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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engagement with stakeholders and support HRA staff in building relationships.
- Company: Join the Health Research Authority, a flexible and inclusive organization dedicated to impactful health research.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, a supportive environment, and a commitment to diversity.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by influencing health policy and engaging with diverse communities.
- Qualifications: Experience in stakeholder engagement and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: This is a fixed-term role for 12 months with opportunities for professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 31300 - 38800 £ per year.
Job Summary
The Senior Engagement Officer helps the HRA talk to, listen to, and involve the right people at the right times to inform what the HRA does and how we do it to have the biggest impact.
You will help us identify, build, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. You will both build relationships yourself and support staff across the HRA to do so.
You will have an overview of all the HRA’s external engagement, helping us to use this effectively to share information and gather intelligence to inform and improve what we do.
In this role you will have the opportunity to both lead on specific engagement, as well as supporting colleagues across the HRA to deliver engagement activities.
Main duties of the job
You will provide the secretariat for the HRA Community Committee. This is a new Committee made up of members of our research ethics committees, the confidentiality advisory group and members of the public who work with us through our public involvement network. This Committee will increase the role of the HRA community in the HRA’s governance, ensuring the views of our community inform what we do.
You will be an intelligence lead for one of our stakeholder audiences. In this role you will monitor developments and issues affecting this stakeholder audience, distilling and interpreting this information to show how this may affect the HRA. You will share this intelligence internally and use this to inform how we engage with them.
You will lead the delivery of an internal weekly update to support all HRA staff in their roles.
About Us
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’re 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 help us to deliver the best services.
We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community. This includes:
- age
- disability
- ethnicity
- gender identity and expression
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
- other diverse characteristics
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 you, we’ll do our best to make it work for us.
Date posted
13 February 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£37,338 to £44,962 a year
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
Reference number
980-HRA7001451-C
Job locations
Holland Drive
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4NQ
Job Description
Responsibilities
This role sits within the Policy and Partnerships directorate which is made up of three teams: policy and engagement, communications and public involvement. We provide support and advice across the organisation on communicating with staff and external audiences, engaging with stakeholders and involving patients and the public in our work.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
- Experience of engaging with people about policy issues in any sector and a strong theoretical understanding of how to do this well. This should be equivalent to at least a post-graduate diploma level of training and experience, but we recognise and welcome that you may have taken very different routes to this.
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise Essential
- Good analytical and judgement skills, with the ability to apply these to independently manage competing priorities on your time and to be flexible and adaptable when needed to make these happen.
- A good communicator, both in person and in writing, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and accessible way to different audiences.
Desirable
- Understanding of health and social care research policy.
- Understanding of the policy-making process, including the role of government and parliament.
Experience Essential
- Able to manage engagement projects from beginning to end, including defining objectives, designing an appropriate approach to meet these, making this happen, reporting on progress, and using the outputs to inform change.
Desirable
- Experience of engaging with people and organisations about health and social care research policy and/or issues in research.
- Experience of supporting committees or stakeholder groups, including liaising with members and writing minutes.
Interpersonal skills Essential
- Able to apply insights to engage with people and organisations in a way that works for them so that you can build and maintain great relationships with stakeholders.
- Confident to engage with people who may have different and conflicting points of view and use diplomacy and sensitivity to find a way to move forward together.
- Proactively ask for and use feedback to inform your actions, even if it means you need to change your approach.
Other Essential
- Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills Essential
- Able to proactively find, interpret, and define information about issues and stakeholders that are important to the HRA’s work, analyse and identify what this means for the HRA, and share these insights with colleagues.
Employer details
Employer name
Health Research Authority
Address
Holland Drive
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4NQ
Employer’s website
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Engagement Officer employer: Health Research Authority
Contact Detail:
Health Research Authority Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engagement Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the Health Research Authority's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to inclusivity and diversity will help you align your approach when engaging with stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in health and social care research policy. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with potential stakeholders and gain insights into current issues affecting the sector.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your analytical skills by staying updated on developments in health and social care research. Being able to discuss recent changes or challenges will show your proactive engagement and understanding of the field.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to showcase your experience in managing engagement projects. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've successfully defined objectives, designed approaches, and reported on progress to inform change.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engagement Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description for the Senior Engagement Officer position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these.
Tailor Your CV: Customize your CV to highlight relevant experiences that demonstrate your ability to engage with stakeholders and manage projects. Use specific examples that showcase your analytical skills and communication abilities.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only outlines your qualifications but also expresses your passion for health and social care research policy. Mention how you can contribute to the HRA's mission and values, particularly in terms of inclusivity and diversity.
Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills: In your application, emphasize your interpersonal skills and your ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders. Provide examples of how you've successfully navigated conflicting viewpoints and used feedback to improve engagement efforts.
How to prepare for a job interview at Health Research Authority
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the Senior Engagement Officer role. Familiarize yourself with the key responsibilities, such as building relationships with stakeholders and leading engagement activities. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with the job requirements.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Senior Engagement Officer, strong communication skills are essential. Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to different audiences. Practice articulating these examples in a concise manner during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you analyze and interpret information related to stakeholder engagement. Share specific instances where your analytical skills led to successful outcomes in previous roles. This will highlight your capability to manage competing priorities and make informed decisions.
✨Emphasize Inclusivity and Diversity
The organization values inclusivity and diversity, so be prepared to discuss how you have promoted these values in your past work. Share experiences where you engaged with diverse groups or adapted your approach to meet the needs of different stakeholders.
