Job summary
This position is fixed term due to Funding for years
This is an exciting opportunity to join Sandwells new Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Better Research for Better Health. Sandwell HDRC is a partnership between Sandwell MBC, the University of Birmingham, and the local voluntary & community sector. Our HDRC vision is to undertake evidence-informed, robustly evaluated activities that reflect the needs and values of our diverse local communities.
As one of four HDRC Project Officers, you will:
1. Be a key point of contact for enquiries relating to your designated workstream.
2. Support your workstream Project Manager to develop and deliver a detailed project plan, facilitating input from a range of partners and stakeholders.
3. Work with HDRC colleagues and partners to support the co-ordination, delivery and monitoring of workstream projects.
4. Facilitate HDRC activity and share learning through internal and external working groups and networks.
5. Support the delivery of workstream activities, including community engagement and training, and contribute to producing and disseminating HDRC outputs.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will have:
6. A degree level qualification in life or social sciences, or equivalent relevant experience.
7. Experience of project work within a complex environment.
8. Knowledge of public sector policy, health research and asset-based community development.
9. Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders.
10. Strong communication, report writing and presentation skills for a wide range of audiences.
Interviews will be held the week commencing24 June 2024.
For an informal discussion, please contact Dr Lina Martino
Hours
37 hours per week
We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date if we receive a large number of applications. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete and return your application as soon as possible. When completing your application please refer to the supporting documents attached.
If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application, or have experienced a problem whilst applying for a position, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0121 569 3300 or via e-mail to:
For more information about working for Sandwell Council, our recruitment process and our offer to you please visit
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To apply, please download the application form and return it to:H
About us
Sandwell is situated at the very heart of theWest Midlands, just a stone's throw from Birmingham. A large, diverse,metropolitan borough, Sandwell offers exciting opportunities for all in afriendly, supportive environment. Sandwell is made up of six towns - Oldbury,Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. The borough has1,200 hectares of parks, playing fields and local green space and more than 30miles of canals.
We offer something for everyone, with anincredibly wide range of career opportunities, at any stage of your career,from apprentices to senior managers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is providing up to £5 million of funding to a number of local authorities to establish Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) in their local areas. HDRCs aim to boost research capacity and capability within local government to embed a culture of always using evidence when making decisions. HDRCs use research findings to understand how decisions impact on health and health inequalities. They also carry out research where evidence isnt already available.
The Sandwell HDRC Better Research for Better Health is a partnership between SMBC, the University of Birmingham, and the voluntary & community sector. Our HDRC vision is to undertake evidence-informed, robustly evaluated activities that reflect the needs and values of our diverse local communities. The Sandwell HDRC will align with a borough-wide Levelling Up Programme to improve the wider determinants of health.
The HDRC aims to transform SMBCs research culture and infrastructure to:
Make the best use of empirical evidence to inform decision-making and investment
Robustly evaluate services to ensure quality, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
Facilitate research activity with partner organisations and local residents
Effectively disseminate research outputs for wider influence
This will be achieved by:
Strengthening research and development capacity, resources and infrastructure
Embedding a strong research culture for evidence-informed decision-making
Developing robust systems and partnerships for cultural and knowledge exchange
Creating a community-led research culture
As one of four HDRC Project Officers, you will work closely with the HDRC Project Manager within one of these workstreams, the HDRC Co-ordinator, and with internal and external partners, to support the development and delivery of workstream projects and activities. Your role will be to provide administrative and operational support for the workstream and to facilitate partnership working, community engagement and dissemination of HDRC outputs. This will involve working with a range of partners and stakeholders, including officers across the Council, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), voluntary and community groups and members of the public.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
11. The post holder must be qualified to degree level or have equivalent relevant experience.
12. A first degree in life or social sciences, or similar.
Experience
Essential
13. Experience of project work within a
14. complex environment
15. Experience of working in an area of
16. deprivation and diversity
17. Experience of working on projects or
18. services within a political and partnership
19. context
20. Experience of providing administrative
21. support to multi-agency projects
22. Experience of delivering training
23. Experience of community engagement and
24. consulting with internal and external
25. stakeholders
26. Experience of writing reports and delivering
27. presentations
28. Experience of briefing/providing information
29. to a range of audiences, for example senior
30. managers and elected members