The Department of Health and Social Care has launched its recruitment campaign to replace Sir Chris Wormald, following his exit last month to become cabinet secretary.
The department is offering a salary of £170,000-£200,000 for its next permanent secretary.
Wormald was perm sec at DHSC for almost 10 years before his departure in mid-December. Professor Sir Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England and chief medical adviser to the UK government, is overseeing the management of DHSC while the department finds a successor.
The job advert for the position sets out the key role the perm sec will play in delivering two of the government’s missions: building an NHS fit for the future and driving economic growth.
It says the perm sec supports and advises ministers on the government’s ambitions and objectives for the health and social care system – and is “responsible for delivering the government’s health mission and playing a key role in supporting growth”.
In a foreword to the job pack for the role, Wormald said his successor will join “an outstanding team at DHSC, passionate about the work of the department and the contribution it makes to society”.
Wormald said the successful candidate will be an “outstanding leader” that shares this passion and that is able to secure the confidence of ministers and stakeholders.
They will have also have “a track record of delivering major productivity improvement and reform, working collaboratively across organisations to deliver cross-cutting government priorities, as well as exceptional strategic capability and judgement”.
DHSC is also looking for a “confident, inclusive and engaging leader, with a proven commitment to leading others through change” and “a role model of the civil service values of impartiality, honesty, integrity and objectivity,” the cab sec said.
Other essential attributes set out in the job pack include well-developed political judgement with the ability to speak truth to power and command credibility with senior politicians and key stakeholders; and the resilience to work under sustained pressure and scrutiny and lead through ambiguity.
Up-to-date knowledge of working in and leading across the UK health system is desirable.
The perm sec will be supported by Tom Riordan, who joined the department in September as its second perm sec to replace Shona Dunn, who left to become chief executive at St John Ambulance in June.
The closing date for applications to the role is 23:55pm on 10 February.