Head of Strategy, Research Engagement and Inclusion

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is looking for a motivated Head of Strategy, Research Engagement & Inclusion to lead strategic plans and engagement approaches to enhance research delivery across the South West region. This pivotal leadership role involves optimizing inclusion for all stakeholders and improving health services through effective collaboration.

Qualifications

• Essential: Masters level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Essential: Management qualification with evidence of continual professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of regional strategic plans to deliver national research priorities.
• Coordinate and deliver regional responses to key RDN strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Financial management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Masters level qualification or equivalent experience

Management qualification

Tools

Google Workspace applications

MS Office applications

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for a motivated and dynamicHead of Strategy, Research Engagement & Inclusion, a key leadership role within the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) South West Central Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN).

The NIHR RDN has 2 primary purposes:

to support the successful delivery of high-quality research, as an active partner in the research system

to increase capacity and capability of the research infrastructure for the future

As a result, research will reach more people, address changing population needs, support the health and care system and the economy, and become a routine part of care.

In this pivotal role, you'll lead the development of regional strategic plans to deliver national research priorities, lead our engagement approach and be key to optimising inclusion for all. You'll accomplish this through effective leadership of a team spanning strategy, communications, and study participation.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Strategy, Research Engagement and Inclusion will have overall responsibility for coordinating and delivering regional responses to key RDN strategies, ensuring all engagement and inclusion opportunities are considered synergistically, supported and optimised for all stakeholders. This role will be pivotal in leading a consistent approach to engaging participants and communities with the vision of the RDN and providing intelligence to support the strategic development of RDN services. The Head of Strategy, Research Engagement and Inclusion will have the opportunity to work at national and supra regional level to ensure the function of a single RDN organisation in providing a consistent experience for stakeholders. This role will be pivotal in developing regional strategies to deliver key national research in health and care priorities and analysing data underpinning increased capacity and capability in research delivery, across all specialties and settings.

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Details Date posted

04 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£62,215 to £72,293 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

387-TS3465-CB

Job locations

Whitefriars

Lewins Mead

Bristol

BS1 2NT

Job description Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Job description Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification Qualifications and Training Essential

• Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
• Management qualification
• Evidence of continual professional development

Desirable

• Project Management qualification or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Experience Essential

• Professional operational and strategic leadership in a related field
• Management experience within the NHS with understanding of operations across all sectors relevant to the respective Health and Care systems
• Experience of working across complex organisational structures and effective matrix management
• Experience of business planning and robust financial management at an appropriate scale
• Knowledge of national systems, structures and processes for supporting clinical research (industry and academic sponsored) in the NHS
• Understanding of latest population-wide engagement techniques, including off and online
• Understanding of governance and legislative frameworks for clinical trials, including GCP
• Good understanding of quality assurance and performance management techniques
• Evidence of managing effective collaborations and partnerships

Desirable

• Understanding of workforce planning
• Knowledge of utilising business intelligence solutions to work within a performance management framework

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Good IT skills, particularly in use of Web applications, Google Workspace applications and MS Office applications
• Highly developed leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to demonstrate these in highly political environments
• Ability to plan, manage, adjust and deliver highly complex projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals and a broad range of activities, to tight deadlines
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and business cases to diverse audiences at regional and national events
• Ability to analyse and interpret specialised, confidential research management information and ability to make judgements regarding a range of highly complex research management issues
• Ability to work autonomously
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Proven leadership skills, including leadership in the management of change
• Proven interpersonal skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations and the ability to develop strong working relationships with senior stakeholders
• Able to analyse performance of area of activity in relation to performance targets, strategic objectives and make appropriate suggestions

Person Specification Qualifications and Training Essential

• Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
• Management qualification
• Evidence of continual professional development

Desirable

• Project Management qualification or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Experience Essential

• Professional operational and strategic leadership in a related field
• Management experience within the NHS with understanding of operations across all sectors relevant to the respective Health and Care systems
• Experience of working across complex organisational structures and effective matrix management
• Experience of business planning and robust financial management at an appropriate scale
• Knowledge of national systems, structures and processes for supporting clinical research (industry and academic sponsored) in the NHS
• Understanding of latest population-wide engagement techniques, including off and online
• Understanding of governance and legislative frameworks for clinical trials, including GCP
• Good understanding of quality assurance and performance management techniques
• Evidence of managing effective collaborations and partnerships

Desirable

• Understanding of workforce planning
• Knowledge of utilising business intelligence solutions to work within a performance management framework

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Good IT skills, particularly in use of Web applications, Google Workspace applications and MS Office applications
• Highly developed leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to demonstrate these in highly political environments
• Ability to plan, manage, adjust and deliver highly complex projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals and a broad range of activities, to tight deadlines
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and business cases to diverse audiences at regional and national events
• Ability to analyse and interpret specialised, confidential research management information and ability to make judgements regarding a range of highly complex research management issues
• Ability to work autonomously
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Proven leadership skills, including leadership in the management of change
• Proven interpersonal skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations and the ability to develop strong working relationships with senior stakeholders
• Able to analyse performance of area of activity in relation to performance targets, strategic objectives and make appropriate suggestions

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 (formerly known as CRB) 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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information 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 (formerly known as CRB) 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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Whitefriars

Lewins Mead

Bristol

BS1 2NT

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Whitefriars

Lewins Mead

Bristol

BS1 2NT

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)