Head of Research

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional and motivated individual to join us as our Head of Research. This is a key leadership role, providing strategic and operational direction for all research activity across the Trust.

The post holder will lead the development and delivery of the Trust's research strategy, ensuring that research is embedded across all services and contributes to high-quality patient care. You will provide expert advice to researchers, guide grant applications, oversee Trust sponsorship, and ensure compliance with national research governance standards.

As the Trust's lead specialist for clinical research, you will operate with a high degree of autonomy interpreting and implementing national policy, strategy, and guidelines, including those from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). You will represent the Trust at regional and national level, raising our research profile and supporting collaboration across the health and care system.

Main duties of the job

The role includes responsibility for research staff and budgets, including NIHR infrastructure funding. You will work closely with Finance to plan, monitor, and report on research expenditure, and lead bids for additional infrastructure funding. The post holder will also oversee research information systems (e.g. EDGE(TM), Open Data Platform) and ensure accurate performance reporting.

You will be an experienced research leader with a deep understanding of NHS research governance, policy, and funding. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills are essential, along with a passion for embedding research excellence across the organisation.

At Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, research is central to improving outcomes and experiences for our patients. Join us and help shape the future of research and innovation in our Trust.

About us

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is an innovative hospital with a proud heritage and over 250 years of experience behind us. Here we're driven to deliver an outstanding experience for everyone and have been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment we continue to provide for our patients and also our staff.

We are an acute Trust, rated "Good" by the CQC, with a track record of high performance providing regional and super regional specialist services such as: Burns, Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery, Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Wessex Rehabilitation, Spires Cleft Centre and the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. We have about 470 beds and employ over 4000 staff.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. We think working here is pretty rewarding. You can access a range of NHS discounts, receive a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme. On-site benefits include car parking (fee applies), leisure centre, day nursery and holiday play scheme.

Salisbury is an attractive place to live and work and really gives you the best of everything. With easy access to London and local airports, the city of Southampton is only a short train or car journey away or if you prefer the sea, Bournemouth is also accessible. Don't just take our word for it, why not explore what Salisbury has to offer by visiting

Job responsibilities

This post is externally funded and provides income for the trust.

Job responsibilities are detailed in the attached job description.

Person Specification

• Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant experience. This expertise should be acquired through a combination of in-depth experience and postgraduate or post-registration study
• 3 years of working in research management and governance or leadership;
• Experience of setting up and running a portfolio of NIHR portfolio research as part of a multi-disciplinary team, working to protocol requirements;
• Experience of line managing and leading a team, including managing difficult situations and conflict resolution and using highly developed motivational and negotiation skills to lead others and affect change;
• Understanding of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research and within the NHS;
• Understanding of NIHR infrastructure and initiatives;
• Roles of the sponsoring and the participating organisation;
• Understanding of funding for commercial and non-commercial studies, including but not restricted to NIHR, research councils, charities.
• Strong leadership qualities that constantly reinforce the Trust values and beliefs;
• Ability to develop professional relationships, and to use effective written and verbal skills to overcome barriers to communication;
• Ability to work independently, making autonomous decisions and judgements at an advanced level. Well-developed self-awareness, confident in own knowledge base & skills, aware of learning needs and seeks guidance when appropriate;

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum pro rata if part time