Recruitment

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAMRECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM

Job Title: Senior Health Economist (fixed term)

School/Department: School of Medicine - NIHR Research Design Service East Midlands (RDS EM) in association with the NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit (NHBRU), Division of Clinical Neuroscience

Salary: £37,394 - £45,954 per annum, depending upon skills and experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.

Job Family and Level: Research and Teaching, Level 5

Contract Status: This post will be offered on a fixed term basis to 31 March 2017

Hours of Work: This is a full-time post, split between RDS EM (0.4fte, 14.5 hours per week) and NHBRU (0.6fte, 21.75 hours per week). Applications from candidates wishing to work part-time (a minimum of 0.6 fte, 21.75 hours per week) will be considered.

Location: Two bases:NIHR Research Design Service East Midlands, Nottingham Health Science Partners, C Floor, South Block, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH (RDS EM)andRopewalk House, 113 The Ropewalk, Nottingham, NG1 5DU (NHBRU)

Reporting to: Director of NIHR Research Design Service for the East Midlands (RDS EM) andSenior Research Fellow, Large Scale Studies in Hearing and Hearing Health (NHBRU)

Purpose of the New Role:

This post is jointly funded by two organisations in the School of Medicine: the NIHR Research Design Service East Midlands (RDS EM); and the NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit (NHBRU). The primary role of the successful candidate will be to provide methodological support and advice to researchers who are developing high quality applied health or social care research applications for submission to national peer reviewed funding streams. The candidate will support researchers across the East Midlands region within their RDS EM role and specifically research active staff in NHBRU as part of their role within the NHBRU. They will be expected to provide expert advice on the health economic components of applications (including the most appropriate economic evaluation for the design, suitable health economic outcomes, methods of analysis, etc.) as well as more general support for funding application development. They will also be engaged in collaborative delivery of research projects, including health economic aspects of analysis, interpretation and dissemination (NHBRU).

The post holder will also be expected to participate in both organisations’ activities including leading on the delivery of workshops and seminars. They will also be expected to support a junior health economist (RDS EM).

The post holder will be required to work at both of the above locations according to the hours of work split between RDS EM and NHBRU.

Main Responsibilities % time per year

Common (RDS EM/NHBRU) responsibilities1. To provide expert advice on the health economic components (including the

most appropriate economic evaluation for the design, suitable health economic outcomes, methods of analysis, etc.) and more general aspects of research funding proposals, to NHS staff and academic researchers who are developing applications for applied health or social care research for submission to NIHR funding streams and other sources of funding such as Research Councils and the Association of Medical Research Charities. Meeting researchers and providing written feedback are important elements of the role.

36%

2. To design material for, and to contribute using high level skills and a range of media, to the delivery of, events, workshops and occasional seminars/standalone courses for NHBRU and NHS staff, and their academic partners, who are in the process of preparing research applications for funding.

7%

RDS EM responsibilities3. To lead on the organisation of some aspects of the Research Design Service’s

activity such as the delivery of funding awareness seminars, learning events, staff development sessions or arranging scientific committees. Such activities will be undertaken with assistance from administrative support.

4%

4. To provide support to the junior health economist. 2%

5. To build relationships and collaborations with internal and external contacts, nationally and if appropriate internationally to improve the quality of bids submitted for funding in the NHS and social care partners.

2%

6. To work as a team player, assisting other members of the RDS team in the delivery of the RDS service and covering for other members of staff when necessary.

2%

7. Any other reasonable duties that may be assigned by the Director of the Nottingham Unit of the RDS-EM.

2%

NHBRU responsibilities8. To act as a methodological expert on health economic aspects of research

projects informing, guiding and undertaking detailed analyses and contributing to production of high impact research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

27%

9. To advise NHBRU Leadership Team on the strategic research direction of NHBRU and the detailed development of health economic aspects of its research portfolio.

