About this role
Job summary
The Senior Mixed Methods Specialist is a senior technical role within the Strategic Value Unit (SVU) of Central East ICB. The postholder will provide specialist mixed methods expertise across the strategic commissioning cycle, ensuring that decisions are informed by high quality insights and evidence on effectiveness, implementation, experience, equity, value and population impact.
The role will design, lead and deliver complex evaluations of programmes, pathways, service models and system transformation priorities. This will include integrating qualitative, quantitative, implementation, experiential and contextual evidence to explain not only whether an intervention works, but how, why, for whom, in what circumstances and with what implications for future commissioning decisions.
The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary decision intelligence function. The role will contribute to the ICB's ability to use evidence, data and insight to prioritise resources, improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and support value-based strategic commissioning.
The postholder will support the development of evaluation methods within the SVU, including appropriate use of qualitative analysis software, survey tools, evidence synthesis methods, participatory approaches and emerging AI-enabled tools where these can be used safely, transparently and with appropriate governance.
Main duties of the job
A.Design, lead and deliver mixed methods evaluations, ensuring that they are aligned to the decision being supported.
B.Develop theories of change, logic models, evaluation frameworks, benefits realisation plans and evaluation protocols for complex interventions.
C.Lead qualitative and participatory evaluation methods, ensuring that methods are inclusive, ethical and proportionate.
D.Work with a multi-disciplinary team to integrate quantitative evidence, routine datasets, outcomes, activity, utilisation, survey data and patient experience data into mixed methods evaluation outputs.
E.Apply appropriate implementation and improvement frameworks to understand implementation context, mechanisms, barriers, enablers and sustainability.
F.Ensure that evaluation activity is delivered in line with relevant governance, ethics and safeguarding requirements.
G.Produce high-quality reports that communicate complex evaluation findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
H.Build effective relationships with stakeholders, including patient and public representatives.
I.Contribute to the development of SVU evaluation methods, templates, standards and quality assurance processes.
J.Provide technical leadership, supervision and training to colleagues undertaking evaluation activity, supporting the development of mixed methods evaluation capability across the ICB.
About us
We are committed to promoting equal opportunities to achieve equity of access, experience and outcomes and to recognising and valuing people's differences. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity; we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, values and behaviours. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers patient outcomes.
We are committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution is valued, your wellbeing is supported and all our colleagues can reach their full potential. We welcome and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of their protected characteristic. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone, including making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition and support with the recruitment process for people with lived experience.
We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles.
We operate a Carer friendly working environment that is supportive and inclusive. We actively encourage Carers to self-identify themselves.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and commit to shortlisting suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria for an interview. Please inform us of any adjustments you may require.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Senior Manager provides operational and managerial leadership and management The Senior Mixed Methods Specialist is principally a senior technical specialist role, providing advanced mixed methods evaluation expertise within the SVU. The postholder will be expected to work autonomously, lead complex evaluation workstreams, provide technical leadership, manage competing priorities and contribute to decisions that may be sensitive, contested, resource-constrained or methodologically complex.
The postholder will:
Lead the design and delivery of mixed methods evaluations across strategic commissioning, transformation, Neighbourhood Health, pathway redesign and programme evaluation.
Develop evaluation questions, theories of change, logic models, evaluation frameworks, protocols, data collection plans and reporting plans.
Select proportionate evaluation designs that reflect the decision question, programme maturity, available data, implementation context, equity considerations and evaluation risk.
Lead qualitative research and evaluation activity, including interviews, focus groups, workshops, observation, document review, case studies and thematic analysis.
Design and interpret surveys, patient and staff experience data, stakeholder feedback and other structured or semi-structured data collection approaches.
Work with quantitative analysts, statisticians, data scientists and health economists to incorporate routine data, outcomes data, utilisation data, activity data, financial data and population health data into evaluation outputs.
Apply implementation science, improvement and systems thinking approaches to understand delivery context, variation, barriers, enablers, acceptability, fidelity, adaptation and sustainability.
Ensure that evaluation methods are inclusive and reflect equality, diversity and health inequalities considerations, including appropriate engagement with underserved groups and attention to differential access, experience and outcomes.
Ensure that evaluations are delivered in line with information governance, ethics, research governance, data protection, safeguarding and consent requirements.
Produce clear, high-quality evaluation reports, analytical summaries, case studies, committee papers, presentations and briefings that support decision-making.
Present findings to a range of audiences, including commissioners, clinicians, senior leaders, patients, public representatives and system partners.
Translate evaluation evidence into practical recommendations, including commissioning decisions, redesign, or further evaluation.
Support the development of SVU evaluation standards, templates, quality assurance processes, methods guidance and knowledge management.
Explore and evaluate emerging methods and tools for evaluation, including qualitative analysis software, survey tools, text analysis, AI-enabled approaches and reproducible documentation, ensuring that any use is governed appropriately.
Contribute to grant applications, academic collaborations, or publications where these support ICB priorities and are agreed as part of the SVU work programme.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to Master's level in a directly relevant field, such as health services research, public health, evaluation, social research, psychology, sociology, behavioural science, implementation science, epidemiology, statistics, operational research or a related applied health or social science discipline. Evidence of ongoing professional development in mixed methods evaluation, applied research, implementation science, improvement science, qualitative methods, quantitative methods or health services research. Experience designing and delivering mixed methods evaluations or applied research in a health, care, public sector, consulting or research setting. Experience leading evaluation, research, improvement or analytical workstreams involving multiple stakeholders and data sources.
Desirable
Formal training in qualitative research, mixed methods research, implementation science, evaluation, improvement science, health services research or social research methods is desirable. Relevant professional membership or engagement with professional networks, for example the UK Evaluation Society, Social Research Association, Faculty of Public Health, Royal Statistical Society, Association of Professional Healthcare Analysts or equivalent is desirable.
Knowledge Essential
Advanced knowledge of mixed methods evaluation and applied research design, including how qualitative and quantitative methods can be integrated to answer practical decision-making questions. Experience designing and delivering evaluations of programmes, pathways, services, interventions, improvement initiatives or system transformation. Qualitative research experience, including interviews, focus groups, workshops, thematic analysis, framework analysis or other appropriate analytical approaches. Experience of patient and public involvement, co-production, participatory research or engagement with underserved communities. Experience interpreting quantitative evidence, including survey data, routine datasets, outcomes, utilisation, patient experience or performance data. Knowledge of implementation science, improvement science or systems approaches relevant to complex health and care interventions. Experience developing theories of change, logic models, evaluation frameworks, evaluation protocols or benefits realisation approaches.
Desirable
Understanding of NHS structures, strategic commissioning, population health management, inequalities, prevention and value-based care is desirable. Experience using recognised implementation or evaluation frameworks, such as CFIR, RE-AIM, Normalisation Process Theory, realist evaluation or contribution analysis is desirable. Experience using qualitative analysis, survey, evidence management or analytical software, such as NVivo, Qualtrics, REDCap, R, Python or equivalent is desirable. Experience contributing to grant applications, academic outputs, policy reports, conference presentations or external publications is desirable.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name NHS Central East ICB
Address Gemini House
Bartholomew’s Walk
Ely
CB7 4EA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.centraleast.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)