Research Education Lead

The closing date is 16th Nov 2025

Job summary

We are recruiting for a Research Education Lead to join our team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and experienced individual with a passion for research and education to play a key role in strengthening our research culture, and the research capacity and capability of our workforce.

The successful candidate will lead on the development, coordination, and delivery of research education and training within the academy and across the organisation, supporting colleagues at all levels to engage with and contribute to research in a bespoke way.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

Key Activities / Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the South Central Internship Programme, including stakeholder engagement, webinar delivery, training coordination, award management, and evaluation.

Design and deliver research education programmes such as the Researcher Development Programme and Research Leaders Programme.

Facilitate workshops and drop-in sessions to build research skills and confidence.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to identify and develop research opportunities aligned with local health and care priorities.

Promote equitable access to research education across the organisation.

Support staff to develop research competencies through tailored educational interventions.

Act as a mentor and role model for staff engaging in research.

Use advanced communication skills to engage and motivate staff, build relationships, and promote research.

Apply analytical and judgement skills to evaluate programme effectiveness and adapt delivery accordingly.

Plan and organise training schedules, events, and strategic education initiatives.

Contribute to policy and service development related to research education and training.

Engage in research and development activities to inform and improve educational practice.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a newly established organisation, bringing together expertise from across mental health, learning disabilities, community, and physical health services. We are dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality, and accessible care to the diverse communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

With over 13,000 dedicated staff working across more than 300 sites, we place patients and staff at the centre of everything we do. Our goal is to create an integrated healthcare system that improves accessibility and ensures more consistent care for patients. By working together, we aim to improve patient outcomes, drive innovation, and meet the unique needs of the populations we serve.

Our Trust unites services from Southern Health, Solent NHS Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trusts community and mental health teams, as well as Hampshire CAMHS, originally part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This transformation enables us to deliver more seamless care across the region, ensuring that patients receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We are deeply committed to our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and offer outstanding opportunities for career development, training, and collaborative working.

Job description

Role Purpose

The Research Education Lead will play a pivotal role in enhancing the research culture and capability across Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Working within the Academy of Research and Improvement, the postholder will lead the development, coordination, and delivery of research education and training programmes.

The role supports staff across all professions and levels to engage with research in a way that is meaningful and tailored to their needs.

Collaboration with academic, clinical, and community stakeholders is central to the role, with the aim of promoting inclusive access to research education and fostering a confident, research-active workforce.

Key Activities / Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the South Central Internship Programme, including stakeholder engagement, webinar delivery, training coordination, award management, and evaluation.

Design and deliver research education programmes such as the Researcher Development Programme and Research Leaders Programme.

Facilitate workshops and drop-in sessions to build research skills and confidence.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to identify and develop research opportunities aligned with local health and care priorities.

Promote equitable access to research education across the organisation.

Support staff to develop research competencies through tailored educational interventions.

Act as a mentor and role model for staff engaging in research.

Use advanced communication skills to engage and motivate staff, build relationships, and promote research.

Apply analytical and judgement skills to evaluate programme effectiveness and adapt delivery accordingly.

Plan and organise training schedules, events, and strategic education initiatives.

Contribute to policy and service development related to research education and training.

Engage in research and development activities to inform and improve educational practice.

Freedom to act

The postholder will work autonomously within agreed objectives, exercising initiative and discretion in decision-making. They will be responsible for prioritising their own workload and managing multiple projects simultaneously, with support from the associate director for Research

Staff Responsibilities

The role does not include direct line management but involves mentoring and supporting staff across the organisation. The postholder will provide advice, demonstrate activities, and contribute to the development of others through training and educational support

Financial Responsibilities

No direct budgetary responsibility. The postholder will observe a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources used in the course of their work.

Physical, Mental and Emotional Effort

Physical Office-based with prolonged periods of computer use; occasional travel across sites and to training venues

Mental High levels of concentration required for planning, delivery, and evaluation of training programmes; managing competing priorities.

Emotional May involve supporting staff through challenging research journeys or confidence-building, requiring empathy and resilience.

Working Conditions

Primarily office-based with travel across Trust sites. Occasional evening webinars or workshops. Flexible working arrangements may be considered.

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person specification
Qualifications
Essential

Registered healthcare professional with current professional registration.

Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.

Desirable

Postgraduate qualification in research, education, or leadership.

Experience
Essential

Significant experience working in clinical settings.

Proven experience undertaking research activity within clinical settings.

Proven experience delivering teaching/education programmes within clinical settings.

Proven strong leadership and project management skills.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams and organisations.

Desirable

Experience in delivering research training programmes or workshops.

Knowledge of national research infrastructure and funding mechanisms

Additional Criteria
Essential

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to inspire and support others to engage in research.

Commitment to promoting inclusive and equitable access to research education.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

For help with your application, contact:

Chantel Ostler

Pay scheme

Agenda for Change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£ to £ Yearly

Contract

Fixed Term

Duration

12 Month(s)

Working pattern

Part-Time

Reference number

348-COR-9581

Job locations

St.Mary's Community Health Campus (Portsmouth)

Milton Road

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO3 6AD

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