12%

10. To participate appropriately in unit activities including seminars, training courses, team meetings, etc.

3%

11. Any other reasonable duties that may be assigned by the Director of NHBRU. 3%

11. You are expected to make a contribution to teaching in balance with wider

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contributions to research and other activities.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential DesirableQualifications/ Education

PhD or equivalent in a subject that is relevant to applied health services research and has a major component in health economics, or the equivalent in professional qualifications.

Applications will be considered from those candidates who have considerable experience in applied health research which has a major component in health economics, and are close to completion of a PhD.

Applications will also be considered from candidates who have relevant post-graduate qualifications and substantial experience in applied health research.

Membership of a professional body where appropriate.

Evidence of continuing professional/educational development

Skills/Training Sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in health economic research methods to develop research programmes and methodologies, demonstrated by appropriate post-graduate training and/or research activity.

Ability to rapidly assimilate clinical/applied ideas.

Ability to discuss ideas with researchers at very early stages, helping them to refine their research questions and ensure what they do is manageable and of high methodological quality.

Ability to devise, advise on and manage research programmes.

Ability to manage resources and an understanding of management processes.

Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with clarity on complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge and understanding as well as to peers. This is essential for advice giving and feedback purposes.

Excellent knowledge of appropriate IT packages e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.

Excellent knowledge of specialist software used to conduct health

Training and skills in health services research, epidemiology, clinical trials or good clinical practice.

Reviewing methodological section of protocols.

Knowledge of NIHR research funding streams.

Knowledge of the current NHS and social care landscape.

Skills in supporting junior members of staff.

Understanding of ethical issues within health services research.

Excellent knowledge of general statistical software packages e.g. Stata

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economic analyses e.g. Tree Age. Ability to build relationships and

collaborate with others, internally and externally.

Experience Experience of developing research methodologies and devising models, approaches, techniques, critiques and methods.

Extensive collaborative applied research experience within health economics including experience of providing input into the health economic aspects of study design, data management and methods of analysis.

An appropriate track record of peer reviewed publications .

Experience of analysing data from the health economic components of research studies.

Experience and achievement in chosen field, reflected in growing and consistent reputation.

Experience of working with people in a multidisciplinary team.

A growing international reputation in their field.

Experience, achievement and growing reputation in the discipline, reflected in relevant national committee memberships, and/or involvement in national research events.

Experience of writing collaborative research grant proposals.

Experience of providing advice on the health economic aspects of the design of research proposals to NHS or academic researchers.

Teaching experience in research methods to NHS or academic researchers.

Track record in gaining support for significant externally funded research and consultancy projects e.g. with industry, commerce, public bodies.

Experience of supporting junior colleagues.

Appreciation of public and patient involvement in research.

Personal Attributes

Good interpersonal skills with colleagues and clients.

Ability to work co-operatively and maintain collaborative relationships.

Confidence in relating to professionals from different disciplines within the NHS and academic researchers.

Excellent organisational skills and ability to be flexible.

Ability to work independently and to contribute enthusiastically to the work of a multidisciplinary team.

Self motivated, pro-active, innovative, and able to use initiative where appropriate.

Excellent attention to detail. Excellent time management skills,

demonstrating an ability to prioritise and deal with multiple demands.

Understanding of what it means to deliver a service.

Statutory/Legal Eligible to apply for relevant research clearances that may be required including a check with

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the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Other Must be willing to travel between sites in Nottingham and across the East Midlands region.

Willingness to adopt the Ethos and Principles of the School of Medicine to improve the student experience.

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Decision Making

i) taken independently by the role holder Plan, and prioritise their own workload, formulate and adjust plans as required. Make judgements involving complex facts that require analysis, interpretation and

comparison of a range of options. Perform appropriate analyses of research data using relevant software packages and

interpret findings (NHBRU).

ii) taken in collaboration with others Making individual decisions about design and conduct in own specialist area. Advise on appropriate funding sources –with RDS colleagues (RDS EM). To develop research protocols and applications for funding in collaboration with research

teams. Contributing with the RDS collectively to research panels and scientific committees (RDS

EM). Delivery of NHBRU research projects (NHBRU).

iii) referred to the appropriate line manager (please name) by the role holder Resolving conflicting priorities where the incumbent has insufficient time available to meet

all demands. Line manager: Director of RDS-EM (RDS EM) or Senior Research Fellow (NHBRU) dependent on the source of the conflict.

