Head Of Service Delivery

Imperial College Healthcare Nhs Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 88,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust seeks an experienced Head of Service Delivery to lead the end-to-end London Secure Data Environment Research Service, a jointly owned resource for London providing linked, de-identified health and care data for discovery, service improvement and public benefit.

The role owns the researcher journey from enquiry to study completion, translating user needs into data, analytics and platform requirements while managing governance, onboarding and data delivery.

Qualifications

• PRINCE2 qualification or equivalent experience managing complex projects.
• Experience in health economics, statistics or scientific writing.
• Senior experience delivering and managing parallel research, data or digital services within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior ownership of the end-to-end London SDE Research Service, ensuring researchers, life sciences partners and NHS organisations receive a clear, consistent and responsive service.
• Translate service-user requirements for data, analytics and platform capability into clear technical requirements, and translate technical constraints into practical advice.
• Lead continuous improvement of service delivery methods, data advisory practice, researcher support standards and portfolio oversight.
• Maintain safe, governed access to linked, de-identified health and care data while strengthening transparency, public trust and patient and public involvement.
• Identify delivery risks and operational constraints, develop mitigations and ensure the service remains aligned to the London SDE business plan.

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced Head of Service Delivery to lead the end-to-end London Secure Data Environment Research Service. The London SDE is a jointly owned resource for London, bringing together linked, de-identified health and care data in a secure environment to support discovery, service improvement and research for public benefit.

You will own the researcher journey from first enquiry and feasibility through governance, onboarding, data delivery, analysis support and study completion. Working across the NHS, universities, life sciences and technical partners, you will turn complex user needs into clear data, analytics and platform requirements and translate technical constraints into practical advice.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who combines research-data expertise with outstanding delivery discipline. You will oversee a diverse portfolio, manage risks and resources, improve service standards, lead senior colleagues and build trusted relationships across London. You will champion strong governance, transparency and meaningful patient and public involvement.

You will bring substantial experience of complex research, data or digital services; confidence working with real-world health data, clinical informatics and feasibility assessment; and the ability to lead through ambiguity while keeping users, quality and public benefit at the centre.

Main duties of the job

• Provide senior ownership of the end-to-end London SDE Research Service, ensuring researchers, life sciences partners and NHS organisations receive a clear, consistent and responsive service.
• Translate service-user requirements for data, analytics and platform capability into clear technical requirements, and translate technical constraints into practical advice.
• Lead continuous improvement of service delivery methods, data advisory practice, researcher support standards and portfolio oversight.
• Maintain safe, governed access to linked, de-identified health and care data while strengthening transparency, public trust and patient and public involvement.
• Identify delivery risks and operational constraints, develop mitigations and ensure the service remains aligned to the London SDE business plan.

About us

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values: expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You will get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career. Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Environmental sustainability: Climate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network. Visit www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan.

Details

Closing date: 28 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8c

Salary: £88,250 to £100,355 a year pa inclusive

Contract: Fixed term, 2 years

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 290-CR-2101

Person Specification

Essential qualifications

• PRINCE2 qualification or equivalent experience managing complex projects
• Evidence of post-qualification development in health economics, statistics or scientific writing

Essential experience

• Senior experience delivering and managing parallel research, data or digital services within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing end-to-end service delivery, including governance, technical delivery and customer-facing support.
• Experience translating researcher requirements into data, analytics or platform specifications and interpreting technical constraints
• Experience of real-world health and care data, SQL-based feasibility assessment, portfolio risk management and service improvement.
• Experience managing budgets and leading middle-grade and senior staff.
• Experience working with universities, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and other external partners.

Desirable

• Experience participating in bids to secure external funding.
• Good understanding of national research infrastructure and funding priorities

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Employer contact

Director of London SDE Research Service: Reuben Lewis, [e-mail]