Head of Strategy, Engagement and Inclusion

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to enable the health and care system to attract, optimise and deliver research across England. The RDN consist of 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) and a Coordinating Centre (RDNCC), working together as one organisation with joint leadership. The Network contributes to NIHR’s mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. North London RRDN, hosted by Barts Health NHS Trust, is at the forefront of this mission, enabling research that improves lives.

The Role

As Head of Strategy, Engagement, and Inclusion, you will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic development of the North London RRDN. Working at the regional and national levels, you will lead initiatives to engage diverse stakeholders, embed inclusive practices, and enhance public involvement in health and care research. Reporting to the RRDN Strategic Development Director, you will manage the domains of Strategy, Communications, and Study Participation Inclusion, supporting the delivery of national priorities across the region.

• Develop and implement regional strategies aligned with national RDN priorities.
• Lead engagement and inclusion initiatives to increase participation in research, particularly from underserved communities.
• Provide senior leadership to the RRDN, overseeing Strategy, Communications, and Study Participation Inclusion teams.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, ensuring alignment with NIHR and NHS objectives.
• Analyse data to support decision-making and the development of regional capacity and capability.
• Promote continuous improvement by embedding inclusive practices in research delivery.
• Represent the RRDN at national forums, acting as an ambassador for the RDN.

We are looking for a strategic thinker and visionary leader with a strong background in stakeholder engagement, inclusion, and strategy development within the NHS or a related field. You will have experience in matrix management, financial planning, and performance evaluation. Your ability to build collaborative relationships, coupled with advanced communication and analytical skills, will be critical to your success in this role.

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Regimantas Pestininkas Job title: Strategic Development Director Email address: [email protected]