Head of Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)

Torfaen County Borough Council; Pontypool; On-site; GBP 69,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Torfaen County Borough Council in Pontypool is seeking a Head of Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) to lead a multi-disciplinary, NIHR-funded partnership across Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent. You will recruit and develop a skilled team, embed an evidence-led culture in prevention, and ensure sustainable operating models, governance, and engagement with senior colleagues and partners.

The role requires a senior mixed background in research, public policy, and health inequalities, with

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong track record in programme management and evaluation.
• Experience at intersection of research and policy.
• Knowledge of Marmot principles and health inequalities.

Responsibilities

• Lead HDRC across Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent councils and partners.
• Coordinate recruitment and development of HDRC team members.
• Ensure sustainable operating model, governance and senior stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Programme management

Performance evaluation

Public health policy

Research leadership

Partnership working

Job description

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location_on Location Civic Centre, Pontypool

work_outline Basis Full Time

Job profile for Head of Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)

location_on Civic Centre, Pontypool 02/12/2026

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary £69,151 - £73,937 | CO Grade 13 Contractual hours 37 Basis Full Time Package Permanent Job category/type Adults and Communities Date posted 03/11/2026 Job reference REQ006670 Attachments attachment REQ006670 Head of Health Determinants Research Collaboration.pdf

Job description

Across Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent in South Wales, our councils are doing something genuinely different. As Wales’s first and only federated councils, we’re pioneering a new leadership model that brings two sovereign unitary authorities together around shared ambition, aligned leadership and collective impact. Both councils have also adopted the Marmot principles, embedding a clear commitment to tackling inequality, improving wellbeing and focusing on long‑term outcomes through everything we do.

Prevention is an excellent example of how this approach can deliver real impact, by shifting power to communities, and commissioning the third sector to deliver targeted intervention. By taking a whole-system approach and addressing the wider determinants of health, councils can help reduce inequalities, improve population wellbeing, support prevention and create healthier, more resilient communities for future generations. So a strong evidence base – that gives us confidence in an intervention’s effectiveness, without constraining those who are best placed to design and deliver the intervention – is essential, and that’s what this exciting new role will deliver.

The Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) is a NIHR‑funded group that sits within the Council to build and embed an evidence‑led, research‑focused culture within our prevention model. HDRC addresses the wider determinants of health and health inequity across the area, and supports the design of interventions which apply the research findings.

You’ll lead and coordinate this mature and well‑regarded multidisciplinary research partnership, including recruiting and developing team members, and ensuring that the HDRC’s operating model is sustainable in the long‑term. As well as overseeing the new research infrastructure in the borough, you’ll lead key workstreams across the HDRC, embedding a culture of evidence‑based, inclusive decision‑making and building support for this approach from senior colleagues, elected members and system partners.

This is neither a public health or academic research appointment; rather, your career to date will have placed you at the intersection of research, evidence, public policy, health inequalities, programme leadership and partnership working. With excellent technical credentials in programme management and performance evaluation, as well as the ability to work at pace, you’ll be a visible, decisive and highly credible leader. A sophisticated grasp of public health, policy formulation and research methods will be underpinned by general management skills, including financial management, communication and governance.

How to find us

Torfaen County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Pontypool
NP4 6YB