Job summary
PRU Policy Research Programme Manager
Interested in managing a programme of work delivering patient safety research that shapes national policy?
Can you lead a team committed to producing impactful research with colleagues across Universities of Kent, Oxford, Leeds and Bradford Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust?
Do you want to help create a collaborative, supportive and inclusive research culture?
The Yorkshire Quality and Safety Research Group has been awarded funding to lead patient safety policy research within the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit for Quality, Safety and Outcomes NIHR PRU QSO. We are now seeking an experienced, organised and passionate senior researcher who has direct experience of policy making or has worked closely with policy makers OR someone with a background in health policy who has experience of doing or managing research. Critical for this role is the ability to plan, communicate and lead.
The post is flexible in terms of hours (15-30 hours per week) depending on the applicant's availability and experience. Hours above 15 will involve delivering on objectives of the wider Yorkshire Quality and Safety Research Group. The post is available from February 2024.
The Policy Research Programme manager will liaise with policy makers to understand their needs and to define clear, relevant and specific research questions. The post-holder will then work with the research team to design and conduct rigorous but pragmatic and deliverable projects to answer these questions. Delivery will involve synthesis of existing evidence using a variety of approaches (rapid reviews, scoping reviews, systematic reviews etc) and/or the design of new research projects using a variety of methods. Thus, knowledge and experience of a wide range of research methods will be important. You will play a key leadership role in setting up, developing and ensuring the success of this programme. You will lead a team including a Senior Research Fellow, a Senior Research Data Analyst and a Research Fellow (0.5FTE) to deliver the research. In turn, the role will be supported by senior academics locally and within the wider multidisciplinary team including academics from Universities of Kent and Oxford.
We are an inclusive and diverse team hosted within the Bradford Institute for Health Research, a collaboration between the Universities of Leeds, York and Bradford and the healthcare community across the region. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in our research team, processes and research priorities and are always seeking to review and improve this. We actively encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds. There will be opportunities to work with national and international experts in patient safety and to be supported to develop your knowledge and skills.
The Yorkshire Quality & Safety Research (YQSR) Group:
The Policy Research Unit team will work alongside our NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Research Collaboration (nihr.ac.uk) and will be hosted within a wider research network: the Yorkshire Quality and Safety Research group https://yqsr.org. This successful group of researchers has established a national and international reputation for working collaboratively across institutions and disciplines to deliver research that makes healthcare safer.
If you would like to know more about this role we strongly encourage you to contact us: Professor Rebecca Lawton (r.j.lawton@leeds.ac.uk) or Dr Beth Fylan (b.fylan@bradford.ac.uk)
We encourage applicants to write a supporting statement that addresses the job criteria. If you are invited to interview you will be asked to do a 10 minute presentation (how would you balance scientific rigour, stakeholder involvement and timeliness) to deliver research patient safety research that addresses policy priorities) followed by an interview.
CLOSING DATE - 10th January 24
INTERVIEW DATE - 22 or 23rd January 24
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an experienced, organised and passionate senior researcher who has direct experience of policy making or has worked closely with policy makers OR a policy maker who has experience of doing or managing research. Critical for this role is the ability to plan, communicate and lead. The post-holder will liaise with policy makers to understand their needs and to define clear, relevant and specific research questions. The post-holder will then work with the research team to design rigorous but pragmatic and deliverable projects to answer these questions. Delivery will involve synthesis of exiting evidence using a variety of approaches (rapid reviews, scoping reviews, systematic reviews etc) and/or the design of new research projects using a variety of methods. Thus, knowledge and experience of a wide range of research methods will be important. The Policy Research Programme Manager will play a key leadership role in setting up, developing and ensuring the success of this programme.
About us
Our People Charter outlines the behaviours we can expect from one another and what you can expect from Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust:
- We value people
- We are one team
- We care
We're keen to meet people who share these values and are passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be based at the Bradford Institute for Health Research and will:
- Manage and implement the PRU safety theme, its staff and budget.
