The role
Are you passionate about ensuring high standards of care in pharmacy services? Do you thrive in a dynamic regulatory environment where your technical knowledge can drive positive change? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as a Professional Regulation Lawyer (Advocacy) at the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
As an advocacy lawyer you will manage a caseload as well as preparing and presenting cases before the fitness to practise committee. You will gain some line management and matrix management skills in this role whilst supporting junior legal staff. You will be expected to lead as a technical expert in advocacy, supporting the Professionals Regulation Manager (Legal) and Senior Lawyer at a strategic level, playing a pivotal role in maintaining high standards of care for people using pharmacy services.
This role is subject to a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our pre-employment due diligence.
The successful applicant will:
- Effectively manage, prepare and present cases before the GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee including all pre- and post-hearing activities.
- Have experience of making proportionate evidence-based decisions under pressure, whilst being solutions focused, striving to ensure cases are completed in line with quality, timeliness, and cost objectives.
- Champion change and drive improvements in service delivery. Represent or deputise for the Professionals Regulation Manager (Legal) and Senior Lawyer for matters relating to case preparation and presentation.
- Possess excellent communication, negotiation, and analytical skills to present cases before our tribunals to the highest standard. Be a self-starter, able to make autonomous evidence-based decisions at pace and supervise and support junior legal staff to develop.
- Work collaboratively as part of professionals regulation (Fitness to Practise) to ensure the quality of investigations proceeding to hearing are sufficient that meet our statutory objectives to keep the public safe.
- Be passionate about our work to protect the public and committed to ensuring cases are resolved fairly at the earliest opportunity.
- Have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Benefits when joining our team
In return for their commitment and enthusiasm, employees can expect a rewarding and challenging work environment, good work-life balance and workload plus an excellent benefits package that includes:
- 30 days holiday (plus bank holidays) with the option to buy an additional 5 days.
- A choice between two pension providers: NHS pension scheme or Standard Life.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Career breaks and sabbaticals.
- Private medical insurance, life assurance, season ticket loan, bike loan and many more.
Follow this link to see the full guide of our excellent benefits
About the GPhC
We are a respected regulatory body that regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies in Great Britain. We work to assure and improve standards of care for people using pharmacy services.
Our organisation has a long-term vision and a desire for highly skilled and specialist staff. We are committed to providing workforce learning and development opportunities.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have adopted a hybrid working approach which combines office and home working. Staff are predominantly home-based and office attendance depends on the nature of the role and the requirements of the team.
We are proud of our diverse and inclusive culture and are committed to holding ourselves to the same standards we expect of others.
Follow this link to see our privacy policy and understand how we collect, use and share your personal data during our recruitment process.
Applying for this role
If you feel you have the required experience and skills and would like to join us, please apply using our online jobs application portal.
Please make sure you complete your supporting statement section, explaining how you meet each of the criteria for the role, and where you found out about this vacancy. Applications without a supporting statement will not be considered.
Please consult the knowledge and skills section of the job description document below to help you prepare your application: Professional Regulation Lawyer - role description
We welcome applications from all sections of the community
We are committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and being inclusive in all our work as a health professions regulator.
As part of your application for this role, please complete our equal opportunities and diversity monitoring section. This is optional and you don't have to complete it; however it provides us with useful information for monitoring and reporting purposes and is strictly confidential. The information you provide on this form will not form part of any selection process and will not be shared with the selection panel.