Research Involvement Manager

The Research Involvement Manager will work closely with the Head of Clinical Research to embed best practice involvement of people affected by dementia across all our research programmes to ensure our work is shaped by lived experience. This role is vital in advancing Alzheimer’s Research UK’s (ARUK) research objectives and organisational strategy to reach a cure for all types of dementia and is key to delivering impact for people affected by dementia. The Research Involvement Manager will work collaboratively with external stakeholders and various teams across the organisation, particularly the Involvement and Engagement Team, which sits within the Policy, Communications and Involvement Directorate, to continually develop our work in this area and aid its successful implementation within all our research programmes.

This role sits within the new Clinical Research Team in the Research Directorate, an ambitious, proactive and growing team that is driving forward initiatives to bring more clinical trials to the UK for people living with dementia. Involvement of people affected by dementia is key to the successful roll out of our clinical programme and our wider research initiatives. This is an exceptional opportunity for an individual who has experience and understands the importance and intricacies of delivering meaningful public involvement and engagement in research.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

1. Implementing and evaluating ARUK’s Research Involvement Strategy and Workplan
2. Lead on the delivery of ARUK’s research involvement strategy, regularly reviewing and updating the strategy in line with best practice, with support from the Head of Clinical Research, and in consultation with the Involvement and Engagement Team.
3. Work across ARUK, and with external organisations such as the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) to stay abreast of best practice when involving people with lived experience in shaping research.
4. Work with the Research Team to understand research funding processes and procedures to develop plans to strengthen involvement throughout the research programme.
5. Evaluate and prioritise research involvement requests considering ARUK’s capacity organisational strategy.
6. With support from the Head of Clinical Research and in collaboration with the Head of Information and Involvement, lead on the evaluation of ARUK’s research involvement programme, proactively coming up with suggestions for new initiatives and continuous improvement.
7. Work externally to seek feedback and ideas for new programmes of work that will increase impact or efficiency, and work across the Research Team on implementation.
8. Support the wider organisation on developing content on involvement in research that can promote the work that ARUK is doing or encourage more people to get involved in research.

1. Supporting the planning and delivery of research involvement across ARUK’s research programmes
2. Lead and manage the implementation of lived experience involvement within our research programmes, acting as first point of contact for the Research Team in addressing questions that involvement volunteers might have.
3. Lead on providing research involvement advice and input into key strategic pieces of work and external clinical research programmes prioritised by ARUK, including in the development of a multi-arm adaptive clinical trials platform.
4. Work with the Involvement and Engagement Team to manage the planning of engagement activity with lived experience involvement volunteers in the research programme, ensuring good communication and regular updates are delivered.
5. Work with the Involvement and Engagement Team to ensure records related to research involvement work are kept up to date in line with ARUK policies and procedures.
6. Ensure that people with lived experience are aware of opportunities for involvement within our research programmes and feel appropriately supported to participate, including planning and delivering training activities and overseeing changes in response to feedback, in collaboration with the Involvement and Engagement Team.
7. Working closely with the Head of Information and Involvement, and the wider Research Leadership Team on special projects related to public involvement in research as appropriate.

1. Wider stakeholder engagement
2. Promote ARUK’s research involvement work to the wider research community including dementia researchers, people affected by dementia, other medical research funders and our supporters through participation at events and giving talks, with a particular focus on ARUK’s strategic and clinical programmes.
3. Act as a champion for involvement of people with lived experience within research, effectively communicating its importance and signposting to tools to support the wider ARUK research community with incorporating meaningful involvement effectively in their work.
4. Organise and deliver sessions and workshops, including at ARUK’s Research Conference, to promote and advise on best practice research involvement.
5. Take part in groups that support professional development such as our internal ‘Community of Practice on Involvement’ group and the external Charities Research Involvement Group (CRIG) to develop and refine resources that could be used to improve involvement in research.

What we are looking for:

1. Proven experience in community involvement and engagement of lived experience, preferably within a medical research environment.
2. Good knowledge of the research process and how the public can play a part in that process.
3. Experience in developing and implementing strategic plans.
4. Experience working with different stakeholders, both internally and externally at multiple levels.
5. Experience in project management, with the ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously.
6. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work with multiple types of stakeholders.
7. Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify opportunities and strategies for enhancing public involvement in research.
8. Demonstrable commitment to inclusive working, placing value on equity and diversity.
9. Commitment to ARUK’s vision, mission and values.
10. A team player who can work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
11. Ability to find creative solutions to complex problems.
12. Collaborative approach with ability to build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders.
13. Good communicator with the ability to tailor communications to a range of audiences, particularly people affected by dementia and their families.
14. A genuine passion for public involvement in research.
15. Good IT skills.
16. Working with independence, drive and initiative.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.

Salary: Circa £43,000 per annum, plus benefits.

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 13th April 2025, with interviews being arranged once shortlisting has been completed. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.

In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.

We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

In addition, we were also shortlisted for a special award recognising the work undertaken on reducing our environmental impact.

In 2021, we were awarded the HR Management award by The Charity Times for our Wellbeing initiatives throughout the pandemic.

In 2020, we demonstrated our commitment to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace and signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge.

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference.

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK.