Director of Adolescent Health Study
Employer Location London Offices, London, England / Swindon, Wiltshire Salary Up to £160,000 per annum FTE (depending on skills and experience) Closing date 19 Feb 2024
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Director of Adolescent Health Study
Up to £160,000 per annum FTE (depending on skills and experience).
If the successful candidate is in receipt of a Clinical Excellence Award, we are able to compensate this as an additional allowance.
Due to the nature of the programme, we can accommodate a number of flexible options based around the successful candidates' preferences and current professional commitments, including fixed-term, secondment and permanent contracts.
The minimum commitment duration is 36 months and minimum hours required is 0.4 FTE (FTE 37 hours) per week.
The Medical Research Council is seeking an experienced scientific leader as Director of the Adolescent Health Study (AHS). As part of the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, AHS will fill the current critical gap of population-based studies in adolescence. You will play a fundamental role in establishing a robust strategy to successfully deliver the £62m project which will equip researchers with crucial insights into the health and developmental pathways of adolescents throughout the dynamic landscape of the 2020s.
About the Adolescent Health Study
AHS will be a new longitudinal population study and data platform to enable research on critical biological and social factors that affect development during adolescence, with a key focus on health equity. It is designed to be representative of the full range of socioeconomic and ethnic groups in the UK, including under-represented populations. AHS plans to recruit 100,000 participants between the ages of 8-18 years across multiple study sites.
The two phases of the AHS design are:
1. an initial two-year phase of engagement work to optimise recruitment and retention strategies, and an internal pilot to test and improve study processes (2024-2026)
2. a subsequent 10-year phase to recruit all remaining participants and study their development (2026-2036)
The Director will have a compelling vision and strategic approach to guiding the design, development and successful delivery of AHS. An outstanding collaborator, they will be the recognised champion for AHS and will inspire and influence stakeholders from diverse fields and backgrounds to engage with and benefit the study. The Director will take an inclusive approach to the co-production of research and will build effective partnerships, stimulating and adopting innovation.
Key areas of focus will include:
3. accountability as Director for ensuring effective co-ordination and overall delivery of AHS
4. effectively manage budgets, risks and issues, reporting and raising to the MRC Executive Chair / Chief Scientific Officer and the Board as required
5. guide the design and development of AHS through an initial 2-year pilot and engagement phase and the subsequent main phase, currently supported for 10 years, working with key stakeholders and collaborators to ensure AHS meets its strategic objectives
6. be a credible and influential advocate for AHS across a wide range of stakeholders
7. lead a small, centralised administrative team (approximately 4 individuals) and to lead AHS study sites, to ensure that there is effective networking and collaboration
8. Arrangements for data and biosample collection and storage, including delivery of a Trusted Research Environment for AHS to facilitate open and secure data access and analysis
9. build and maintain trust with young people, whose active involvement will be integral to the design, set up and longevity of the AHS, and with parents, schools and local authorities - special consideration will need to be given to under-represented population groups taking account of AHS study site locations
About you
We understand that individuals might hesitate to submit an application if they don't meet each of the criteria. If you're enthusiastic about joining our organisation and possess a majority of the skills or experience, we encourage you to proceed with an application. We recognise that a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enriches our work environment and therefore actively welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates.
We are seeking a credible leader with experience of delivering complex or high-reaching projects or programmes, with excellent programme and people leadership skills, the ability to proactively and effectively identify and address issues which may threaten successful delivery.
Candidates should be at academic Reader level qualification or above, normally expected to hold a PhD or equivalent. For example, the postholder could be a senior and established expert, or someone striving to achieve distinction in the field.
Other attributes include:
10. a substantial record of securing research funding and delivering high-quality population health research, demonstrating strategic vision and leadership - expertise in adolescent health research is desirable
11. a detailed understanding of the challenges and opportunities of establishing a multi-site longitudinal population study of this size and importance, particularly in recruiting and retaining young participants from a diverse set of backgrounds
12. adapting an inclusive, networking approach, working effectively with researchers from different fields, particularly outside of their immediate expertise
13. experience in building trust and relationships around research with diverse stakeholders
14. experience of co-production of research, including with young people and/or under-represented population groups
How to apply
Applications can be submitted on Careers Portal by submitting a CV and statement of suitability (also referred to as cover letter) by 23:59 on Monday 19 February 2024. Details of application requirements are included in the candidate prospectus.
Interviews are expected to be held in person in central London on Tuesday 19 March 2024 .
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us. You can find out more about our commitment to diversity .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit our website.
Supporting Documents for Director of Adolescent Health Study
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