Research Engagement and Inclusion Managers

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW); Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in the UK is seeking two Research Engagement and Inclusion Managers to enhance public engagement in research and ensure it is meaningful for diverse communities. Candidates should have strong communication skills, knowledge of public involvement standards, and experience in community engagement. The roles involve building partnerships, driving initiatives, and managing data collection to report on engagement impacts. Opportunities to influence national and regional strategies for health research are essential to this position.

Qualifications

• Experience in community engagement with underserved groups.
• Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010.
• Experience in managing public engagement projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead public engagement initiatives across the region.
• Build partnerships with community and health stakeholders.
• Drive inclusion in research and data collection efforts.

Skills

Communication skills

Facilitation skills

Team collaboration

Data analysis

Community engagement

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Project management qualification

Job description

Research Engagement and Inclusion Managers

Closing date: 29 December 2025

We are recruiting two passionate and strategic leaders to drive public engagement and inclusion in research at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW). These roles offer a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact—working with diverse communities, health and social care partners, and national stakeholders to ensure research is accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for everyone.

The NIHR is the nation's largest funder of health and care research, committed to improving the health and wealth of the nation through research. These roles sit within the South West Central Research Delivery Network and are hosted by UHBW.

We are looking for candidates with excellent communication, facilitation and engagement skills and who have experience of working in community engagement and with underserved groups. If you are motivated by collaboration, equity, and innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Applicants are welcome to express interest in one or both roles. Please indicate which role you are applying for, or if you wish to be considered for both positions. If you are interested in both, please indicate if you have a preference.

Main Duties of the Job

The Research Engagement and Inclusion Manager will drive public engagement and inclusion in the South West Central region, co‑producing approaches with communities and members of the public. They will also lead on data collection and impact reporting.

• Lead initiatives that amplify public voices and embed inclusion in research delivery.
• Build strong partnerships with communities, researchers, and health systems.
• Contribute to national and regional strategies that shape the future of health and care research.
• Work with all relevant stakeholders to drive integration of public engagement and Research Inclusion initiatives across the region, increasing involvement and participation in research among patients and the public across all settings and services.
• Manage a community of RDN Public Partners and assist them to seek out opportunities to champion the public voice across RDN services and be actively involved in RDN strategy development and delivery.
• Embed patient, carer and public involvement within the RDN at all appropriate levels of decision making and support the NIHR to embed Research Inclusion learning frameworks across the RDN.
• Manage the delivery of the Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES) including supporting delivery organisations, reporting findings and developing improvement projects.
• Work with patients and the public, partners, researchers, health and social care staff, and communities to increase volunteer registrations to Join Dementia Research and Be Part of Research.
• Be responsible for the evaluation and reporting of Key Performance Indicators for engagement, Research Inclusion and PPIE activity within the RDN to be used in relevant NIHR impact reports (such as the Research Inclusion Programme Board and NIHR Public Partnerships Board).

The Regional Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager will act as a strategic lead for engagement and inclusion across the South West Central and South West Peninsula regions. They will work in partnership with a range of stakeholders including community groups, ICBs, and NIHR partners to ensure a coordinated approach to public engagement and Research Inclusion.

• Work in partnership with a range of internal and external stakeholders within the region (e.g. community groups, ICBs, other NIHR partners, patients and the public) to ensure a coordinated approach to public engagement and Research Inclusion.
• Contribute to NHSE-led community engagement initiatives across the South West Central and South West Peninsula regions to increase participation in research.
• Actively support national and regional initiatives to increase engagement with Be Part of Research (BPoR) and Join Dementia Research.
• Responsible for the evaluation and reporting of Key Performance Indicators for Engagement, public engagement and Research Inclusion activity to be used in relevant NIHR impact reports (such as Research Inclusion Programme Board and NIHR Public Partnerships Board).
• Assist RDN Public Partners to seek out opportunities to champion the public voice across RDN/NHSE services and be actively involved in contributing towards RDN strategy development and delivery.
• Provide key intelligence to assist in meaningful and valued engagement with under‑served communities and marginalised populations through strategic level stakeholder engagement and mapping, contributing insights to actively avoid duplication and optimise continuous improvement and prioritisation of services.

For more detail about the main duties of these roles, please see the job descriptions attached.

Person Specification – Regional Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager

Knowledge and Experience:

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of implementing the UK Standards for Public Involvement in projects and programmes and familiarity with key principles and the value of public involvement and engagement within health and social care.
• In‑depth understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and challenges related to equality, diversity and inclusion across the health and care research landscape.
• Experience of managing and delivering patient and public‑led engagement opportunities at a local and national level (including local events, online workshops and consultations).

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to coordinate, collect and analyse a range of qualitative and quantitative data, identifying areas of concern, producing reports and solution‑based recommendations.
• A proven ability to build, maintain and develop effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across health and social care settings, community‑based organisations and VSCOs, including subject matter experts.

Qualifications and Education:

• Post‑graduate diploma or equivalent specialist experience in disciplines relevant to post.
• Project management qualification or demonstrable experience of managing projects at the regional level.

Aptitudes:

• Lives by values which include openness, collaboration, responsiveness, inclusion, personal integrity and creating positive cultures where these values thrive.
• Enthusiastic and motivated with the ability to influence others.
• Ability to support an effective network of relationships with people across organisations with diverse roles and perspectives.
• Self‑awareness with regard to emotional intelligence, biases and sensitivities and a commitment to continuous improvement and self‑development.
• Ability to act as a champion for people, communities and participants, ensuring that their voice has a meaningful and tangible impact on RDN activities.
• Calm, resilient and adopting a professional manner whilst working across complex boundaries and issues.
• Commitment to and focused on quality, promoting high standards in all they do with attention to detail.
• Confidence in communication with a variety of stakeholders and audiences at different levels with the ability to manage difficult conversations and de‑escalation of potential conflicts where necessary.

Person Specification – Research Engagement and Inclusion Manager

Knowledge and Experience:

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of implementing the UK Standards for Public Involvement in projects and programmes and familiarity with key principles and the value of public engagement and involvement within health and social care.
• Knowledge of regional health and care systems and processes, including the voluntary and charity sector, local government and Integrated Care Boards/Services.
• Experience in line managing staff and supervising volunteers and public contributors.
• In‑depth understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and challenges related to equality, diversity and inclusion across the health and care research landscape.
• Experience of managing and delivering patient and public‑led involvement and engagement opportunities (including engagement events, online workshops and consultations).

Skills and Abilities:

• Project management skills and expertise in using a wide range of consultation and facilitation methods, knowledge of public engagement methodology, inclusive management of members of the public and communities, including those classed as under‑served by health and care research.
• Ability to coordinate, collect and analyse a range of qualitative and quantitative data, identifying areas of concern, producing reports and solution‑based recommendations.
• A proven ability to build, maintain and develop effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across health and social care settings, community‑based organisations and VSCOs, including subject matter experts.
• Ability to support an effective network of relationships with people across organisations with diverse roles and perspectives.
• Ability to co‑design opportunities and projects with communities and participants, which ensure that their voice has a meaningful and tangible impact on RDN activities.

Qualifications and Education:

• Postgraduate qualification (e.g. Postgraduate Diploma) or equivalent specialist experience in disciplines relevant to post.
• Project management qualification or demonstrable experience of managing projects at the regional level.

Aptitudes:

• Lives by values which include openness, collaboration, responsiveness, inclusion, personal Integrity and creating positive cultures where these values thrive.
• Enthusiastic and motivated with the ability to influence others.
• Self‑awareness with regard to emotional intelligence, biases and sensitivities and a commitment to continuous improvement and self‑development.
• Calm, resilient and adopting a professional manner whilst working across complex boundaries and issues.
• Commitment to and focused on quality, promoting high standards in all they do with attention to detail.
• Confidence in communication with a variety of stakeholders and audiences at different levels with the ability to manage difficult conversations and de‑escalation of potential conflicts where necessary.

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.