Director General, Defence Medical Services

Ministry of Defence

Whittington Barracks, Whittington, Lichfield WS14 9PY, UK

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 4 weeks

Healthcare

Flexible

£235,000 per year

Job summary

A nationally critical leadership role at the intersection of Defence, healthcare and government.

The Defence Medical Services (DMS) is the statutory healthcare provider to the UK Armed Forces, delivering occupationally focused medical care across the UK, overseas strategic bases and on deployed operations. Its mission is clear: to save lives, maintain operational readiness, and support service personnel from point of wounding through to recovery and return to duty.

Following the Strategic Defence Review 2025, DMS is entering a decisive period of reform. We are now seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Director General, Defence Medical Services (DG DMS) – a senior executive appointment equivalent to a private-sector Executive Committee role.

Job description

The DG DMS is the functional head of the Defence Medical Enterprise. Reporting to the Commander of Cyber & Specialist Operations Command, and accountable to the Permanent Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Staff, you will lead delivery of a single, integrated military medical system.

You will be responsible for a workforce of over 12,000 personnel, including more than 5,400 specialist clinicians, and an annual operating budget of approximately £620m. You will operate at the highest levels of government, advising Ministers, senior military leaders and Defence boards.

Key responsibilities

Lead implementation of the Strategic Defence Review 2025 vision for Defence Medical Services.
Ensure the safe, effective and ethical delivery of healthcare worldwide for Defence personnel.
Provide authoritative advice to Ministers and senior leaders.
Drive major reform.
Provide strong executive leadership on performance, productivity and value for money.
Represent Defence Medical Services nationally and internationally.

Person specification

We are open to candidates from clinical or non-clinical backgrounds, and from Defence, healthcare, the wider public sector or equivalent complex organisations. You will bring: Senior executive leadership experience with a strong record of delivery and reform at scale; Credible understanding of healthcare systems, governance and workforce issues; Proven ability to lead across organisational boundaries and build effective partnerships; Experience delivering large-scale transformation aligned to strategic priorities; The credibility and judgement to influence Ministers, senior military leaders and clinicians; and Prior experience within Defence or military medicine is advantageous but not essential.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally critical capability at a pivotal moment – shaping a modern Defence Medical Enterprise that underpins the UK’s operational readiness, resilience in crisis, and contribution to a stronger national health system.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £235,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £68,079 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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

Please see the Position Specification attached below for more detail.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Russell Reynolds Associates
Email : responses@russellreynolds.com

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Salary range

£235,000 per year