This is an exciting and varied role within a growing team working within health research in Greater Manchester. Vocal www.wearevocal.org brings people and health research together for everyone’s benefit. Vocal creates opportunities for people to find out about, and have a voice in, health research. By bringing together patients, carers, artists, researchers, scientists and others to share their views, expertise and lived experiences, we deliver creative, innovative, award-winning programmes that enhance health and research. Based in Greater Manchester, we work locally, nationally and internationally to make a real difference. We are a not-for-profit organisation, hosted by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with The University of Manchester.
We are part of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Manchester (MBRC) www.manchesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk and work closely with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration: Greater Manchester (ARC-GM) www.arc-gm.nihr.ac.uk
This role will lead Vocal’s development and delivery of partnership working as part of delivering patient and public involvement and engagement in health research, working both strategically and at project level.
JOB PURPOSE: To lead Vocal’s development and delivery of partnership working as part of Vocal’s development, implementation and monitoring of its strategy and workplans.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
To build and maintain strong and strategic partnerships with prospective and existing partners to Vocal’s work.
To lead on specific Vocal partnership initiatives and projects; including the GM Research Engagement Network in partnership with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration: Greater Manchester.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - what better place to shape and develop your leadership career.
We deliver care to over 1 million patients & users each year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. Our 30,000 plus strong workforce is central to our success and innovation.
You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You’ll work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust.
MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You’ll have access to professional development, digital tools and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery.
We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation’s success.
Join us and help shape the future of our Trust—make a real difference to our teams, our services, and our communities, and fundamentally, our patients.
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.
Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place . This welcoming one ‑ stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are — what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place', simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ section and once opened, you can either scan or click on the QR code.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our advert s may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early application s are therefore encouraged.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
