Senior Researcher (Post Doc) HDRC

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Context

This is an exciting role within the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Determinants Research Collaboration-HDRCNorth Yorkshire. The HDRC North Yorkshire is a collaboration with the Universities of Hull and York that will develop the research culture of North Yorkshire Council and build Council-University partnerships to conduct and use research on the health and wellbeing issues that matter to communities, and which reduce inequalities, see NIHR Award 158758 https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR158758

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious postdoctoral researcher to develop their career at the interface of research, policy, and practice with a focus on the determinants of health and wellbeing and tackling inequalities. You will be aligned to a council directorate and work collaboratively with frontline staff, managers, and leaders, to develop Areas of Research Interest.

Supported by our growing research community of practice, the Senior Researcher will lead and develop research activities that meet these identified research needs. You will work alongside staff and support them in their research endeavours.

The HDRC NY has four work packages, each co-Led by Council staff and University academics:

development of research infrastructure & governance, development of research capacity & capability, dissemination & impact, and learning & evaluation. Working with HDRC colleagues across our four work packages, the successful applicant will be expected to collaboratively develop and obtain external research grant funding to support the long-term sustainability of the councils research activity.

The postholder will be part of a team of HDRC embedded researchers employed by the Universities of Hull and York. They will work alongside other HDRC staff leading work areas of behavioural science, health economics, public involvement in research and research governance. The postholder will receive an honorary contract with Hull University and access to academic support and supervision through our wider HDRC partnership.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the role is to lead and direct research activity across NYC, working at the interface of research, policy and practice securing knowledge exchange to transform the way the council delivers services to maximise health and reduce inequalities.

Operational Management

• Lead the development of a research programme for North Yorkshire Council and HDRC North Yorkshire, including the development of Areas of Research Interest, that responds to council priorities and addresses areas of greatest heath inequalities in North Yorkshire.
• Lead the delivery of research work programmes ensuring milestones are met and workloads prioritised.
• Carry out research in collaboration with council staff and academic partners.
• Design, deliver and evaluate training to build the research capacity and capability of the NYC workforce.
• Interpret complex research and information (quantitative and or qualitative) to influence decision making and drive the research agenda and culture across the Council.
• Lead the development of competitive research grant proposals for external funding working collaboratively with directorate research leads, service managers, other relevant staff, and academic partners.
• Lead the development and monitoring of research performance indicators and impact measures of the research projects and programmes.
• Meet reporting requirements of project grant agreements.
• Lead the production of research performance reports and submit to relevant committees as required (e.g., HDRC Strategic Steering Group which includes Assistant Directors and Councillors Representatives).
• When successful funding bids are mobilised, manage recruitment and training of research staff and provide day-to-day supervision of relevant team members.

Strategic Management

• Lead collaborative work with directorate research leads and service managers to identify opportunities for research, and shape programmes of work.
• Lead and develop an evolving research culture and collaborative working across the HDRC Team, Council, Universities, and other partners.
• Provide academic and research advice to frontline council staff, managers, and leaders.
• Advise and guide the HDRC NY research training offer to meet the needs of the NYC workforce.
• Contribute to the design, development and monitoring of HDRC NYs impact.
• Horizon scan to identify research opportunities that align with the Councils business needs and priorities.

Resource Management

• Where appropriate, act as budget holder for specific projects or initiatives.
• Manage and report on the progress of specific grant-related projects.

Partnerships

• Convene and chair a range of research related meetings to support research capacity building and knowledge exchange.
• Advise and develop NYC research communities of practice to influence research strategic priorities and practice within directorates.
• Foster and build a range of relationships with partner organisations to support research collaboration around a range of topics relevant to NYC priorities.

Communications

• Prepare and present reports and research findings to senior audiences, including multi-agency partnerships, academic conferences, directorate leadership teams, service leaderships teams, and elected members.
• Prepare research findings for publication in academic journals and on NIHR, Local Government practitioner platforms.
• Provide research advice to senior audiences including the members of directorate leadership teams, service leadership teams, and senior officers in partner organisations.
• Adapt language and style to a variety of audiences and deliver persuasive, memorable communications.
• Present complex and sensitive research information meaningfully to a range of different audiences.
• Prepare reports for funders, publications for peer-reviewed journals, professional network publications, and activities to disseminate the work of HDRC NY.
• Promote and represent the HDRC NY at national, regional, and local policy, operational and co-ordination forums with external agencies and other services when required.
• Lead and develop a variety of research dissemination activities and knowledge exchange events.

Systems and information

• Carry out duties in accordance with NYC systems and information policies.
• Utilise the agreed business processes in relation to record keeping, financial monitoring, ICT, research governance, and data protection.
• Regularly monitor outcomes and impact in relation to specific research activities and initiatives.
• Formulate and utilise information management systems e.g., computer software and data dashboards to collate and compile records and to convey information.

Person Specification

Occupational Skills

Essential

• Knowledge and application of a range of research designs and methodologies that can be applied to health and community settings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly developed inter-personal skills and an ability to influence others.
• Ability to present evidence to inform decision making and policy, adapting style and approach to audience.
• Ability to lead, manage and motivate individuals and teams to deliver high quality impactful research.
• Experience of designing and delivering training in research skills and knowledge.
• Ability to work in an open and transparent way, providing information and communicating effectively with colleagues.
• Able to handle and negotiate conflict effectively and understand different perspectives.
• Ability to plan, organise and monitor own work, with minimal supervision, in order to achieve tasks and meet deadlines.
• Effective management of resources delivering projects on time and in budget.
• Excellent analytical skills for qualitative and or quantitative research.
• Good IT skills and ability to use a range of IT and research packages.
• Good understanding of data protection legislation and guidance.
• Effective participation in networks that seek to promote research collaboration. including academic networks in relevant fields.

Desirable

• Named investigator on successful research funding bids

Qualifications

Essential

• A PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline

Experience

Essential

• Understanding of the opportunities and challenges in developing a strong research culture in local government to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.
• Knowledge of approaches to develop a research active local authority.
• Understanding of respective roles of local authorities, universities, and key stake holders within the local research ecosystem.
• Understanding of the barriers in bringing research into practice, and the implementation strategies that can facilitate its adoption.
• An established track record of designing and delivering high quality research on health, inequalities and its wider and determinants.
• Experience of developing and implementing multi-agency research, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, and working across organisational boundaries.
• Experience of designing and delivering co-production in research studies.
• Experience of writing successful research grant applications.
• A track record of research publication and dissemination including academic publications, presentations at conferences and professional network, and translation of research findings for a range of audiences.

Desirable

• Understanding of national and local health research systems and funders of public health research.
• Post doctoral experience of applied research.
• Experience of designing and delivering research in collaboration with local government.

Employer details

Employer name

North Yorkshire Council

Address

County Hall

Racecourse Lane

Northallerton

North Yorkshire

DL7 8AE

Employer's website

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