Purchase decisions >£500. Line manager: Senior Research Fellow (NHBRU).

Additional InformationThe NIHR Research Design Service for the East MidlandsThe National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds the Research Design Service (RDS) (www.rds.nihr.ac.uk) to provide design and methodological support to health and social care researchers across England to develop grant applications to the NIHR and other national peer-reviewed funding programmes. The national RDS network operates from 10 regional centres across England. RDS East Midlands (www.rds-eastmidlands.nihr.ac.uk) serves a geographical area covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland.

RDS East Midlands funds 30 staff at the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester and maintains strong links with other higher education institutions, NHS and health-related social care organisations within its geographical coverage.

The Nottingham Unit is located within the Nottingham Health Science Partners centre in the Queen’s Medical Centre close to the University of Nottingham main campus. The unit is part of the School of Medicine (www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/index.aspx).

The current establishment includes 11 academic, research and administrative staff. The person appointed to this post would have expertise in health economic research methods and applied Health Services Research. Other academic staff within the Unit have expertise in health economics, medical statistics, clinical trials, qualitative methodology, survey design, systematic reviews and patient and public involvement in research.

The principal activities of the Nottingham Unit are to provide advice and support to NHS staff and academic researchers who are developing applications for applied health or social care research funding; a number of approaches are currently employed to do this including face to face, telephone, skype, Scientific Committee review, as well as extensive feedback. The RDS also provides funding awareness seminars and other learning events on research design and funding opportunities.

Scope of the RoleThe core function of this position is to work with researchers to design and develop applications for applied health or social care research funding.

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The role will support and advise researchers who are working in the NHS, with or without academic collaborators, in the development of protocols to be submitted for nationally competitive, peer-reviewed funding opportunities in any area of health services research.

The scope of the role within the RDS is to provide advice and support at the pre-award, development stage of the research. Opportunities to collaborate with research teams as a co-applicant are likely to arise. Any post-award work arising from an opportunity to collaborate as a co-applicant should be costed into the proposal using TRAC methodology and the money thus awarded would be paid to the RDS to contribute to further RDS support.

Advice and support may be provided to researchers by individuals or more commonly, as part of a team of RDS staff with differing methodological expertise. This will take place primarily within the three counties covered by the Nottingham Unit (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire) to suit the convenience of the researchers. The provision of advice to researchers within Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland will also be required. A willingness to travel is therefore essential.

The RDS also provides a series of funding awareness seminars and other learning events throughout the region to support NHS and academic researchers in the design and development of research protocols, and in submitting those proposals to available funding programmes. This role would play a part in the delivery of these events.

NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit

In 2008, the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) established 16 Biomedical Research Units (BRUs) to improve the pathway of translating basic research findings into clinical benefit. The BRU in Deafness and Hearing Problems has since established itself as a flagship research unit addressing major clinical issues in the ENT and audiological management of hearing loss and tinnitus. Our key partners are the University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust and the MRC Institute of Hearing Research. Nottingham has a long established critical mass of staff working in fundamental hearing research, translational hearing research, ENT and Audiology, with the UK’s largest programme in cochlear implantation. We have strong collaborative links across this partnership. The BRU tinnitus team also has excellent relations with industry and with other NIHR organisations and in the past year we have attracted over £2 million in external funding.

