NIHR Research Delivery Network Deputy Health and Care Director

We seek to appoint three individuals to these posts through a secondment from their current employing organisation. Applicants should seek agreement from their employing organisation prior to submitting an application.

Responsible for supporting the leadership and successful delivery of RDN activities in these domains:

• Specialties & Settings
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Strategic Development

Direct reports:

• National Specialty and Setting Leads

Overview of the Role

The University of Leeds has been chosen by the UK government to lead the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre, and will be joined by 12 new Regional Delivery Networks, hosted by NHS organisations across the country to form the NIHR Research Delivery Network. The new NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) will operate as one unified organisation across England, balancing regional context, expertise and leadership with national coordination and strategy involving government policymakers. 

This role will report into the Strategic Development Director and provide visible and effective senior leadership across the specialties and settings. You will deputise for the Strategic Development Director as the senior clinician for RDN when required, providing clinical opinion in relation to research delivery as required.

You will use your own extensive, and current, knowledge of the health and care environment,  combined with intelligence gathered from a range of national and international sources, to support the Strategic Development Director and Deputy Director to identify opportunities and challenges for the future development of capacity and capability in research delivery. You will be required to undertake activities in support of the strategies developed and you will have senior oversight of those activities.

The RDN will  appoint a cohort of Health and Care Specialty and Setting Leads (SSLs) to whom you will  provide senior health and care leadership and strategic oversight. The SSLs will provide   senior leadership and strategic direction for matters of research delivery across their individual setting or specialty and you will provide senior leadership and strategic direction for matters of research delivery for a number of cross-cutting themes. You will support the Strategic Development Director and Deputy Director in the organisation-wide shift in ways of working and culture that is required to ensure the network functions as a single organisation with a shared purpose and vision across England, specifically in relation to the SSLs.

This role requires exceptional strategic knowledge of research delivery and experience of the NHS and social care landscapes, the NIHR and government health and care research strategies. 

The RDN is a multifaceted, diverse and ambitious organisation, and you will be able to provide credible leadership across organisational boundaries and be comfortable working out with conventional management hierarchies. Working with both health and care organisations, staff and professional groups, you will have presence and will be able to demonstrate inspirational leadership and influence in a host of settings. With the ability to think strategically and grasp complex policy and political issues, you will have a strong understanding of health and care research delivery policy and practice, and of the opportunities and challenges in maximising health and care research for the benefit of patients and the public.

This national role requires substantial national travel and some international travel.

Interviews will be held face to face in Leeds and will likely take place during w/c 13th or 20th May 2024

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