Advisor - Consulting in Cambridge

Hours of work: Full time. Flexible working hours/options compatible with the role can be discussed – a minimum of 0.8wte for this role is indicated. Base: Cambridge - We offer flexible working arrangements. Our staff combine on-site and remote working, enabling us to come together when it matters most and promote a healthy work-life balance.

Reports to: Senior Advisors in Consulting team

Closing date for applications: 31st July 2026

Date of Interview: Week commencing 17th August 2026

Contract type: Fixed term, 12 months

About Health Innovation East

Our purpose at Health Innovation East is to turn great ideas into positive health impact. We were established by the NHS to convene all partners in the health sector, to develop and deliver innovative solutions in health and care. Our focus is the East of England, but we are also part of a national network which enables us to deliver at scale. Our consulting offer also extends beyond the East of England, and we are increasingly undertaking national commissions. Citizens, academia, health services and industry will achieve more working together than they will in isolation. Our job is to make this happen. We do this by helping innovators to navigate complex systems, generate value propositions and connect stakeholders to overcome challenges together.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for colleagues who share not only our values but also our enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference for our communities. We are united by being dynamic, curious, creative and adaptable. We appreciate the value of evidence and also enjoy trying new and different approaches to solving problems. We are comfortable with ambiguity, changing plans and unanticipated challenges.

About the Role

We are asked to deliver a wide range of services by the organisations we support including (but not limited to):

• Project, programme and change management;
• Digital transformation;
• Bid writing;
• Policy research;
• Provider-led innovation;
• Innovation portfolio oversight.

We are particularly seeking candidates who can work across these areas, or those with narrower experience in digital transformation and provider-led innovation. This role will work closely with the Head of Consulting and Senior Advisors in the Consulting Team, as well as the organisation’s Real-World Evaluation Team, to deliver on the wide range of asks we receive. Given the range of projects, the post will be varied in nature and would suit someone who enjoys working on different types of projects.

All post-holders are required to:

• Take a flexible approach, recognising that projects, activities and tasks are highly varied;
• Demonstrate aptitude for learning;
• Write reports to a high standard in different styles, for different purposes and audiences;
• Engage with project stakeholders, demonstrating an ability to build excellent relationships;
• Monitor project progress and ensure successful completion of projects;
• Ensure findings are communicated locally and nationally;
• Track progress of ongoing service improvements to agreed timescales and produce monthly highlight reports.

Key responsibilities

To deliver consulting projects under the supervision of the Head of Consulting and Senior Advisors. This may involve, but is not limited to:

• Project management – ensuring timely highlight and exception reporting as well as robust risk, assumption, issue and dependency monitoring to ensure projects remain on track and within budget;
• Ensuring appropriate project governance is in place in relation to data sharing, information governance, managing inequalities and clinical safety;
• Supporting project contracting and invoicing, in collaboration with central operations colleagues, ensuring timely contract signature and issuing of invoices;
• Appropriate stakeholder management, including with providers, commissioners, academia, and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations;
• Robust project scoping (in collaboration with senior colleagues) to ensure projects are feasible, have clear, measurable outcomes and are in line with all client expectations;
• Bid writing for a range of funding sources (including public bodies, VCFSE and industry) in collaboration with senior colleagues;
• Data collection via formal and informal methods including semi-structured interviews, focus groups and discovery calls;
• Analysing quantitative and qualitative data;
• Facilitating workshops, Communities of Practice and Action Learning Sets;
• Writing outputs for external audiences including project reports, impact stories, blogs and anything else as required;
• Presenting information to a range of internal and external stakeholders.

Corporate and personal responsibilities (including but not limited to)

• Promote and observe Health Innovation East’s equity, diversity and inclusion pledges;
• Support the organisation in creating an environment that values risk management;
• Comply with legislation including current data protection laws;
• Ensure that we only operate within our remit of not offering clinical advice.

Qualifications

Educated to degree level, or with equivalent experience in healthcare.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Good knowledge of project management and risk management best practice;
• Knowledge of information governance, security, GDPR legislation and guidance or willingness to learn;
• Robust project management skills;
• Proficient in change management and transformation approaches;
• Proficient in facilitating meetings and workshops;
• Ability to create compelling offers for paid work;
• Excellent written communication and report writing skills;
• Excellent presentation and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to manage own workload and prioritise work in response to changing requirements and demands;
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to multitask and work to strict deadlines;
• Proficient in use of a range of IT software, including MS Word, MS project, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Ability to receive and understand complex information, summarise and disseminate to various audiences.

Experience

• Experience of managing complex projects in a health and care environment;
• Experience working with a diverse group of stakeholders at all levels, spanning providers, commissioners, academia and VCFSE;
• Experience facilitating meetings and workshops with diverse stakeholders at all levels;
• Experience of writing reports for a range of audiences.

Right to Work

Applicants must be able to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK at the point any job offer is made.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques;
• Aware of strategic challenges facing the NHS (with a working knowledge of East of England region preferred);
• Proficient in leading Communities of Practice and Action Learning Sets;
• Proficient in Quality Improvement methodologies;
• Good qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills;
• Experience of supporting digital transformation/change management in a health and care environment;
• Experience of bid writing;
• Experience of conducting quantitative and qualitative research (data collection and analysis);
• Ability to travel within the region.

Disposition or Attitude

• Flexibility and adaptability for different kinds of projects, tasks and activities;
• Evidence of the ability to work with teams in developing solutions;
• Ability to develop good relationships at all levels within and outside of the organisation;
• Ability to maintain credibility of self and the team;
• Ability to work flexibly (hours of work and duties) both autonomously and within a small team.

Benefits of working at Health Innovation East

As part of the benefits package, Health Innovation East’s employees are entitled to 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for less than wholetime equivalent) and are offered a company pension (employer contribution up to 10% of annual salary) as well as a cycle to work scheme. In addition, all employees have unlimited access to the company’s well-being programme which is fully confidential. Team members on secondments will remain on their employer’s terms and conditions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Health Innovation East is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and will provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process where needed.

Use of AI

We recognise that candidates may use AI tools to help prepare applications. However, all application materials and assessment responses should accurately reflect your own skills, experience and knowledge. Any misrepresentation of authorship, experience or qualifications may result in an application being withdrawn from consideration.