- Company Name
- Illuminate Recruitment Ltd
- Job Title
- Head of Research
- Job Description
-
Head of Research
Location: London (Hybrid – minimum 2 days in the office per week)
Salary: c. £60,000 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Line Reports: 1
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)
About the Organisation
This organisation is dedicated to advancing groundbreaking research in pregnancy and maternal health. As the largest charity funder of pregnancy research in the UK, it focuses on understanding and preventing complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth. By funding research centres, pioneering new treatments, and working to influence healthcare policies, the organisation plays a vital role in improving maternity care and outcomes.
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Research will lead and optimise the organisation’s research portfolio, ensuring all funded research is innovative, impactful, and aligned with strategic objectives. This role will drive research initiatives, develop key relationships with research centres and stakeholders, oversee governance processes, and lead patient and public involvement (PPIE) and equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) research activities. The postholder will also play a critical role in promoting research impact and increasing visibility within the healthcare and research communities.
Key Responsibilities
Research Strategy and Leadership
Develop and implement the organisation’s research strategy in collaboration with the Director of Research, Programmes and Impact, centre directors, and key stakeholders.
Stay updated with relevant publications to ensure expertise in the field and identify research gaps and opportunities.
Oversee funded research projects to ensure alignment with strategic objectives, focusing on innovation, impact, and real-world implementation.
Provide leadership and mentoring to the research team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
Ensure robust governance processes are in place for all research activities.
Report research activities and outcomes to the Leadership Team and Board.
Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
Maintain strong relationships with research centres, clinical experts, and national maternal health research networks, including Royal Colleges and specialist societies.
Represent the organisation at research conferences, high-level meetings, and other relevant events.
Engage with external partners such as the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Manage and develop research review groups, ensuring appropriate representation for diverse research topics.
Research Management, Quality, and Impact
Oversee research governance, ensuring compliance with best practices and AMRC guidance.
Monitor and evaluate research projects to ensure they deliver high-quality, impactful outcomes.
Identify new research opportunities and areas where funding could drive meaningful progress.
Ensure research findings are communicated effectively, working closely with policy and communications teams to maximise impact.
Lead the organisation’s peer review process for research proposals.
Financial Management
Manage the research budget, ensuring funds are allocated effectively and monitored rigorously.
Lead financial planning and resource management to maximise research impact.
Patient and Public Involvement (PPIE) & Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
Develop and implement an inclusive EDI strategy to ensure research represents diverse communities.
Oversee PPIE activities, ensuring meaningful patient and public involvement in research programmes.
Establish and lead a Parent Voices Committee to provide insights and lived experiences that shape research initiatives.
Person Specification
Essential Experience & Knowledge
Extensive experience in research programme management and governance, ideally within healthcare or medical research.
Proven ability to manage budgets and complex research projects.
Strong understanding of peer review processes, funding governance, and research impact evaluation.
Experience in stakeholder engagement, including working with clinical and academic research networks.
A track record of leading patient and public engagement initiatives in research.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present research findings to diverse audiences.
Desirable Experience & Knowledge
Experience in maternal and child health research, particularly in pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or preterm birth.
Knowledge of ethics and regulatory frameworks governing medical research.
Familiarity with funding applications and grant-making processes.
Skills & Attributes
Strategic thinker, with the ability to translate research into real-world impact.
Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
Strong leadership abilities, with experience in mentoring and developing teams.
Ability to analyse data, synthesise insights, and present complex research findings clearly.
Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail and project management skills.
Passionate about improving maternal health and reducing baby loss.
What can we offer you
25 days’ annual leave, increasing with service, plus bank holidays.
Option to buy up to 5 extra days of holiday per year.
Flexible working hours, including up to 6 ‘flex’ hours per month.
A strong focus on work-life balance, discouraging long working hours.
Paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of service.
Enhanced maternity and parental leave pay.
Training and career development opportunities.
A season ticket loan scheme and cycle-to-work scheme.
Hybrid working, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office.
Equity and Diversity
The organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive culture where everyone is valued, respected, and supported. It is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes for all communities, tackling inequities in healthcare, and ensuring research reflects the diverse populations it serves.
