Purpose We are not advertising this role externally - external applicants will not be accepted. This is a temporary acting up position for the duration of a maternity leave. The post will begin in January and last 12 months. As a Fellow in the Nuffield Trust, you will play a key role in furthering the Trust’s overall aims by delivering, and maximising the impact of, high quality research and analysis. There is an expectation that you will take a lead on analysis and policy work related to the NHS workforce. You will be also expected to work on a mix of projects across different topic areas as needed, taking a lead on smaller projects or workstreams within larger projects. You will bring your individual expertise to the role. A track record of health or care research, with a strong grounding in quantitative methods, is essential, along with a good understanding of current NHS workforce policy. Strong critical thinking as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for the position. The role also requires someone who has an ability to collaborate with others in the organisation, build relationships with different stakeholders externally and potential to develop management and leadership skills. An important part of the role is working with the communications team and senior spokespeople to support communication with the media about workforce issues. Main responsibilities Reporting to a Senior Fellow or Deputy Director, and working within the wider organisation, you will assume the following principal responsibilities:- Leading and undertaking research Play a key role within the Trust’s research on workforce, taking responsibility for tracking workforce indicators and informing our responsive work with policy relevant insight. Take responsibility for projects or parts of projects relating to workforce or other topics, including the research design, planning, development and delivery of research projects; working in collaboration with others within internal and external project teams. Undertake research and policy analysis, drawing on relevant and appropriate evidence and using appropriate research and analysis methods. This could include quantitative methods using routine published data as well as large datasets, as part of quantitative or mixed methods projects. Analyse and synthesise evidence and information on a wide range of health and care topics, bearing in mind the relevance to the policy context, drawing appropriate conclusions and proposing recommendations. Develop expertise on a range of topics as required, keep abreast of policy developments and contextual changes in areas relevant to the work and identify implications of those changes to the project work, adapting and evolving it as necessary. Project and people management Where opportunities arise, take responsibility for the development of project proposals and funding bids, eventually designing manageable research projects. Supervise the analytical and research work carried out by colleagues, setting clear objectives within projects; and helping to develop their skills, coaching and supporting them where appropriate; undertaking quality assurance of outputs. Beyond project work, potentially have responsibility for supporting the day-to-day management, wellbeing and development of colleagues as a line manager. Actively contribute to a collaborative and supportive culture in line with the values of the Trust, ensuring all team members (inside and outside the Trust) can contribute, making efforts to share opportunities appropriately. Ensure that the Nuffield Trust’s research processes (e.g. research ethics, data governance, and writing conventions) are adhered to in all our work. Securing impact Provide support to our media work about workforce, working collaboratively with other researchers, the communications team and senior spokespeople, to ensure our response to NHS workforce policy events are evidence based, by supporting media briefings and enquiries. Make written and oral presentations to internal and external audiences and communicate complex findings in an accessible way, thinking creatively about how best to present data and key messages. Write in a range of formats to disseminate the results of our research and analysis, being mindful of the target audience and the policy context. Examples include writing academic-style reports, concise parliamentary briefings and short blogs. Act as lead author for all or substantive parts of publications, offering support and feedback to other authors, and refining drafts to ensure they reflect the strength of evidence and draw out relevant policy implications. Assist with, and in some cases lead, the planning, organisation and running of seminars and workshops held by the Trust and write reports of such events. Work with colleagues in the communications department throughout the life cycle of projects to identify potential impacts from your work and disseminate them effectively, exploring different outlets and outputs. Building knowledge and working with stakeholders Keep abreast of developments in relevant areas of health and social care policy and actively participate in meetings and discussions about current policy, contributing that knowledge to outputs relevant to the work of the Trust beyond project publications. Build and manage working relationships with colleagues in the Trust to facilitate the smooth running of the organisation and to ensure the quality of our work. Proactively build new relevant networks with external stakeholders both to extend impact and influence and to ensure effective exchange of information about shared work and interests. Contributing to the Trust’s values Uphold the ethos and values of the Nuffield Trust, demonstrating a commitment to our principles of objectivity and equal opportunities. Undertake any other duties which may reasonably be required in furtherance of the objectives of the Trust. Understand and apply the principles of good research and information governance and abide by the Nuffield Trust research policies. Person specification Essential Experience A bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate qualification (master’s degree or doctorate) or equivalent experience in a subject relevant to health services/policy research. A deep knowledge of health and/or care services and related policy. A demonstrable interest in one or more of its components. Skills and abilities A track record in health or social care services research, including quantitative and policy analysis. An understanding of published and administrative workforce data. An understanding of workforce policy, including experience of drawing insights from analysis of workforce trends within a health or social care context. Proven ability to analyse workforce and other relevant datasets, selecting and applying a range of quantitative research methods, including statistical or econometric methods, using software packages such as R, STATA, SAS or SPSS. Experience of undertaking media work e.g. briefing journalists or developing quotes to be used in the media, and supporting senior spokespeople with information and insights in response to external events. Experience of broadcast journalism is desirable but not essential. Excellent oral and written communication skills and demonstrable experience of writing in a range of styles and presenting to academic, professional and lay audiences. Ability to gather, analyse, interpret and synthesise complex information derived from policy documents and research studies and to use appropriately in the context of the Nuffield Trust’s work. Proven ability to work to strict deadlines delivering high quality output, managing your own time to suit changing priorities and deadlines. Experience of managing projects or a component of a project with a good understanding of the essential components of project management. An ability to collaborate with colleagues, internally and externally, sharing opportunities and enabling others to make a full contribution. Ability to lead by example and provide supervision and support to colleagues. Demonstrable commitment to learning and to continued professional development. Demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, including in your approach to research and policy work. All staff are required to work within Nuffield Trust’s policies, ensuring these are carried out in relation to the job, e.g., Confidentiality, Data Protection, Equal Opportunities and Diversity. All staff may be asked to undertake other duties and responsibilities appropriate to their level as determined by their Line Manager on an occasional basis. This Job Description reflects the requirements of the post at the time of writing. The needs and circumstances may change over time and therefore the Job Description may need to be reviewed in the light of any such changes which may occur. About us The Nuffield Trust is an independent health think tank. We aim to improve the quality of health care in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy analysis and informing and generating debate. 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