Senior Companies Policy Sponsor

Job description

About the job

Job summary

The Companies Sponsorship Team operates across DHSC's London and Leeds offices and is responsible for overseeing the department's portfolio of government-owned companies. The team provides strategic, financial and governance oversight, ensuring these organisations are well governed, financially sustainable, deliver value for money, and align with departmental priorities.

This role works autonomously within a supportive and collaborative team environment, providing commercial and financial leadership across a varied portfolio of sponsorship, governance and corporate projects. There is scope to tailor aspects of the role to reflect the skills, interests and experience of the successful candidate.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Companies Sponsorship Team, contributing to the department's oversight of government-owned companies and supporting the delivery of complex transformation programmes. The role offers exposure to senior stakeholders across government and the opportunity to influence key decisions that support the effective management and performance of organisations delivering key public objectives.

In the Department of Health and Social Care, we are proud of our purpose - to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

You will lead the development and implementation of sponsorship and governance policy across the department's portfolio of government-owned companies and retained estate interests. Acting as a senior policy adviser, you will provide expert interpretation of complex cross-government requirements, including Managing Public Money, Cabinet Office controls, HM Treasury guidance and the DHSC Companies Governance Framework, translating policy into practical governance and oversight arrangements.

Working closely with ministers, senior officials, company Chairs, Boards and cross-government partners, you will provide authoritative advice on company sponsorship, governance, accountability, corporate transactions and organisational change. You will lead on the design and application of governance frameworks, ensuring that government-owned companies operate effectively, deliver value for money, and remain aligned with departmental and wider government objectives.

This is a high-profile role requiring strong policy leadership, sound judgement and the ability to influence at senior levels. The successful candidate will combine a deep understanding of government governance frameworks with the practical experience to apply them to complex and often novel circumstances, providing clear, trusted advice on issues with significant ministerial, financial and reputational implications.

Person specification

Companies Policy and Sponsorship

• Lead and advise on companies sponsorship policy, including interpretation and application of the DHSC Companies Governance Framework, Cabinet Office controls, and cross‑government requirements
• Act as a senior policy sponsor for designated companies and corporate interests, ensuring appropriate governance, accountability, and performance oversight
• Provide authoritative advice on creation, change of form, strategic ventures and dissolutions, including business cases and ministerial submissions

Retained Estate Policy and Oversight

• Provide senior ownership and policy advice on the Secretary of State retained estate, including leasehold and freehold interests, overage and clawback provisions, ransom strips, and legal charges
• Oversee and assure the retained estate disposal programme, ensuring compliance with statutory duties, value for money, and appropriate governance.
• Commission and manage specialist professional advice (legal, property, commercial) where required, and assure delivery against agreed objectives.

Risk, Governance and Assurance

• Lead on identification and management of strategic, financial and reputational risks across the companies and retained estate portfolio
• Provide senior input to audit, assurance, Freedom of Information requests, Parliamentary business, National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee engagement and responses linked to companies' policy and legacy programmes
• Ensure robust record‑keeping information assurance and compliance with departmental and cross‑government standards

Stakeholder and Cross‑Government Leadership

• Build and maintain effective senior relationships with HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, UK Government Investments, legal advisers, arm's length bodies and wider health family partners
• Represent the department in senior forums, boards, and cross‑government groups where companies policy or retained estate interests are considered
• Provide clear, trusted advice to ministers, senior officials and private offices on complex and sensitive issues

Leadership and Capability

• Provide strong leadership within the Companies Sponsorship function, modelling inclusive leadership and professional excellence
• Develop capability across policy, sponsorship and commercial disciplines within the team
• Line‑manage senior staff and contribute to wider directorate leadership and workforce planning

Key skills and experience required for the role

Essential:

• Significant experience operating at a senior level in a policy, sponsorship governance or related strategic role
• Demonstrable experience applying corporate governance, public‑sector company sponsorship and statutory accountability frameworks to support oversight and decision‑making
• Proven ability to provide strategic advice on complex organisational, governance or sponsorship issues, translating high-level policy into practical solutions and influencing senior decision-making
• Experience supporting Boards, senior committees or organisational change programmes, with a strong understanding of sponsorship, governance and shareholder oversight arrangements
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills, with a track record of building trusted relationships and working effectively with senior leaders

Desirable:

• A relevant professional qualification in governance, company secretariat, public policy, law, risk management, finance or a related discipline (for example CGIUKI, CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, PRINCE2, MSP or equivalent)
• Experience advising on the creation, restructuring, governance reform or closure of public bodies, government-owned companies or corporate entities
• Understanding of the health, care, life sciences or wider public services landscape and the governance challenges associated with government-owned companies

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,730, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £20,490 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Applications will be sifted week commencing: 21/09/2026

Interview date: week commencing: 28/09/2026

Interview location: By video

Further details and interview slots will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

An initial sift based on the personal statement may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the 'key skills and experience required for the role' section of the advert. Please also include a list of your relevant qualifications, including any you are working towards.

Please use your personal statement to (in no more than 1250 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

At interview candidates will be assessed on following Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service careers website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-department-of-health-social-care/ and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service careers website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available.

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Candidates must ensure that all information provided in their application is factually accurate. Any examples provided must be taken from personal experience. The Civil Service abides by honesty and integrity as part of its core values, if evidence of plagiarism is found, applications may be withdrawn.

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC's Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC's modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King's birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months' full pay and five months' half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC's modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on promotion

If DHSC's modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC's pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC's modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

Further Information

Any move to DHSC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the 'Assistance required' section in the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Sylwia Kuteszko-Tranmer
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the DHSC Central Recruitment Team at [email protected]
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact/