Research Engagement and Inclusion Managers

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in the UK is seeking passionate Engagement and Inclusion Managers to drive public engagement in research. These roles focus on amplifying public voices in collaboration with diverse communities and health partners. Candidates must have excellent communication and engagement skills, experience working with underserved groups, and a postgraduate diploma. The positions offer a chance to make a tangible impact in public health and research inclusion.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable knowledge of UK Standards for Public Involvement.
• Experience line-managing staff and supervising volunteers.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives that amplify public voices.
• Build strong partnerships with communities and researchers.
• Evaluate and report key performance indicators for engagement.

Skills

Communication skills

Facilitation skills

Engagement skills

Project management

Data analysis

Education

Postgraduate diploma or equivalent specialist experience

Project management qualification or demonstrated experience

Job description

Job Summary

We are recruiting two passionate and strategic leaders to drive public engagement and inclusion in research. 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 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.

Key Responsibilities

As Engagement and Inclusion Managers, you will:

• 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.

Research Engagement and Inclusion Manager

• Work with 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.
• Manage a community of RDN Public Partners and support them to champion the public voice across RDN services and participate in strategy development.
• Embed patient, carer and public involvement within the RDN at all appropriate decision‑making levels and support the NIHR to embed research inclusion learning frameworks.
• Manage the delivery of the Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES), including supporting delivery organisations, reporting findings, and developing improvement projects.
• Work with patients, 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 evaluation and reporting of key performance indicators for engagement, research inclusion and PPIE activity within the RDN, used in NIHR impact reports.

Regional Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager

• Partner with internal and external stakeholders (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 research participation.
• Actively support national and regional initiatives to increase engagement with Be Part of Research (BPoR) and Join Dementia Research.
• Evaluate and report key performance indicators for engagement and research inclusion activities for NIHR impact reports.
• Assist RDN Public Partners in championing the public voice across RDN/NHSE services and contributing to strategy development.
• Provide intelligence to enable meaningful engagement with under‑served communities and marginalised populations through stakeholder mapping and continuous improvement.

Person Specification – Research Engagement and Inclusion Manager

Knowledge and Experience (Essential)

• Demonstrable knowledge of UK Standards for Public Involvement; familiarity with key principles and the value of public engagement.
• Knowledge of regional health and care systems and processes, including external sector and integrated care boards.
• Experience line‑managing staff and supervising volunteers and public contributors.
• Understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and related challenges.
• Experience managing and delivering public‑led involvement and engagement events.

Skills and Abilities (Essential)

• Project management and facilitation skills.
• Data coordination, analysis, and reporting abilities.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Co‑design opportunities with communities and participants.
• Networking skills across organisations.

Qualifications (Essential)

• Postgraduate diploma or equivalent specialist experience.
• Project management qualification or demonstrable experience of managing regional projects.

Person Specification – Regional Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager

Knowledge and Experience (Essential)

• Experience implementing UK Standards for Public Involvement and familiarity with key principles.
• Understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and equality, diversity and inclusion challenges.
• Experience delivering local and national public engagement opportunities.

Skills and Abilities (Essential)

• Analysis, synthesis and reporting of qualitative and quantitative data.
• Relationship building with stakeholders in health, care and community settings.

Qualifications (Essential)

• Postgraduate diploma or equivalent specialist experience.
• Project management qualification or experience at regional level.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires submission for a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications.

Employer Details

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Whitefriars, Level 5 Southgate, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT

Employer Website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/

Equal Opportunities

UHBW is an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce. We aim to recruit and retain a workforce that represents the diversity of the local population and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them.

Job Details

Date posted: 11 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 387-TS7855-LMH

Job locations: Whitefriars, Level 5 Southgate, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT

How to Apply

Applicants are welcome to express interest in one or both roles. Please indicate clearly in your application which role you are applying for, and if you wish to be considered for both, state your preference.

Closure

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