Head of Healthcare Technologies

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Head of Healthcare Technologies

SALARY: £56,745 Per Annum
HOURS: Full Time or Part Time (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
CONTRACT TYPE: Open Ended
LOCATION: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
GRADE: UKRI Band F
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1

CLOSING DATE: 24 Apr 25
PROPOSED INTERVIEW DATE: 19 - 20 May 25

ABOUT US
The Healthcare Technologies Team sits in EPSRC’s Research Strategy Directorate.

PURPOSE

To lead EPSRC’s Healthcare Technologies Team and lead the delivery of EPSRC’s Health Technologies Strategy. They will be line managed by the Deputy Director for Engineering and Health in EPSRC’s Research Directorate.

• The role holder is responsible for working with colleagues across EPSRC to deliver the health technologies strategy including the development of strategic funding activities and management of the health technologies commitment budget.
• The role holder is responsible for leading the healthcare technologies team within EPSRC including line management of three senior portfolio managers (Band E) balancing priorities and workloads across a broad range of health-related activities.
• The role requires partnership working with a range of stakeholders within UKRI, government, and the third sector including negotiation and delivery of joint activities.

MAIN OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

Leading on delivery of EPSRC’s Health Technologies Strategy:

• Working with colleagues across EPSRC to implement the strategy for health technologies.
• Ensuring the Engineering and Physical Sciences community is engaged in delivering against key challenges in the health and healthcare system.
• Developing strategic funding opportunities to deliver against the health technologies strategy.
• Working with stakeholders such as the Healthcare Technologies Strategic Advisory Team to update the strategy in response to a changing landscape.

Leadership of the Healthcare Technologies Team:

• Leading a team of senior portfolio managers, portfolio managers, and delivery support administrators.
• Line management of three senior portfolio managers (Band E).
• Balancing the workload and priorities of the healthcare technologies team across a broad range of activities within EPSRC and UKRI.
• Management of the healthcare technologies annual commitment budget.

Working with partners across UKRI, Government, the Third Sector, and Industry:

• Working in partnership with medical charities and the National Institute for Health and Care Research including the delivery of joint funding activities.
• Positively influencing future priorities in health relevant UKRI activities such as Prevention and Antimicrobial Resistance.
• Working with UKRI colleagues on pan-UKRI activities such as the UKRI Strategic Themes and Government Missions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

(S) – ASSESSED AT SHORTLISTING
(I) – ASSESSED AT INTERVIEW
(S&I) – ASSESSED AT BOTH SHORTLISTING AND INTERVIEW

ESSENTIAL (S&I):

• Effective leadership, the ability to motivate and inspire others, excellent analytical skills, and an ability to innovate, leading the development and implementation of new ideas and approaches and positively challenge established thinking in yourself and others.
• An ability to establish effective working relationships from a wide range of organisations, including at a senior level; demonstrating excellent communication, influencing, and negotiating skills, including the ability to actively listen to others.
• An ability to navigate and influence divergent interests and motivations across internal and external stakeholders.
• An ability to manage resources including staff performance in achieving strategic and operational aims, including coaching, and managing through change, and to manage financial resources to ensure value for money.
• An understanding of EPSRC’s and UKRI’s delivery plans and the current political context within which EPSRC/UKRI operate, and an appreciation of how EPSRC/UKRI fits in with the wider UK Research and Innovation landscape.
• A well-developed understanding of processes for commissioning research and knowledge exchange from and between universities, business and other users of research outcomes, the delivery of economic and societal impact from research and doctoral training and an understanding of the UK research and innovation system.
• Extensive knowledge, experience, and a successful track record of managing a portfolio of research activities, including financial management, undertaken in universities in collaboration with business and other research users gained from either working in the UKRI Councils, an intermediary organisation, university, business, government, or a similar organisation.

DESIRABLE(S):

• Proven track record of developing mutually beneficial relationships with Government Departments, charities, and businesses at a senior level.
• Understanding of the UK and wider health and social care landscape and the role of research and innovation within this.

APPLICATIONS

Online applications only for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter to the attachments section (ignore free textbox for cover letter under ‘Experience’ section) which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘Experience’ section of the application process.

About the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is a partner organisation within UKRI, providing essential research and skills for all sectors of the economy, and through this aims to enhance long-term societal well-being and prosperity.

EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding this research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. They invest over £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects from mathematics to materials science and from information technology to structural engineering.

For more information about EPSRC click here: https://www.ukri.org/councils/epsrc/

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.