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- Tasks: Lead engagement with stakeholders and support HRA staff in building relationships.
- Company: Join the Health Research Authority, a diverse and inclusive organization focused on impactful health research.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, including remote work, and a commitment to diversity.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by shaping health research policies and engaging with diverse communities.
- Qualifications: Experience in policy engagement and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: This is a fixed-term role for 12 months with a salary range of £37,338 to £44,962.
The predicted salary is between 31300 - 38600 £ 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-A
Job locations
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Bristol
BS1 6PN
Job Description
Job 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. 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.
Responsibilities
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
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Bristol
BS1 6PN
Employer’s website
(Opens in a new tab)#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
Prepare to demonstrate your analytical skills by discussing how you've previously managed competing priorities. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully engaged with diverse audiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your communication skills by practicing how to convey complex information clearly. Consider role-playing scenarios where you might need to engage with stakeholders who have differing viewpoints.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engagement Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Senior Engagement Officer position. Highlight key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these.
Tailor Your Application: Customize your application to reflect the specific requirements mentioned in the job description. Use relevant examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to engage with stakeholders and manage projects effectively.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication is essential for this role, ensure that your writing is clear and concise. Use straightforward language to convey complex ideas, and consider including a brief example of how you've successfully communicated with diverse audiences.
Highlight Inclusivity and Diversity Commitment: The HRA values inclusivity and diversity, so be sure to mention any relevant experiences or initiatives you have been part of that demonstrate your commitment to these principles. This could include working with diverse groups or promoting inclusive practices in your previous roles.
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 engaging with stakeholders and managing engagement projects. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with the job requirements.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a good communicator is essential for this role, prepare to demonstrate your ability to convey complex information clearly. Think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully communicated with diverse audiences, especially in policy-related contexts.
✨Highlight Your Analytical Abilities
Be ready to discuss how you've used analytical skills to manage competing priorities or to inform engagement strategies. Prepare specific examples that showcase your judgment and ability to interpret information relevant to stakeholder engagement.
✨Emphasize Inclusivity and Diversity
Since the organization values inclusivity and diversity, be prepared to discuss how you have promoted these values in your previous roles. Share experiences where you engaged with diverse groups and how you adapted your approach to meet their needs.
