University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.
Are you ready to take on a senior leadership role where you can shape the future of NHS research at both the organisational and regional levels?
As Head of the R&D Central Office, you will play a pivotal role in driving both the strategic direction and operational delivery of research across University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and the wider CRDC: Wessex region. Working closely with the Director and Deputy Director of R&D, you will lead the development of consistent, high-quality research governance and innovative approaches to multi-site study set-up and delivery across partner organisations.
A core part of your role will be leading regional collaboration—bringing together systems, processes, and partners across CRDC Wessex to reduce variation, improve efficiency, and enable studies to be opened and delivered at pace. You will work with hubs and spokes across the region to align capacity, distribute workload effectively, and ensure the successful delivery of the 150-day set-up ambition, helping to position Wessex as a high-performing and nationally recognised research system.
Through this work, you will directly influence how research is delivered at scale—supporting improved patient access to research, strengthening partnerships with NIHR, DHSC and industry, and contributing to the Trust’s ambition to be one of the top 10 clinical research organisations in the UK.
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
You will report to the Deputy Director of R&D and lead the R&D Central Office team, providing strong leadership, direction, and development opportunities. You will work closely with clinical leaders, research teams, and senior stakeholders locally, regionally, and nationally, playing a key role in shaping shared priorities and driving system-wide improvement.
You will lead the strategic and operational delivery of R&D across UHS and CRDC Wessex, driving high-quality, consistent research governance and performance across multiple organisations.
You will shape and deliver innovative approaches to multi-site study set-up and delivery, improving timelines and supporting achievement of the 150-day ambition across the region.
You will act as a senior leader across the system, working with NIHR, DHSC, academic partners and clinical teams to align priorities, influence national programmes, and strengthen research delivery.
You’ll demonstrate strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries and lead change at a regional or system level.
You’ll have in-depth knowledge of national research policy, regulatory frameworks (including Good Clinical Practice), and the wider NHS research landscape.
You’ll be confident managing complex budgets and analysing performance data to inform strategic and operational decision-making.
