Workforce and Organisational Development Director
The National Institute for Health and Social Care (NIHR) funds, enables, and delivers world-leading health and social care research. The work of the NIHR is directed by the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), who is also NIHR’s Chief Executive Officer, and by the Senior Management Team of DHSC's Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate.
The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), launched in October 2024, supports the country’s world-class research system to deliver high-quality research. Through a network of 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) and a coordinating centre (the RDNCC), the RDN operates as a single organisation across England. It combines regional expertise and leadership with national coordination and strategy involving government policymakers.
As part of the NIHR RDN national leadership team, this high-profile role provides visible, dynamic, and effective senior leadership, direction, and oversight for workforce and organisational development. You will shape and lead the development and delivery of inclusion, workforce, and organisational initiatives across the NIHR RDN. You will develop a highly skilled professional workforce and foster a culture of continuous improvement, shared learning, best practice, and inclusivity.
You will be responsible for embedding inclusion throughout NIHR RDN culture and practice, driving innovation, continuous improvement, shared learning, and best practice. You will ensure the workforce has excellence in knowledge, skills, and professional practice. The role requires strategic thinking and planning, as well as effective operational implementation of workforce and organisational development.
You will collaborate with other Directors as part of a high-performing team to lead the organisation-wide shift in ways of working and culture necessary for the network to function as a unified organisation with a shared purpose and vision across England. You will also lead your Directorate team through transformation and beyond. The NIHR RDN is multifaceted, diverse, and ambitious, requiring flexibility, effective change management, and the ability to support others in delivering measurable results aligned with the NIHR RDN vision.
This national role involves substantial travel within the UK and may require some international travel.
What we offer in return
The University of Leeds offers 26 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and closure days, a generous pension scheme including life assurance, access to personal and professional development opportunities, on-site childcare, and discounted gym memberships. For a full list of benefits, please visit: Staff benefits | University of Leeds
Applications
Applications should be submitted online. Guidance can be found on our ‘How to Apply’ page.
Your application should include:
* A statement explaining how your knowledge, skills, and experience meet the role’s requirements;
* Your curriculum vitae with full details of qualifications and experience.
For further information or queries, please contact:
Sue Hayley, PA to Professor Andrew Ustianowski, Interim RDN Executive Director
Email: sue.haley@nihr.ac.uk
Interview date: Friday 20 June 2025.
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