NIHR RRDN South London Head of Strategy, Engagement and Inclusion

NIHR RRDN South London Head of Strategy, Engagement and Inclusion NHS AfC: Band 8b

Main area Research Grade NHS AfC: Band 8b Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (The South London RRDN team, hosted by GSTT, adheres to a hybrid working policy, currently comprising three days located in the office at Guy's Hospital and two days working remotely. This may change over time and days of the week may vary to meet service needs.)

Job ref 196-RD261

Employer Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type NHS

Site Guy's Hospital

Town London

Salary £67,950 - £78,028 per annum incl. HCAS

Salary period Yearly

Closing 24/03/:59

Interview date 11/04/2025

Job overview

The National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) is funded by the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) to enable the health & care system to attract, optimise and deliver research across England.

The RDN consists of 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) - each hosted by a different organisation. South London Regional Research Delivery Network, for example, is hosted by Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

The RRDN South London Head of Strategy, Engagement & Inclusion is a key leadership role within the RDN. The position drives the strategic development of the South London Regional Research Delivery Network, leading on stakeholder engagement, business planning & communications, in addition to overseeing engagement and inclusion initiatives to increase participation in research.

Research inclusion is key to ensuring findings are generalisable, reproducible and benefit all members of society. Ensuring underserved communities take part in health & care research contributes to the wider mission of reducing the burden on our NHS and social care.

In addition, commercial companies need & push for diversity in the participant pool. Strong research inclusion practices & expertise are part of what helps to bring cutting-edge industry trials to the UK - improving the health & wealth of the nation.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the regional delivery of national NIHR and RDN engagement services to increase and broaden participation in research and enhance effective delivery of studies
• Embed a consistent approach to inclusion throughout the RDN services, that aligns with the NIHR Research Inclusion strategy
• Seek new and innovative ways to increase research capacity and capability through stakeholder engagement and horizon scanning
• Provide management of the regional delivery of RDN and NIHR strategies for communication and reputation management
• Provide senior leadership and strategic oversight within the RRDN team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Report on and present complex data with clarity to senior forums including at Board Level
• Actively collaborate with the RDN Life Sciences teams and Study Support Service to promote new RDN research sites and those with increased capacity to stakeholders and customers
• Ensure adherence to all RDN approaches and frameworks, and employers policies by all staff in the domains this role oversees
• Work with the Head of Partner Liaison and Planning to ensure strategic and operational oversight of the functions of the RRDN
• Lead and coordinate continuous improvement engagement across the RRDN and ensure outputs and successes are shared across RDN
• Oversight of Public Engagement ring fenced budget and associated reporting, ensuring that spend is aligned to budgetary planning and allocations
• Coordinate communications and public engagement activities within the RRDN, providing line management and developmental support to the team as needed
• Demonstrate advanced understanding of the needs of regional research participants, carers and public and ensure the research landscape evolves to meet those needs
• Ensure that strategic planning includes a broad group of stakeholders, prioritising patient participant inclusion

Person specification Education

• Evidence of continual professional development

Experience

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

Skills

• 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
• Flexible approach to working and enthusiastic attitude towards challenges
• Acts as a champion for patients, carers, the public and their interests, ensuring the public voice has an impact on RDN activities
• Highly motivated, with the ability to influence and inspire others
• A strong visionary leader, who brings together ideas and expertise to deliver strategy
• A resilient and open individual demonstrating clear understanding of the RDN vision, routes for influencing strategy, engaging with diverse groups of people and continuous improvement
• Role models and works in accordance with the values of the RDN and the employing NHS trust

Guy's and St Thomas' celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitably according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or studies at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.

We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking into account the individual's personal circumstances as well the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the onboarding process.

Your e-mail address is important to us - We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

Please apply for this post by clicking "Apply Online Now."

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Our dedicated and talented staff make it their mission to provide outstanding care for our patients.