Senior Research Manager

NHS; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 62,000; Full time

Job description

Job summary

The Senior Research Manager will lead research and analytical projects within the Observatory's Research and Evidence portfolio, focusing on generating practical insights into ethnic and racial health inequalities in the UK and beyond. They will oversee the Observatory's research programme, managing day-to-day activities across priority areas and ensuring effective project delivery. The role also involves supporting the development of resources to support Integrated Care Systems.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work with the Assistant Director: Research and Evidence and other members of the NHS RHO team to gather insights on research projects at the Observatory to ensure clear dissemination of the Observatory's research outputs both internally and externally. The postholder will foster a collaborative and inclusive research environment that ensures the highest standards of research quality and impact.

About us

The NHS Race and Health Observatory (the Observatory) is an independent organisation, set up to explore ethnic inequalities in access to healthcare, experiences of healthcare, health outcomes, and inequalities experienced by Black and minority ethnic members of the health and care workforce. In doing so, it assesses aspirations in these areas as outlined in national healthcare policy, including those set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. It is a proactive investigator, providing strong recommendations that inform policymaking and facilitate change. It is evidence-driven and solution-focused.

The Observatory is supported by NHS England and is hosted by NHS Confederation. Its board and team are independent, and we dictate our own direction and areas of focus. The Observatory has three main functions:

• Facilitate new, high-quality, and innovative research and evidence
• Make strategic policy recommendations for change
• Support the practical implementation of those recommendations

Date posted: 14 April 2025

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £61,039 a year and £4000 London Weighting (if applicable)

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 18 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number: NHS1088612

Job locations

Calls Wharf 2, The Calls, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7JU

2nd Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, Westminster, SW1P 3HZ

Job description Job responsibilities

Responsibilities

Research and Evidence

• Support with the implementation of the Observatory's research strategy in alignment with our values.
• Oversee the development and delivery of the Observatory's interactive digital platform, an analytical tool designed to put health equity data in the hands of the people delivering and receiving care in the UK.
• Horizon scanning to identify potential research funding opportunities and keep abreast of research developments across health inequalities to ensure that the Observatory's research programme remains relevant and impactful.
• Provide secretariat support to the Observatory's Academic Reference Group and the Data and Digital group.
• Lead the production of accessible summaries of Observatory reports for the benefit of our communities and other stakeholders working to reduce health inequalities.
• Conduct desk-based research where required to support with identifying knowledge gaps across health inequalities research.
• Work with the Director: Implementation, Assistant Director: Communications and Media, and the Assistant Director: Strategy and Policy to ensure that the Observatory's research outputs lead to tangible action in terms of supporting national policy change and localised impact.
• Contribute regularly to reporting, including preparing reports for the RHO Board.
• Support the Assistant Director, Research and Evidence with writing research bids.
• Line manage and mentor team members at the RHO to support capacity building of future researchers.
• Perform other related work as may be required.

Programme Management

• Work with senior responsible officers across the organisation to ensure that in accordance with the Observatory's research process, projects are delivered on time, to budget, and to a high standard.
• Work with colleagues across the organisation, and other key stakeholders, to ensure that research projects are delivered on time, and to a high standard.
• Monitor and evaluate the RHO research process to drive continuous improvement.

Stakeholder engagement

Support the Assistant Director, Research and Evidence in building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including:

• Ethnic minority community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• Relevant colleagues across NHS England and other arms length bodies
• Major research funders such as the NIHR, Welcome, UKRI
• Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care
• Academics, think tanks and other funders of research
• Partner organisations such as charities, universities, and private companies.
• Research communities

Coordinate activities to convene internal and external stakeholders at national and international level, to provide a platform for shared learning.

Person Specification Qualifications

Essential

• Working knowledge of contemporary health, race and equality policy, service delivery challenges and of the healthcare structure in England.
• Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods from primary or secondary research.
• Relevant professional experience in research commissioning and management in one of the following environments: research funding body (either government or charitable), the NHS, education, industry, or academia.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to research, analyse, and summarise information accurately, with attention to detail in both written and verbal presentations.
• Well-organized with an ability to be responsive and agile in a rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to use own initiative and to work with minimum supervision to strict deadlines.
• Experience of line-management and supporting colleagues' professional development.
• Ability to develop and manage relationships with senior stakeholders, internally and externally.

Desirable

• Some understanding of the UK political environment and the operation of government.
• Relevant work experience in the delivery of research funding allocation processes at a leading UK funding body.
• Some experience of evaluation techniques.
• Prince2, MSP or equivalent experience for the management of complex programmes and projects.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Ability to travel.

Employer details

Employer name: NHS Confederation

Address: Calls Wharf 2, The Calls, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7JU

Employer's website: https://www.nhsconfed.org/