Head of Research Delivery and Support for Wider Care Settings
The closing date is 22 July 2026.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of the East Midlands RRDN leadership team, as the Head of Research Delivery and Support for Out of Hospital Settings. This is a job share to work alongside the current post holder. The role requires up to 22.5 hours a week over 3 days across Monday to Friday with normal office working hours. We require coverage on a Friday but have some flexibility over the other days.
The Head of Research Delivery and Support for Out of Hospital Settings is a senior leadership role that focuses on the strategic oversight, deployment and delivery capabilities of the RRDN’s Agile Research Delivery Team. The role leads a multi‑professional team to deliver National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) RDN Portfolio studies across various settings. It also involves working closely with key stakeholders within the region, across other regions and at a national level, and reporting to the Operations Director.
Job responsibilities
Strategic leadership, providing strategic direction and guidance within the RDN and the national network.
Co‑develop and lead on national projects as required; collaborate with National and RRDN Specialty and Settings Leaders to align regional operational activities with national strategic objectives.
Lead the implementation and cascade of a range of national strategic directives within the region; report on local learnings, successes and challenges.
Contribute to collective national business planning for the Agile Research Delivery (all settings) and Study Support and Partner Liaison services for out of hospital settings; review, evaluate and approve research site delivery plans, and monitor performance against those plans.
Lead on regional business planning for the Agile Research Delivery Team and Study Support Service, ensuring effective implementation and reporting.
Oversee the regional implementation of the Agile Research Delivery Team and the Study Support Service; work with Setting Leads to ensure robust strategy for delivery in primary care, community and residential care settings.
Manage programmes and projects within the remit of the Agile Research Delivery Team and Study Support Service, coaching and supporting team members in project management.
Lead communities of practice and events for senior leaders, facilitating system‑level collaboration and learning to solve operational challenges and pursue opportunities for strategic development.
Promote a nationally consistent customer‑centric approach to service delivery, ensuring the needs and expectations of stakeholders are met or exceeded.
Maintain awareness of research process initiatives undertaken with other national bodies to support future integration into the study support service.
Keep up to date with innovative study design and delivery methods, exploring opportunities for promotion and roll‑out within national and regional delivery operations.
Develop trusted relationships with partners and promote a culture of seeking and acting on feedback from customers and partners, providing a responsive service and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Identify, implement and lead strategies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Agile Research Delivery Team and Study Support Service operations regionally and nationally.
Support Team members with solving identified challenges in study delivery, particularly in more complex or sensitive situations.
Lead on building capacity and capability for study delivery across specialities and settings, including overseeing horizon scanning to ensure capacity for new and emerging technologies.
Assist in the development of research delivery staff.
Oversee the Agile Research Delivery Team and Study Support Service, developing and implementing strategies for ensuring service delivery meets or exceeds established benchmarks.
Develop and implement quality assurance systems, including audit and review of work, providing feedback, development and support as necessary.
Ensure seamless coordination with other services and functions within the RRDN and across the national network.
Identify and support the dissemination of RDN impact across RDN and RRDN activities.
Champion the RRDN’s capacity and capability to support Life Sciences Industry research and the contribution of the Life Sciences Industry to the NHS.
Be responsible for ensuring that Agile Research Delivery Team and Study Support services provided to the Life Sciences Industry are delivered consistently, within required timeframes and to a high quality standard.
Oversee the business development activities of the Agile Research Delivery Team and Study Support services, including providing clinical research expertise and knowledge to support optimal research delivery in discussions with commercial organisations; attend meetings and present at events.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
- Evidence of continual professional development
Knowledge and Experience
- Specialist knowledge of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients
- Specialist knowledge of the range of life science industry’s needs and requirements with regard to health and care research
- Comprehensive understanding of governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research in the NHS
- Comprehensive understanding of the UK research pathway and funding
- Knowledge of national systems, structures and processes for supporting clinical research in NHS and non‑NHS settings
- Knowledge of utilising Business Intelligence solutions within a performance management framework, and good understanding of performance management techniques
- Extensive knowledge of methods, tools and techniques for problem‑solving and continuous improvement relevant to system‑level health and care working
- Experience of health and care research management at a senior level, including the support of studies pre‑approval and post‑approval
- Experience of chairing and facilitating meetings, including those with sensitive or political topics
- Experience of managing health and care research support services including workforce planning and the management of people and finances
- Experience of developing and managing high‑quality, customer‑centric services for commercial and non‑commercial customers
- Experience of working collaboratively and in partnership with other organisations, with demonstrable experience of delivery across organisational boundaries
- Professional operational research leadership at a senior and system level
- Experience of direct line management and managing teams to deliver clear objectives and performance targets, including through organisational change
- Experience of business planning, financial management and operational implementation, preferably within an NHS organisation
- Experience of contributing to the development of national policy or strategies, and translating those into regional plans
- Experience of leading continuous improvement initiatives
- Project management experience in a leadership capacity, delivering complex projects involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines
- Professional strategic leadership at a senior level
Skills and Abilities
- Highly developed leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to demonstrate these in highly political environments
- Proven interpersonal skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations and to develop strong working relationships with senior stakeholders
- Demonstrable ability to exercise autonomy to undertake actions based on own interpretation of policy and guidance, providing expert advice to the organisation
- Strong problem‑solving skills, including a proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential future issues
- Ability to communicate highly complex and difficult information both orally and in writing, internally and externally, including in pressured and politically sensitive environments
- Ability to analyse and interpret highly complex information and make judgments regarding a range of highly complex management issues
- Ability to plan, manage, adjust and deliver complex programmes and projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals and a broad range of activities, to tight deadlines
- Good IT skills, particularly in the use of Web applications, Google Workspace and MS Office applications
- Empathetic approach to resolving conflict, with the ability to work with sensitivity and tact
Values and Personal Qualities
- 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
- Constantly strives for improvement, bringing a ‘can‑do’ attitude and seeking out innovation
- Goal‑oriented, with a focus on tangible results that are aligned with overarching national objectives
- Committed to ongoing learning and development, proactively seeking opportunities for personal and team growth
- Takes a professional approach to all interactions, remaining diplomatic under pressure and fostering a solution‑focused environment
- Role models and works in accordance with the values of the RDN and the employing NHS Trust
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Address
Paget House (LRI) Leicester or Queens Medical Centre Nottingham
#J-18808-Ljbffr…