Regional Research Imaging Lead

UHNM; Stoke-on-Trent; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) invites applications for a senior Research Imaging leader to drive regional imaging strategy, standardise processes, and coordinate across the North Midlands.

The post will develop business cases and funding bids to expand capacity, establish the North Midlands Research Imaging Service (NMRIS), and ensure governance and NIHR delivery frameworks are embedded. A strategic leader with NHS experience is required.

Qualifications

• Master's level or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g. clinical research, healthcare management).
• Evidence of CPD in governance and regulatory compliance.
• Formal management or leadership training or equivalent senior-level experience.
• Coaching or mentoring qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional imaging research coordination and standardisation across the North Midlands.
• Develop business cases and funding bids to increase regional capacity and infrastructure.
• Establish and embed the North Midlands Research Imaging Service (NMRIS) within governance and NIHR frameworks.

Education

Master's degree or equivalent experience

CPD in research governance/regulatory compliance

Leadership training

Coaching or mentoring qualification

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Research Imaging professional, with experience of working at a regional level, to join the Research and Innovation Directorate (R&I) at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM).

This senior role will provide regional leadership, co-ordination, and standardisation of research imaging processes across the North Midlands, directly addressing well-recognised critical bottlenecks in imaging research capacity and support. Furthermore, they will develop business cases and future funding bids to increase regional capacity, capability and infrastructure.

The RRIL will mitigate these delays by establishing the North Midlands Research Imaging Service (NMRIS): a dedicated, co-ordinated imaging pathway for research participants. The service will provide rapid access, clear scheduling, transparent costing, and a single point of co-ordination, while remaining fully embedded within NHS governance, IR(ME)R compliance, and NIHR research delivery frameworks). This service will standardise imaging workflows across the North and ensure imaging dependencies do not impede the North Midlands ability to meet national performance targets.

Main duties of the job

The role will be instrumental in transforming future healthcare and improving outcomes through research evidence - both for our community and across the region. With NIHR infrastructure funding and the opening of our Commercial Research Delivery Centre in April 2025, this is an exciting time to join the UHNM R&I Directorate as we push the boundaries of clinical research to benefit patients.

This is your opportunity to take on a strategic leadership role within the UHNM Research and Innovation Directorate, playing a pivotal part in the delivery of a research imaging service, regionally, that leads to tangible improvements in patient-centred research.

This role is ideal for a visionary leader who is committed to improving healthcare and patient experience. If you are passionate about leading research that makes a lasting impact on patient care, this is your opportunity to make a significant difference in a growing and dynamic directorate.

This is a 3 year fixed term position

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information please see the attached job description and person specification. For further details please contact Sarah Jones-Faulkner

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to master’s level or equivalent experience in a relevant subject area (e.g. clinical research, healthcare management, public health, biomedical science, or equivalent professional field)
• Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD) in research governance, regulatory compliance
• Formal management or leadership training (or equivalent demonstrable experience operating at senior strategic level within complex healthcare systems).
• Coaching or mentoring qualification

Experience

• Working clinically in a Specialist or Senior Level
• Evidence of active participation in Research and / or Innovation in the last 5 years
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, senior clinical staff, and other health professionals
• Improves communication amongst colleagues using a range of skills including influencing, advocacy, championing, and facilitation
• Active or previous role in local and regional/or national organisation research or innovation
• Promotes and models good practice consistent with legislation relating to: Governance Research Data protection

• We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve.

The UK Home Office has imposed an emergency brake on specific visa routes.

• Skilled Worker visas cannot currently be issued to Afghan nationals.
• Study visas cannot currently be issued to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan.
  As a result, we are unable to progress applications requiring sponsorship under these routes.

UHNM supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in preparing your supporting statement. However, we reserve the right to reject applications where AI has been used in a misleading manner, for example, by implying experience or understanding that the applicant does not possess or where its use is excessive or unfair. If AI has been used to support your application, you must declare this within your submission.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.