About this role
Job summary
The Senior Engagement Officer helps the Health Research Authority (HRA) to make change happen. This is a key role within the Policy and Partnerships Directorate, supporting projects and engagement activities that form part of the Policy and Partnerships Directorate's busy work plan.
Main duties of the job
Work with colleagues develop and implement communications and engagement plans for different HRA projects, reporting on these where relevant. Plan and deliver events with external stakeholders and members of the HRA community, including workshop sessions and webinars, that support the HRA's policy development and increase our influence to deliver our mission. Monitor issues affecting our stakeholders, and developments in the wider health and social care research environment. Share this information, showing how this impacts the HRA. Support collaboration with stakeholders including patients, the public and research professionals through projects and forums. Represent the HRA at events and meetings with stakeholders.
About us
Working at the HRA, we are reminded daily of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process. When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement - if it works for us, we will do our best to make it work for you.
The HRA offers home based contracts for all locations. Newcastle, Manchester and Nottingham based staff can be office based and hybrid working arrangements are also possible. Applicants are encouraged to speak to their Recruiting Manager to explore how these arrangements can be accommodated.
Job description Job responsibilities
This role sits within the Policy and Partnerships directorate which is made up of three teams: policy and engagement, communications and public involvement. We provide support and advice across the organisation on communicating with staff and external audiences, engaging with stakeholders and involving patients and the public in our work. To find out more and to understand the full duties of the role, please refer to the job description attached. In submitting your application with us, please note the following: We currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies. We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement. Where applicants fail to demonstrate how they meet any one of the essential criteria of the person specification, the application will not be shortlisted. You will be considered based only on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered. The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Experience of engaging with people about policy issues in any sector and a strong theoretical understanding of how to do this well. This should be equivalent to at least a post-graduate diploma level of training and experience, but we recognise and welcome that you may have taken very different routes to this.
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise Essential
Good analytical and judgement skills, with the ability to apply these to independently manage competing priorities on your time and to be flexible and adaptable when needed to make these happen. A good communicator, both in person and in writing, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and accessible way to different audiences.
Desirable
Understanding of health and social care research policy. Understanding of the policy-making process, including the role of government and parliament.
Experience Essential
Able to manage engagement projects from beginning to end, including defining objectives, designing an appropriate approach to meet these, making this happen, reporting on progress, and using the outputs to inform change. Experience of engaging with people and organisations about health and social care research policy and/or issues in research.
Desirable
Experience of supporting committees or stakeholder groups, including liaising with members and writing minutes.
Analytical and judgemental skills Essential
Able to proactively find, interpret, and define information about issues and stakeholders that are important to the HRA's work, analyse and identify what this means for the HRA, and share these insights with colleagues.
Interpersonal skills Essential
Able to apply insights to engage with people and organisations in a way that works for them so that you can build and maintain great relationships with stakeholders. Confident to engage with people who may have different and conflicting points of view and use diplomacy and sensitivity to find a way to move forward together. Proactively ask for and use feedback to inform your actions, even if it means you need to change your approach.
Other Essential
Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity.
Employer details Employer name Health Research Authority
Address Nottingham
Seaton House, City Link
Nottingham
NG2 4LA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.hra.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)