In August 2011, NIHR awarded the BRU in Deafness and Hearing Problems a further £6.25 million to develop and expand our research portfolio through to March 2017. Research areas take advantage of exciting new scientific opportunities and closer alignment to the research strengths of the partnership enhances collaborative possibilities. Five primary research areas (Tinnitus etiology and management, Habilitation for hearing loss, Sensorineural plasticity and rehabilitation, Cochlear implantation, and Paediatric ENT/Audiology) are underpinned by methodology-based research (Large-scale studies, Advanced imaging), and also by patient involvement and technology-based tools. As part of our expansion, we are committed to developing the next generation of researchers with NIHR funding for PhD students, research fellows and clinical secondments.

We are one of the UK’s largest and most productive research groups in tinnitus, collaborating with researchers and clinicians across the UK and world-wide.

Our vision is to make sure that the NHS provides the best, most innovative and most effective hearing healthcare for people of all ages (from babies to the elderly).

We are proud to have been awarded a Silver Athena SWAN award in November 2013 in recognition of our commitment to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM). The award reflects our commitment to promoting equality and diversity. Please see http://www.hearing.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/athena-swan

Our strategic plans during the current 5 year funding period (1st April 2012 to 31st March 2017) include:

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• Translating important discoveries from basic auditory science, especially those developed by our partners, the MRC Institute of Hearing Research - one of the largest centres for basic hearing science in the UK.• Developing the next generation of researchers through our PhD training programme and our opportunities for career progression for young researchers already working in the field.• Building research capacity within NHS audiologists, speech and language therapists, audiological physicians, ENT surgeons, and audiovestibular physicians through secondments to the BRU and active participation in our research network.

Appendix 1The University of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham is a global-leading, research-intensive university with campuses in the UK, Malaysia and China. Our reputation for world-class research has yielded major scientific breakthroughs such as Nobel-winning MRI techniques, drug discovery, food technologies and engineering solutions for future economic, social and cultural progress.

Already ranked among the UK’s elite universities and global polls for research excellence, our reputation for world-class research has been further enhanced with the 2014 results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF). In addition to scoring highly in quality rankings covering major disciplines in science, engineering, the social sciences, medicine, business and the arts, it is Nottingham’s research power rankings which demonstrate the impressive volume of excellent research which is carried out. We are now ranked 8th in the UK on a measure of ‘research power’ which takes into account both the quality of research and the number of research-active staff who made REF returns, confirming Nottingham’s place in the top tier of the world’s elite higher education institutions.

The main University campus is set beside a lake, in an extensive belt of woodland, parks and playing fields. The 330 acre University Park Campus is the focus of life for more than 32,000 students and houses the majority of the University’s academic schools and many of the central Services. The Jubilee campus is situated 2 miles away from the University Park, and provides extra capacity. The University Medical School is situated next to the University Park. Together with the University Hospital, it forms the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC).University of Nottingham Medical SchoolNottingham has a strong reputation for both clinical medicine and teaching. As one of the most popular medical schools in the country, it is able to select excellent students and produce and attract good junior doctors. The School of Medicine was formed following Faculty reconfiguration on August 1st 2013. The new School of Medicine comprises the Divisions of Cancer and Stem Cell Sciences, Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Clinical Neuroscience; Epidemiology and Public Health; Primary Care; Psychiatry and Applied Psychology; Rehabilitation and Ageing; Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine; Respiratory Medicine; Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and Dermatology and the Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre. The School also hosts the Medical Education Centre, the Centre for Interprofessional Education and Learning, the Clinical Research Facility, the Clinical Skills Centre, NIHR design Service East Midlands, Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, PRIMIS and Medical Imaging Unit.The new School of Medicine brings together in one School staff undertaking research for the benefit of the health of patients. It includes all primary care and hospital-based medical and surgical disciplines, principally in the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital Nottingham Campuses, Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and also at the University’s main campus and at the King’s Meadow and Jubilee Campuses. Most of our School’s Senior Researchers and Teachers are also clinicians who dedicate 50% of their time to patient care within the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust & Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Trust. This close juxtaposition brings cutting-edge clinical care to our patients and clinical relevance to our research and teaching. We are closely integrated with our full time NHS clinical colleagues, many of whom are themselves leaders in research and teaching and who work closely with the University and this increases the mutual benefit from integration between the University and NHS.

