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Job summary
Research and innovation are central to LTHT's ambition to be one of the UK's leading research-active NHS organisations. In this role, you will: Shape the future of healthcare professional research career pathways across the Trust. Influence strategy as part of the R&I Senior Leadership Team. Develop strong partnerships with universities, NIHR and other research organisations. Support healthcare professionals to access research, fellowship and funding opportunities. Lead programmes that build research capability, mentorship and academic career development. Continue to develop your own research profile while making a lasting impact on patient care and workforce development.
Main duties of the job
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced healthcare professional and research leader to join LTHT as Head of Healthcare Professions Academic Development (AFC grade 8D). As a member of the Research & Innovation (R&I) Senior Leadership Team, you will lead the strategic development of research, innovation and evidence-based practice across the Trust's healthcare professions workforce. Working closely with clinical leaders, universities and external partners, you will build research capacity, develop academic career pathways and help secure funding to support research growth. Alongside this leadership role, you will have the opportunity to maintain an active research portfolio and contribute to the delivery of high-quality clinical research that improves patient care.
About us
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.
Details
- Date posted: 24 August 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 8d
- Salary: £94,356 to £108,814 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 001950
- Job locations: St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 7TF, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
For questions about this job, contact:
Name: Dr Denise Ross Position: Head of Healthcare Professions Academic Development Email: Denise.ross@nhs.net Phone number:
We are looking for an inspirational and collaborative leader who is passionate about developing research-active healthcare professionals.
You will have:
- Registration as a healthcare professional with a recognised UK professional body.
- Extensive experience of working within the UK NHS.
- A strong track record in research, innovation, academic development or clinical leadership.
- Experience of building research capacity and supporting staff at different stages of their academic careers.
- Experience of securing research funding and supporting successful grant or fellowship applications.
- Excellent partnership-working skills, with the ability to collaborate across organisations and disciplines.
- Experience of mentoring, coaching and supervising healthcare professionals and researchers.
- An established research profile, including experience of leading or contributing to funded research.
If you are passionate about advancing healthcare research, developing future clinical academics and influencing strategic change at scale, we would love to hear from you.
About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Our Trust values
The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.
We are….
Responsible Open and Honest One Team Kind
Our Trust priorities
Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time
Our priorities:
People Improvement and Innovation Partnerships Outcomes
To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered healthcare professional with current professional registration
Desirable
- PhD or equivalent doctoral level qualification
Practical Skills
Essential
- IT and computer literate
Other Requirements
Essential
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy
Personal attributes
Essential
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrates a commitment to providing quality services in clinical and academic research settings
- Is adaptable, tenacious and flexible in a dynamic health environment
- Respects and supports colleagues, co-workers and partners
- Is accessible, approachable and collaborative in relation to others to develop strong working relationships with staff from all disciplines
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- High level knowledge and experience of the delivery of clinical services within a UK NHS provider setting
- Evidence of commitment to personal and professional development of self and others
- A knowledge of the different research methodologies and the ability to choose the correct method for a particular research question
- Evidence of in-depth knowledge of clinical research
- Evidence of experience in workforce planning , utilisation and delivery to designated performance metrics
- Delivery of relevant education & training at the strategic and operational level
- Experience of senior professional leadership and management across a multitude of practice settings.
- Knowledge of current national, regional and local healthcare professional education and health policy issues
- Knowledge of service improvement, modernisation and change management approaches and initiatives
- Knowledge of the national clinical governance, quality and patient safety agendas
- Experience in developing budgets/funding projections with competent financial management.
- Demonstrable evidence of presentation and/or teaching skills.
- Excellent written communication skills and ability to prepare formal papers, reports, business papers etc., to Board and national levels.
- Demonstrates the ability to secure change through effective influencing, negotiation and collaborative partnership working.
- Able to communicate highly complex information.
- Ability to manage diverse and complex workload to strict and competing timescales.
- Ability to manage and deliver on diverse and complex projects to competing timescales.
- IT and computer literate, standard keyboard and presentation skills
- Demonstrable experience of leading strategic/service planning.
- Demonstrated experience in all aspects of Human Resource Management
Desirable
- Evidence of contribution to research arena at regional and national level
- Evidence of grant writing
- Completed service improvement/change management training.
- Presentation skills training
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Healthcare Professions with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 7TF, United Kingdom, United Kingdom. It is listed as a Band 8 role. The advertised salary is £94356.00 to £108814.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 11 Sep 2026.
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