Primary Care Research Centre Director

Anglia Ruskin University; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

Occupational pension schemes

Training and development opportunities

Travel to work scheme

Relocation package

Job summary

Anglia Ruskin University is offering a joint Academic and Clinical appointment combining leadership in research with hands-on clinical practice in Community Mental Health Services. The post is designed for an experienced professional who can bridge theory, research, and patient care.

You will spend two days per week in an academic role within ARU and three days per week in a clinical role, delivering teaching, supervising students, and leading the new Primary Care Research Centre while pursuing

Qualifications

• Strong research profile aligned to Primary and Community Care.
• Experience in clinical mental health practice within community settings.
• Collaborative approach to multidisciplinary teamwork.
• Proven track record in research output, funding, and/or consultancy.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Primary Care Research Centre and secure external funding.
• Undertake high-quality research with demonstrable impact.
• Produce internationally recognised research outputs.
• Teach across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• Supervise postgraduate, PhD, and professional doctorate students.
• Contribute to curriculum development and student recruitment.
• Attend CMHT and PCN MDT meetings to support patient care.
• Provide clinical supervision and governance contributions.

Skills

Research leadership

Clinical practice

Teaching & education

Curriculum development

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Job description

About the Role

We are delighted to offer an exciting joint Academic and Clinical appointment, combining research leadership with hands‑on clinical practice. This role is ideal for an experienced professional who is passionate about advancing research in primary and community care while maintaining a strong clinical contribution within Community Mental Health Services.

You will spend two days per week in an academic role within the University and three days per week in a clinical role, ensuring a dynamic portfolio career that bridges theory, research, and practice.

Academic Responsibilities (2 Days per Week) – Research & Income Generation

• Lead and develop the School of Medicine’s new Primary Care Research Centre, including securing external funding through grants, consultancy, and research contracts.
• Undertake high‑quality research that delivers demonstrable impact within the University and wider society.
• Produce internationally recognised research outputs.
• Contribute to Faculty‑wide research activity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and external partnerships.

Teaching & Student Experience

• Teach across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, incorporating your professional and research expertise.
• Design, develop, and update teaching materials across a range of modules and courses.
• Supervise postgraduate, PhD, and professional doctorate students.
• Act as an Academic Tutor, providing academic guidance and pastoral support.

Leadership & Curriculum Development

• Contribute to curriculum development, reviews, and the design of new course proposals.
• Support strategic priorities including student recruitment, marketing, quality assurance, NSS outcomes, and retention.
• Champion widening participation, equality of opportunity, health and safety, and high‑quality educational delivery.

Clinical Responsibilities (3 Days per Week) – Clinical Practice

• Attend and actively contribute to CMHT and PCN MDT meetings to support ongoing patient care.
• Deliver regular patient review clinics in line with the CPA framework.
• Provide flexible emergency medical support to patients under the care of the service.
• Support patients subject to the Mental Health Act (MHA) and manage associated statutory processes.
• Work collaboratively with Primary Care to ensure integrated, patient‑centred care.
• Liaise with internal and external services to optimise patient outcomes and care pathways.

Supervision & Governance

• Provide clinical supervision and support for training doctors.
• Contribute to clinical governance, including setting, monitoring, and maintaining clinical standards.
• Participate in clinical audit, service evaluation, and local assurance processes.
• Support the development and planning of future service improvements.

About You

• A strong research profile aligned to Primary and Community Care or related fields.
• Demonstrable experience in clinical mental health practice within community settings.
• A collaborative approach to multidisciplinary working and academic teamwork.
• A proven or emerging track record in research output, funding, and/or consultancy.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and mentoring skills.

Why Join Us?

• A unique portfolio career combining academic leadership and clinical impact.
• Supportive environments across both University and clinical services.
• Opportunities to influence research, education, service development, and policy.
• A shared commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and professional development.

Informal enquiries can be made to Jo-Anne Johnson, Head of Undergraduate Medicine, at [e-mail].

Closing date: 17 August 2026.

Find out more about working with us and how we recruit.

We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on shortlisted candidates. We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK and will conduct Right to Work checks in line with UKVI’s Right to Work policy and our own institutional policy. Furthermore, we must note:

• Applicants applying from outside the UK: At this time, ARU is unable to sponsor applicants applying from overseas for a Worker Route visa.
• Applicants already in the UK: ARU is unable to offer Worker Route visa sponsorship to applicants whose salary does not meet our minimum sponsorship threshold, which aligns with roles at Grade 6 and above.

Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.

To apply, please click the Apply button.