Head of Research & Intelligence

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Head of Research and Intelligence is responsible for turning data from the Register into tangible intelligence and making this information available to clinicians, researchers and the general public through our publications and in response to enquiries, parliamentary questions and freedom of information requests. The postholder is the external facing lead on all our data, including contributing to media responses, patient engagement and academic research.

We also release Register data for the purposes of research and the Head of Research and Intelligence is responsible for the process of approving projects and making this information available to enable in depth research into fertility treatment and outcomes. The Head of Research and Intelligence will also look to supplement Register data with information collected through inspections and in qualitative insight gained through the patient surveys, consultations, and our new Patient Engagement Forum.

The HFEA has recently launched a new data submission system and completed a data migration project, to modernise the Register. This presents an exciting opportunity to make better use of Register data and enable greater access to it over time.

Responsibilities 

1. Lead and develop the HFEA’s research and intelligence function, supporting and coaching staff and achieving the Authority’s ambition to make better use of Register data.

2. Champion the use of HFEA data to internal and external audiences, representing the HFEA at conferences, events, and patient/professional stakeholder groups. Work with external organisations to learn best practice and participate in national data initiatives.

3. Be accountable for all corporate publications on research and data, this includes our annual Fertility Trends official statistics and other ad hoc publications.

4. Have lead responsibility to ensure the HFEA responds appropriately and within set timeframes to information requests, including parliamentary questions and freedom of information requests, drafting and signing off responses when required.

5. Oversee processes and procedures for managing information requests and data reporting and sharing across the HFEA. Develop ways to proactively respond to data requests and work to automate processes where possible.

6. Ensure smooth processes for administering external requests for data via the Register Research Panel. Liaise with researchers and build a strong network to create opportunities for further research using our data. Manage the work of the research manager and officer supporting the panel including reviewing papers and minutes and advising the panel. Oversee any legal or data sharing agreements when required.

7. Create and monitor service delivery plans in line with the overall corporate strategy and act as corporate project sponsor for research projects, monitoring risks and performance of the team and individual projects.

8. Collaborate with other teams and external stakeholders to identify new areas for reporting for publications for internal and external audiences to contribute to delivery of HFEA strategy.

9. Work with colleagues across the organisation to collect and derive insight from qualitative information collected from the National Patient Survey and Patient Engagement Forum.

10. Be an effective team leader, member of the Strategy and Corporate Affairs directorate leadership team and wider Corporate Management Group.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of managing and developing teams
• Experience of managing budgets, operational risk and performance reporting
• Extensive experience of statistical analysis in a healthcare or public setting, particularly administrative datasets

Desirable

• Experience of managing a research, insight or intelligence function in a regulator, public or third sector organisation.
• Experience of Tableau, including creating and managing dashboards
• Experience of answering Freedom of Information requests and parliamentary questions

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Desirable

• Masters degree in quantitative analysis public health or similar

Managing work

Essential

• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively, making reasoned judgements and decisions
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues with different areas of expertise
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills and an ability to present clearly to boards, internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience of communicating data and insights to lay and professional audiences at high levels.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate and influence a wide range of stakeholders, including at a senior level

Knowledge

Essential

• Academic or practical knowledge of business intelligence, quantitative or qualitative research, statistics or customer insight
• Understanding of effective stakeholder relations and experience of effective use of research and data on national public policy issues
• An ability to understand and present complex information whether quantitative or qualitative to different audiences

Desirable

• Understanding of policy development and working within a legal framework.
• Knowledge of current best practice relating to information governance and data protection
• Understanding of publishing official statistics

Employer details

Employer name

Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

Address

2nd Floor

2 Redman Place

London

E20 1JQ

Employer's website

https://www.hfea.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)