameworks, risk management & governance.
Highly developed communication skills.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Any NHSE Office

Nationally

SE1 8UG

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Any NHSE Office

Nationally

SE1 8UG

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)