- Lead the development of joint projects with our academic partners and the DHSC that respond to national priorities for patient safety
- Maintain oversight and co-ordination of the projects to ensure milestones are met, liaising with senior academics at partner organisations.
- Build national capacity for safety policy research by supporting the development of the research staff working within your team.
- Communicate highly complex information, build relationships and achieve agreements among large groups of people including academics and policy makers
- Be responsible for the direct line management of research and administrative staff and support their career development
- Ensure all relevant approvals (such as ethics and research governance) are obtained and administrative tasks undertaken.
- Ensure that work is implemented to a high standard consistent with all Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
- Ensure effective communication between all partners and within the Research Theme.
To achieve aims of this theme of work, the Policy Research Programme Manager will:
- Act as line manager to a Senior Research Fellow and provide leadership to the PRU Safety team
- Ensure the successful delivery of the PRU safety theme programme of work
- Liaise with academic partners, DHSC and policy makers to ensure that we address national priorities for research
- Lead or support in drafting papers for publication and present at relevant conferences.
- Be responsive to the reporting requirements for the PRU.
- Ensure that work is implemented to a high standard consistent with all GCP guidelines, governance and data protection requirements.
- Ensure effective communication of complex information between partners, to ensure planning and delivery of the research projects to time and budget.
- Act as expert in interpreting research evidence and national guidance for the development, planning and management of the programme.
- Generate new ideas for research in collaboration with the academic teams.
- Analyse and interpret complex information and present written and oral summaries of information to a variety of audiences including senior managers, policy makers and academics.
- Promote the work of the team nationally and internationally.
- Develop plans to maximise the impact of the research and translation of research into policy and practice; actively disseminate the research findings to a variety of audiences, linking in with other local and national initiatives.
The above points reflect a description of the duties of the post as it is at present. This is not intended to be exhaustive and does not therefore form part of your contract of employment. The job will be reviewed on a regular basis in order to ensure that the duties meet the requirement of the service and to make any changes necessary. You will, therefore, be expected to participate fully in such discussions.
In addition to the duties/responsibilities above, key elements will also include:
Quality Assurance
- Establish a project management system which identifies threats to the completion of the project and puts in place strategies to minimise these risks.
- Maintain a working knowledge of current legislation regarding participation in research including Good Clinical Practice, Research Governance and Data Protection.
- Ensure that staff receive the appropriate training with regard to changing legislation and research skills.
Staff Management
Line manage and develop a Senior Research Fellow and Research Fellow.
Communication and Integration
- Act as a boundary spanner between the Quality and Safety Research Group, other partners in the PRU.
- Promote the work of the PRU for Yorkshire and the Humber. To undertake presentations as necessary and to liaise with national bodies/networks.
Financial and General Management
- Agree budget setting and manage the budget appropriately, providing regular financial and project reports as required to appropriate bodies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be based at the Bradford Institute for Health Research and will:
- Manage and implement the PRU safety theme, its staff and budget.
- Lead the development of joint projects with our academic partners and the DHSC that respond to national priorities for patient safety
- Maintain oversight and co-ordination of the projects to ensure milestones are met, liaising with senior academics at partner organisations.
- Build national capacity for safety policy research by supporting the development of the research staff working within your team.
- Communicate highly complex information, build relationships and achieve agreements among large groups of people including academics and policy makers
- Be responsible for the direct line management of research and administrative staff and support their career development
- Ensure all relevant approvals (such as ethics and research governance) are obtained and administrative tasks undertaken.
- Ensure that work is implemented to a high standard consistent with all Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
- Ensure effective communication between all partners and within the Research Theme.
To achieve aims of this theme of work, the Policy Research Programme Manager will:
- Act as line manager to a Senior Research Fellow and provide leadership to the PRU Safety team
- Ensure the successful delivery of the PRU safety theme programme of work
- Liaise with academic partners, DHSC and policy makers to ensure that we address national priorities for research
- Lead or support in drafting papers for publication and present at relevant conferences.
- Be responsive to the reporting requirements for the PRU.
- Ensure that work is implemented to a high standard consistent with all GCP guidelines, governance and data protection requirements.