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Mission:Our mission is to improve human health and quality of life locally, nationally and internationally through outstanding education, research and patient care.

Priorities:1. Teaching and learning, particularly training tomorrow’s doctors and teaching

specialised postgraduates 2. Research and research training: We will perform and support the highest quality

“big” research which impacts on human health and disease 3. Partnership with the NHS and other healthcare providers 4. Visibility and profile of the School of Medicine: We will do what we do better, and

we will tell others about it

Ethos and principles:1. Having people and patients at the heart of all we do: our teaching and learning,

our research and our patient care 2. Contribution within the School of Medicine and to society beyond our immediate

roles; helpfulness and service 3. Openness and fairness, with particular emphasis on communication (both internal

and external) and on equality and diversity among students and staff 4. Personal and group responsibility for all aspects of our work, within a culture of

opportunity and rewardOur research spans 11 major themes, ranging from cancer to vascular medicine. We work closely with industry and the NHS. Our world-leading research ranges from basic and translational science through to clinical trials, epidemiology, and health services research. Our clear theme is improving human health, underpinning a vibrant postgraduate research training programme leading to PhD or DM. Many of our academics are clinicians, using their expertise to provide cutting edge specialised treatment to NHS patients; reflecting our ethos that patients are at the heart of all we do.In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework the four Units of Assessment included in the School of Medicine were among the six most improved in the whole University since RAE 2008: Over 80% of our research in 2014 was graded as world-leading or internationally excellent. Our research spans 11 major themes and ranges from basic and translational science through to clinical trials, epidemiology, and health services research. We work closely with industry and the NHS. Our research is underpinned by a strong postgraduate research training programme leading to PhD or DM. Our major research themes are in Cancer and Stem Cells; Child Health, Obstetrics & Gynaecology; Clinical Neurosciences; Dermatology; Digestive Diseases; Epidemiology and Public Health; Mental Health; Musculoskeletal physiology and disease; Primary Care; Rehabilitation and Ageing; Respiratory Medicine; and Renal Medicine. The School of Medicine trains tomorrow’s doctors on a vibrant undergraduate medical course with a unique intercalated BMedSci, as well in a specialised graduate-entry programme built around clinical problem solving. We teach medicine and related disciplines at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. We have a dedicated clinical academic training programme and are committed to training PhD and doctoral research students and to supporting postdoctoral clinicians and scientists in their research.  The School of Medicine holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM). The award reflects our commitment to promoting equality and diversity. Please see http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/about/athena-swan.aspx. Professor Tony Avery is Dean of the School of Medicine.For further information, please see our website http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine

NottinghamCentral within the East Midlands, Nottingham is a vibrant and prosperous city with something to offer everyone. It is one of the UK’s leading retail centres and has a huge variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs which attract people from all over the UK. Culturally, it has good theatres, an arena which attracts both national and international performers and a range of historical interests relating to subjects such as the lace industry, Lord Byron and DH

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Lawrence. Nottingham is also known for sport, being the home of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Forest and Notts County Football Clubs, the National Water Sports Centre and the Nottingham Tennis Centre. There is a good network of roads with easy access to the M1 and the A1, a fast frequent rail service to London and other major cities. Nottingham East Midlands Airport is only eighteen miles away. The city is set within a county of outstanding natural beauty which includes Sherwood Forest, Wollaton Park, lively market towns and wonderful historic buildings. Housing is relatively inexpensive and, in addition to the two Universities, there are excellent schools and colleges available.To find out more about Nottingham, use the following links:Nottingham County Council – Tourism http://www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/ University of Nottingham http://www.nottingham.ac.uk Zoopla (Guide to local properties) http://www.zoopla.co.uk/

My Nottingham (information on schools, term dates, school transport etc.)http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8524

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