Capability Development Lead - Health Determinants Research Collaboration (Hdrc)

Capability Development Lead - Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £69,262 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 27th May 2024

About us

We want everyone who lives in Greater Essex to have the same opportunities to succeed in life. We are making progress towards this, but we still have a way to go. For too many communities low levels of education, limited economic opportunities and poor living conditions lead to disparities in mental and physical health and lower life-expectancy. Those who are most vulnerable experience the greatest disadvantages.

If we are to secure further progress, public service agencies will need to work together. But they will also need to foster a culture and develop the capability to seek out and implement new solutions - undertaking new research, interpreting evidence and using new insights to inform decisions on both strategic policy and operational practice.

We are looking for the right candidate to help us secure this culture and capability.

About the role

As our Capability Development Lead, you’ll join the team leading the new Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Greater Essex – part of the emerging network of research centres that are based in local authorities, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and focused on building research capacity and capability between local government and the academic sector.

The team will be hosted by Essex County Council, but you’ll work hand-in-glove with colleagues in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Councils, and across the University of Essex and Anglia Ruskin University.

You’ll provide leadership to the HDRC Greater Essex’s Capability Development programme, building through this the capability of partner councils to undertake, understand and use research evidence in shaping strategic, commissioning and operational decisions.

You’ll develop and deliver a portfolio of initiatives designed to enhance system and organisational research capability. Your focus will be in identifying future funding opportunities for the HDRC’s research activities, supporting the development of research capability across the workforce and delivering initiatives that create a supportive environment for research across the HDRC’s partner councils. This will include managing professional development opportunities; developing a community of practice for researchers, leading work to develop and embed a new HDRC fellowship programme. The post holder will also explore opportunities to draw on wider resources and opportunities for collaboration in order to strengthen capability in the centre and beyond.

You’ll understand the factors that influence decision-making in political and public service environments and the role research evidence can play in these shaping decisions. You’ll understand the challenge of securing positive behavioural change amongst stakeholders, and have experience of executing effective strategies for securing and sustaining culture change in a large and complex organisation/system. You’ll develop relationships with senior stakeholders across HDRC partners, to facilitate new working practices and to secure meaningful behaviour and culture change within local government.

The role is a great opportunity to influence the future of local public services – driving a stronger research culture that prioritises the use of evidence in shaping policy to improve the health, quality of life for and opportunity for some of our most challenged residents and communities.

In return, you can look forward an excellent rewards package, as well as flexible working and long-term career opportunities.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for:

· leading the development and delivery of the HDRC’s Capability Development and Culture Change programme, building through this the capability of partner councils to undertake, understand and use research evidence in shaping strategic, commissioning and operational decisions in support of their strategic priorities.

· working with partner agencies, universities and funders of research (e.g. Research Councils, charitable trusts) to identify new opportunities to augment and sustain the work of the HDRC, and to provide advice and guidance to researchers in developing funding bids.

· designing and overseeing delivery of a programme of learning opportunities for employees across partner councils (Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council) and managing a fund to support researchers in accessing continuous professional development opportunities.

· convening and building a self-sustaining Community of Practice bringing together research-active employees from across Essex’s system of public services, creating opportunities for peer-learning and support, collaboration and strengthening advocacy for research across the system.

· developing and embedding a new HDRC Fellowship Scheme across partner councils, enabling public-service leaders of the future to work within the HDRC’s research programme, gaining new skills and undertaking supported action learning.

· delivering outreach activity with senior executive and political leaders across Greater Essex – delivering bespoke workshops focused on the value of supporting and facilitating research and engaging with the public in policy-making.

· Responsible for evaluating and tracking progress in securing shifts in culture and capability across partner councils, using qualitative and quantitative methods to gauge progress and reporting into senior forums and to the NIHR.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

We’re looking for people with significant experience in delivering research and analysis for large, complex organisations. You’ll have a track record in delivering research that impacts strategic decision making.

We are looking for candidates who meet the following criteria:

· Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience

· Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in a relevant professional area (research, policy, innovation and partnership working).

· Significant experience of designing and delivering programmes and initiatives involving establishing new ways of working in a complex multi-stakeholder environment organisation and across a partnership landscape.

· Experience of successfully translating vision and strategy to high quality projects that have influenced strategic decision-making and delivered tangible impact for Essex residents.

· Significant experience of successfully leading and motivating multi-disciplinary teams and communities of interest to deliver positive outcomes.

· Extensive knowledge of Capability Development and culture change methodologies – preferably Certified Change Management practitioner (e.g. APMG accredited).

· Extensive knowledge of the research funding and delivery landscape including experience of successfully developing business cases and/or funding bids.

· Experience of delivering public services in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment with demonstrable experience of working in a political environment, skills in understanding and responding to different perspectives and taking a cross organisational perspective.

· Strong coaching and consultancy skills will be key for the post holder, with ability to demonstrate how these have been utilised to help individuals, teams and organisations move forwards together when there are different perspectives, needs and demands.

For a copy of the HDRC Greater Essex Research Plan or an informal conversation please contact Alastair Gordon, HDRC Director and ECC’s Head of Profession for Research, at Alastair.Gordon@essex.gov.uk 

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the link.

Interviews for this role will be scheduled between 17 th and 28 th June.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk  

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