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- Tasks: Lead major digital transformation projects to enhance research approvals across the UK.
- Company: Join the NHS Health Research Authority, a leader in public sector innovation.
- Benefits: Flexible working, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare by streamlining research processes for thousands.
- Qualifications: Masters level qualification or equivalent experience in business change and digital transformation.
- Other info: Work with diverse teams and stakeholders to drive impactful change.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 60000 £ per year.
The NHS Health Research Authority is recruiting a Senior Business Change Manager to play a leading role in a major national programme to deliver new digital services that simplify and accelerate research approvals across the UK. This is an opportunity to shape how thousands of researchers, sponsors and partners experience research setup -- improving speed, consistency and access. This is a fixed term or secondment opportunity until April 2027. The HRA is leading the transformation on behalf of our IRAS partners.
As Senior Business Change Manager, you'll lead the planning and delivery of business change to support the successful adoption of the new IRAS service. You'll work across a complex stakeholder environment to ensure readiness, drive engagement, and embed change in practice. You'll be part of a cross-functional team working closely with our IRAS partners including representatives from Health and Care Research Wales, Chief Scientist Office (Scotland), and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. Work flexibly across organisational boundaries, contributing to areas beyond your immediate remit to lead support joined-up delivery and transformation outcomes. This is an opportunity to work at the heart of public sector digital transformation helping to ensure change lands well for the people and organisations who use our services.
Main duties of the job:
- Shape the roadmap for business change across transition states, aligned to delivery phases.
- Lead communication and engagement across a complex and politically sensitive landscape, interpreting and explaining highly complex or contentious information to large and diverse audiences including senior national stakeholders, programme boards and cross-government groups.
- Lead the organisational interpretation of emerging UK research legislation and government policy, ensuring business change requirements are identified early and incorporated into programme delivery.
- Influence national partners and policy leads to align regulatory processes with service delivery objectives, shaping joint guidance, SOPs and implementation frameworks.
- Translate programme goals into change outcomes for users, staff and partners.
- Provide senior-level steer on readiness, adoption, and operational alignment.
- Contribute to decision-making and prioritisation at programme board and transformation leadership forums.
- Ensure benefits are defined, tracked and evaluated across implementation phases.
About us:
Working at the HRA, we are reminded daily of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.
When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement - if it works for us, we will do our best to make it work for you. Please note, if applying to our Manchester, Nottingham or Bristol locations, we are only able to offer the role as home based.
Job responsibilities:
This role sits within the HRA Approvals Service directorate, which consists of various teams that all work together to provide the appropriate approval for health research in England and, for some applications, across the UK. This directorate is responsible for:
- Delivering HRA Approval
- Supporting the Confidentiality Advisory Group and advising on the use of confidential patient information without consent
- Working to refine the systems and processes researchers need to follow to ensure a swift, robust and simple experience
- Providing guidance to applicants
- Providing training
- Working collaboratively with external partners to improve the research environment
To find out more and to understand the full duties of the role, please refer to the job description attached.
In submitting your application with us, please note the following:
- We currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.
- We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement.
- Where applicants fail to demonstrate how they meet any one of the essential criteria of the person specification, the application will not be shortlisted. You will be considered based only on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered.
- The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.
Person Specification:
Qualifications:
- Masters level qualification or equivalent experience in business change, digital/service transformation
- Qualification in change management (Prosci/APMG), service design or digital transformation
Knowledge and Skills:
- Ability to manage, coach and develop others
- Ability to use Jira and other planning tools to plan and track activities.
Experience:
- Experience of line managing change staff and delivering through matrix teams
Knowledge and Skills:
- Advanced communication and influencing skills with senior internal/external stakeholders across organisations
- Ability to translate technical change into clear messages for non-technical audiences
- Understanding of research regulation and study set-up in the UK
Analytical and Judgemental Skills:
- Able to evaluate complex information and make judgements that shape direction
- Highly developed problem-solving skills and ability to balance competing priorities and risk tolerances
Interpersonal Skills:
- Credible with senior leaders and partners; able to secure alignment where organisational interests diverge
- High emotional intelligence and resilience in high-change environments
Knowledge and Skills:
- In-depth knowledge of change and improvement methodologies, benefits realisation and risk management
- Understanding of agile and iterative delivery models and integration with product teams
Experience:
- Experience working with NHS, research stakeholders and regulatory partners
Other:
- Willingness to travel and occasionally stay overnight
- Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity
Senior Business Change Manager in Manchester employer: Health Research Authority
Contact Detail:
Health Research Authority Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Business Change Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to the NHS or digital transformation. Attend events, webinars, or even local meet-ups to make those valuable connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the HRA and its projects. Understand their goals and challenges, especially around business change and digital services. This will help you tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Senior Business Change Manager, you'll need to convey complex information clearly. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to refine how you present ideas to diverse audiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business Change Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Senior Business Change Manager. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Experience: When detailing your experience, focus on specific examples where you've successfully managed change or led projects. We want to see how you've made an impact in previous roles, especially in complex environments like the NHS.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your achievements are easy to understand. Remember, we want to see your strengths without wading through unnecessary fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures it gets to the right people quickly. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at Health Research Authority
✨Know Your Change Management Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your change management methodologies, especially those like Prosci or APMG. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past roles, particularly in complex environments like the NHS or similar sectors.
✨Master Stakeholder Engagement
Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with diverse stakeholders. Think about times when you had to communicate complex information clearly to non-technical audiences. This role requires strong communication skills, so be ready to showcase your ability to influence and align interests.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've evaluated complex information and made judgements that shaped project direction. Bring examples of how you've balanced competing priorities and managed risks in previous projects, as this will demonstrate your problem-solving capabilities.
✨Emphasise Your Flexibility and Inclusivity
Since the HRA values flexible working and inclusivity, think about how you can demonstrate your commitment to these principles. Share experiences where you've adapted to changing circumstances or contributed to a diverse team environment, showing that you can thrive in a dynamic setting.