- Ensure effective communication of complex information between partners, to ensure planning and delivery of the research projects to time and budget.
- Act as expert in interpreting research evidence and national guidance for the development, planning and management of the programme.
- Generate new ideas for research in collaboration with the academic teams.
- Analyse and interpret complex information and present written and oral summaries of information to a variety of audiences including senior managers, policy makers and academics.
- Promote the work of the team nationally and internationally.
- Develop plans to maximise the impact of the research and translation of research into policy and practice; actively disseminate the research findings to a variety of audiences, linking in with other local and national initiatives.
The above points reflect a description of the duties of the post as it is at present. This is not intended to be exhaustive and does not therefore form part of your contract of employment. The job will be reviewed on a regular basis in order to ensure that the duties meet the requirement of the service and to make any changes necessary. You will, therefore, be expected to participate fully in such discussions.
In addition to the duties/responsibilities above, key elements will also include:
Quality Assurance
- Establish a project management system which identifies threats to the completion of the project and puts in place strategies to minimise these risks.
- Maintain a working knowledge of current legislation regarding participation in research including Good Clinical Practice, Research Governance and Data Protection.
- Ensure that staff receive the appropriate training with regard to changing legislation and research skills.
Staff Management
Line manage and develop a Senior Research Fellow and Research Fellow.
Communication and Integration
- Act as a boundary spanner between the Quality and Safety Research Group, other partners in the PRU.
- Promote the work of the PRU for Yorkshire and the Humber. To undertake presentations as necessary and to liaise with national bodies/networks.
Financial and General Management
- Agree budget setting and manage the budget appropriately, providing regular financial and project reports as required to appropriate bodies.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of delivering programmes of work within multi-disciplinary teams.
- A track record in peer review publication and/or production of policy documents and reports.
Desirable
- Experience of managing budgets
Skills
Essential
- High levels of computer literacy including Microsoft Office, statistical packages, databases.
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification or professional equivalent in social science or health related studies.
- PhD in area of applied health research or public health or equivalent research experience
Experience
Essential
- Programme or project management experience in a research or policy environment
- Experience of staff management, including line management of staff, appraisals etc.
- Experience in leading and motivating staff.
- Experience of overseeing or delivering applied health research in health and/or social care organisations.
- Experience of translating research into practice or developing evidence informed policy.
Desirable
- Research management experience.
Skills
Essential
- Critical analysis of complex information
- High levels of communication and interpersonal skills both verbal and written including negotiation and diplomacy.
- Ability to present information in various formats and to different audiences both external and internal to the organisation.
- Excellent organisational skills including the ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines.
- Able to work flexibly.
- Ability to act independently in most circumstances
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of NHS patient safety policy
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality.
- Understanding of equality and diversity issues in the field of healthcare
- Understanding of what the NHS Constitution means to you, and your responsibilities to the public, patients and colleagues.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of delivering programmes of work within multi-disciplinary teams.
- A track record in peer review publication and/or production of policy documents and reports.
Desirable
- Experience of managing budgets
Skills
Essential
- High levels of computer literacy including Microsoft Office, statistical packages, databases.
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification or professional equivalent in social science or health related studies.
- PhD in area of applied health research or public health or equivalent research experience
Experience
Essential
- Programme or project management experience in a research or policy environment
- Experience of staff management, including line management of staff, appraisals etc.
- Experience in leading and motivating staff.
- Experience of overseeing or delivering applied health research in health and/or social care organisations.
- Experience of translating research into practice or developing evidence informed policy.
Desirable
- Research management experience.
Skills
Essential
- Critical analysis of complex information
- High levels of communication and interpersonal skills both verbal and written including negotiation and diplomacy.
- Ability to present information in various formats and to different audiences both external and internal to the organisation.
- Excellent organisational skills including the ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines.
- Able to work flexibly.
- Ability to act independently in most circumstances
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of NHS patient safety policy
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality.
- Understanding of equality and diversity issues in the field of healthcare
- Understanding of what the NHS Constitution means to you, and your responsibilities to the public, patients and colleagues.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
