The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched recruitment campaigns for individuals to lead equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work at the organisation.
The regulator announced this week that it will hire a substantive executive director of people and culture, as well as two new heads of EDI.
“That is why our new colleagues will need to be values-driven and culturally competent experts”
Paul Rees
It comes as Nursing Times reported last week that the NMC had been hit with a wave of resignations within its executive board.
Five members of the board left between mid-2024 and January 2025, while a further two individuals who were filling posts temporarily also stepped down in the last month.
The NMC previously confirmed to Nursing Times that external recruitment for four substantive executive board level roles was underway, including recruitment for the executive director of people and culture.
The executive director of people and culture role was previously known as the executive director of people and organisational effectiveness.
This post has been held by Gavin Kennedy on an interim basis since January 2025.
The NMC said the new substantive post was a strategic leadership role that would help transform the regulator’s culture and deliver a “fit-for-purpose” organisation.
The successful candidate will help embed a “coaching culture” at the NMC and oversee a coaching programme for managers.
This will enable managers at the organisation to make values-based decisions, embed EDI, create psychological safety and ensure staff enjoy their work, the NMC said.
The new executive director of people and culture will also lead the NMC’s culture change team and work closely with Paul Rees, the newly appointed interim chief executive and registrar, to deliver a culture transformation plan.
The plan, due to be published in the coming weeks, is set to address the current challenges and opportunities facing the organisation.
Embedding EDI is one of the six pillars that will feature in the plan.
It follows a damning review published last year, which found the regulator to be a “hotbed of bullying, racism and toxic behaviour”.
Mr Rees said: “One of my priorities since I joined the NMC has been to formulate and roll out a culture transformation plan.
“The plan is due to be published later this month and the new executive director of people and culture will play a crucial leadership role in delivering this exciting programme of change.”
Applications to the position will be open until 20 March 2025.
Meanwhile, the regulator is also looking to recruit two new head of EDI roles.
Paul Rees
The first role, head of workforce EDI, will have an internal focus on NMC staff, while the other role, head of regulatory EDI, will centre on the regulatory function of the organisation to ensure processes are as fair, safe and equitable as possible while protecting the public.
Applications for these two roles are open until 23 March 2025.
Mr Rees said the two roles would “support the transformation of our culture, strengthen our leadership and improve our regulatory outcomes”.
He added: “As well as renewing our focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, the culture plan will promote effective leadership, values-based decision-making, psychological safety and enjoyment at work.
“That is why our new colleagues will need to be values-driven and culturally competent experts who can provide visible, inclusive and inspirational leadership at the NMC.”
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