At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead participant operations to enhance recruitment, engagement, and support for health research.
- Company: Join Our Future Health, the UK's largest health research programme.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension, 30 days holiday, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on healthcare by shaping participant experiences and strategies.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in operational roles with a focus on participant engagement and diversity.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Our Future Health
, we’re building the UK’s largest ever health research programme, bringing together up to five million volunteers to transform how we prevent, detect and treat disease.
This is an opportunity to lead one of the most important operational functions in the organisation. As
Director of Participant Operations
, you will be responsible for ensuring every participant has an outstanding experience while leading the strategies, services and partnerships that enable us to recruit, engage and retain a diverse population at unprecedented scale.
Reporting directly to the Chief Health Officer, you'll play a pivotal role, combining strategic leadership with operational excellence, ensuring participant needs remain at the heart of everything we do while translating organisational priorities into high‑performing, measurable delivery.
Working across clinical, product, technology, communications, data and delivery teams, you'll help shape the future of participant engagement in health research and influence how millions of people contribute to improving healthcare for generations to come.
The impact you’ll make
This is a broad leadership role with responsibility for the end‑to‑end participant journey.
You'll lead the teams responsible for participant recruitment, engagement, community partnerships and participant support, ensuring we continue to attract a representative population while delivering an exceptional experience from first interaction through long‑term participation.
You'll champion participant voice across the organisation, ensuring that insight, lived experience and feedback directly influence strategic decisions, service design and operational priorities.
You'll also ensure our operational capability continues to evolve alongside the organisation, building services, partnerships and ways of working that can support increasingly sophisticated participant journeys as Our Future Health continues to grow.
- What you’ll be doing
- Participant Attraction and Representation
- Own the operational strategy and performance for participant recruitment across the organisation, ensuring we achieve ambitious targets for recruitment, representation and cost efficiency.
- Work with internal teams and external partners to oversee forecasting, recruitment planning, supplier performance and delivery pipelines, identifying opportunities to improve conversion, increase participation and strengthen representation across diverse communities.
- Build trusted relationships with community organisations and strategic partners to help ensure Our Future Health reaches people from every part of the UK.
- Participant Experience and Services
- Develop and lead our Participant Experience Strategy, ensuring every interaction participants have with Our Future Health is consistent, accessible, inclusive and reflects our organisational values.
- Oversee participant support services, complaints management and service operations, ensuring high‑quality customer service, strong performance against service standards and continual improvement based on participant feedback and operational insight.
- Establish governance, escalation routes and service frameworks that enable teams to resolve complex issues quickly while maintaining trust and confidence.
- Participant Insight and Strategy
- Ensure participant perspectives influence strategic and operational decisions by embedding participant insight across product development, clinical delivery and organisational planning.
- Work closely with senior leaders across the organisation, using research, data and participant feedback to shape future services, improve engagement and support long‑term retention across the programme.
- Leadership & Governance
- Lead multidisciplinary teams spanning participant recruitment, engagement, partnerships and participant services, creating a culture focused on collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Establish clear priorities, performance measures and delivery plans while managing significant budgets and ensuring excellent value for money across internal operations and supplier relationships.
- As a member of the senior leadership team, contribute to organisational strategy, provide advice to the Chief Health Officer and help shape the future direction of Our Future Health.
Requirements
We’re looking for an experienced operational leader who has successfully delivered complex, customer or participant‑facing services at scale.
- Significant senior leadership experience within participant, patient, customer, public engagement or service delivery environments.
- A proven track record of leading large operational teams, managing budgets, supplier relationships and delivering measurable organisational outcomes.
- Experience leading large‑scale recruitment, engagement or customer experience programmes with responsibility for improving participation, retention and service quality.
- Experience improving diversity, inclusion and representation across large populations or public‑facing programmes.
- Strong operational planning and performance management capability, with the ability to translate strategy into effective delivery.
- Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working across multidisciplinary organisations.
- The confidence to lead through complexity, ambiguity and organisational change while providing clear direction and calm leadership.
- A strong commitment to participant‑centred design, equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Experience within health research, healthcare, public health, life sciences or other regulated environments would be highly valued.
- Closing date for applications
9am, Friday 31st July.
Benefits
- Salary from £100,000
- Generous Pension Scheme – employer contributions of up to 12%
- 30 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays – flexibility to take bank holidays when it suits you
- Enhanced Parental Leave – supporting you during life's biggest moments
- Cycle to Work Scheme – save 25‑39% on a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice
- Home & Tech Savings – up to 8% off on IKEA and Currys products, spreading the cost over 12 months through salary sacrifice
- £1,000 Employee Referral Bonus – reward for bringing them on board
- Wellbeing Support – access to Mental Health First Aiders, 24/7 online GP services and an Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family
- A Great Place to Work – flexible and remote working arrangements with a Central London office in Holborn
At Our Future Health, we recognise the importance of having a diverse workforce and ensuring that all candidates, regardless of their background, have equitable access to our application process.
We proactively encourage applicants who identify as having a disability, neurodiversity, or long‑term health conditions to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments as part of their application process.
- If you do require any reasonable adjustments, please email us at
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Director of Participant Operations in London employer: Our Future Health UK
At Our Future Health UK, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we offer flexible working hours, a generous pension scheme, and ample opportunities for professional growth in a supportive environment. Join us in making a meaningful impact in researcher operations while enjoying the benefits of a forward-thinking company culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Participant Operations in London
✨Get Involved with Local Health Initiatives
Join local community health events or volunteer for organisations like public health agencies. This not only builds your experience but also helps you network with industry professionals who might know of openings at places like Our Future Health UK.
✨Tap into Professional Associations
Check out associations like the Institute of Healthcare Management. They often have job boards, networking events, and conferences that are perfect for connecting with potential employers in health sciences administration.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow health policy news and trends—being knowledgeable about the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also make you stand out as a candidate. You can discuss recent developments and their implications when chatting with folks at Our Future Health UK.
✨Apply Through Our Website for Better Visibility
When you find roles that excite you, especially at places like Our Future Health UK, don’t forget to apply through our website. This can sometimes give you an edge by showing the employer you’re savvy and committed to finding the right fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Participant Operations in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at Our Future Health UK.
Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at Our Future Health UK.
Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to Our Future Health UK. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at Our Future Health UK. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Our Future Health UK
✨Showcase Your Administrative Skills
In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Align Your Goals with the Organisation
As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research Our Future Health UK’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!
