Head of Joint Strategic Partnership Office in Exeter

About The Role

Head of Joint Strategic Partnership Office

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

This full-time post is available from 1st January 2027 on a permanent basis and offers the opportunity for some hybrid working, with some time working on site (either University campus or NHS premises) and some time working from home. The expectation is that you will spend the majority of your working week on site.

The starting salary will be from £67,144 up to £84,594 on grade H, based on knowledge, skills and experience.

Summary of the Role

We are seeking to attract a highly skilled and experienced leader to undertake the role of Head of Joint Partnership Office for the University of Exeter (UoE) and Royal Devon University Hospital Trust (RDUH). The RDUH and UoE have a long-standing and successful partnership encompassing research, education and innovation at significant scale and excellence. This post holder will develop an ambitious strategy and implementation plan, to build on and catalyse the power and benefit of joint working. Particular focus will be around the evolution of a Joint Office and joint models of working, to scale and accelerate translational, commercial and applied health research, whilst also responding to the NHS workforce Plan.

Establishing and utilising strong governance and accountability structures, the Head of Joint Partnership Office will act as a key leader, negotiator and relationship manager across the two organisations. They will be responsible for agreeing essential objectives, deliverables and KPIs for the joint office and to determine the future working arrangements, including the nature of leadership required at multiple levels, for maximum benefit of both organisations.

The role holder will:

have strong intellectual capacity and reasoning; have proven staff management and leadership experience; a high degree of initiative, responsibility and self-motivation and a professional and proactive approach to problem solving; be a confident decision maker with strategic experience and significant operational delivery experience who can lead through periods of change; have experience of designing processes, systems and services to meet a diverse range of needs and have experience of managing complex budgets and contracts.

Relevant experience in an HE and research-intensive environment, such as that gained within NHS Research & Development, is essential.

This role will be employed within the University of Exeter’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Nevertheless, the role holder will have joint accountability to RDUH, via the Research & Development Director. Office space will be made available at St Lukes Campus, within the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences as well as nearby at the hospital site.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, RDUH

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust. We are renowned for our research, innovation, and our ambition is to be a leading, digitally-enabled teaching and research Trust.

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 16,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. We provide core services to more than 615,000 people. Some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through our two acute hospitals. As well as providing integrated health and social care services in a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more.

It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon NHS Royal Devon University Healthcare: https://royaldevon.nhs.uk/about-us

Applications

An executive search exercise is being undertaken by the Executive and Specialist Recruitment team at the RDUH who will manage the application process and support the University in identifying the widest possible field of qualified candidates and assist in their assessment against the requirements for the role.

Please note that your full application and contact details will therefore be shared with both the University and our partners at the RDUH throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Jobrefer reference number: 185-325-14655

The deadline for the receipt of applications is 29th November 2026.

Informal Enquiries

Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting Emily Simpson, Executive and Specialist Recruitment Lead emily.simpson21@nhs.net or 07958 931414 in the first instance.

If you are shortlisted, selection will take place on Monday 14th (virtual round table discussion) and Tuesday 15th December 2026 (in-person panel interview, location TBC).

Flexible and hybrid working arrangements can be considered.

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Why our colleagues love working here

• Flexible working opportunities and leading parental leave initiatives
• Generous annual leave (39-41 days including bank holidays)
• Competitive pension contributions
• A genuine dedication to supporting the health and wellbeing of all colleagues – see initiatives here
• Sustainability and the environment being at the heart of what we do

How we can help

If you're considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at hrhelpdesk@exeter.ac.uk. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.

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