Chief of Staff (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds & London)

We are hiring a Chief of Staff to work in close partnership with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, translating strategic priorities into clear and effective operational delivery across Genomics England.  

The role provides oversight of the systems, processes, and cross organisational ways of working that support efficient day to day operations. Working collaboratively with senior leaders, the Chief of Staff helps align teams, coordinate organisational workflows, and ensure governance, reporting, and operational requirements are consistently met.  

In this role the Chief of Staff builds strong partnerships with external stakeholders across DHSC and the NHS to support organisational performance, planning cycles, and business operations. Through thoughtful coordination, operational discipline, and proactive problem solving, the Chief of Staff helps enable Genomics England to deliver its mission effectively. 

Everyday responsibilities include: 

• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and deliver organisational priorities, maintaining a clear overview of strategic objectives, business as usual activity, and priority projects, and deputising where appropriate. 
• Act as a trusted adviser to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board, providing thoughtful challenge, sound judgement, and well considered advice. 
• Support the CEO in navigating political, organisational, and systemwide considerations, ensuring they are well briefed on key developments, risks, and opportunities. 
• Lead and deliver CEO commissioned projects, bringing structure, pace, and clarity to complex or ambiguous work. 
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Strategy and Portfolio Management Office to shape company level strategy, long term roadmaps, and assurance of delivery. 
• Ensure robust governance, reporting, and risk management arrangements are in place and embedded across the organisation to support effective delivery. 
• Oversee agendas, papers, and submissions for key internal and external meetings, including chairing meetings or leading groups on behalf of the CEO when required. 
• Build and sustain strong, trusted relationships across government, DHSC, the NHS, and the wider ecosystem to support delivery of Genomics England’s mission. 
• Lead, support, and develop an inclusive, high performing team, ensuring the right skills, capacity, and ways of working are in place. 
• Model Genomics England’s behaviours in all aspects of the role, fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. 

Skills and experience for success: 

• Extensive experience operating within UK government or the wider public sector, with well established relationships across relevant organisations and the credibility to manage sensitive external engagement with discretion. 
• Strong organisational capability, with the ability to manage a complex, fastmoving agenda across multiple workstreams while bringing structure, clarity, and focus to the CEO’s office. 
• Proven ability to prioritise effectively, balancing pace with rigour to ensure high quality outcomes in a dynamic and often ambiguous environment. 
• Strong people leadership skills, including experience leading, developing, and supporting a small, high performing team in an inclusive and empowering way. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the confidence to build trust and resolve issues constructively across senior stakeholders, both internally and externally. 
• A natural integrator, able to hold strategy, delivery, and communications in view simultaneously and translate priorities into coherent plans and messaging. 
• High levels of political and organisational awareness, with sound judgement and the ability to anticipate risks and emerging issues. 
• Trusted and credible when acting on behalf of the CEO in sensitive or complex situations, demonstrating calm, discretion, and good judgement. 

Desirable skills: 

• Excellent understanding of governance and accountability frameworks relevant to government companies and ALBs, including Managing Public Money and the expectations of sponsors, shareholders, and auditors.  
• Experience supporting organisational change, with insight into the leadership demands this places on a CEO and the ability to respond with flexibility and sound judgement.  
• Exposure to life sciences, health data, digital health, or research infrastructure policy, enabling confident engagement with Genomics England’s operating environment.  
• Experience of drafting and quality assuring a wide range of outputs, from board papers and ministerial submissions to internal and external communications.  
• Comfort working at the interface of public and private sector cultures, including experience with commercial partnerships, procurement governance, or income generating activity within a public interest context.