Senior Research Dietitian or Developmental Band 6 Research Dietitian

Job overview

The LDC is the largest diabetes research group in the UK with a local, national and global reputation for excellence in clinical research. It has a multimillion pound annual budget, over 160 staff employed through the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) and the University of Leicester (UofL) and a portfolio of over 40 active commercial and academic trials. The LDC is co-Directed by 2 NIHR Senior Investigators who have a proactive and innovative approach to the on-going growth and development of both the Centre and its staff with a clear vision and strategy for the future.

The LDC hosts the Lifestyle Theme within the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a collaboration between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and the University of Leicester, the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC)-East Midlands, and the Centre for Ethnic Health Research. It is located at Leicester General Hospital and encompasses a floor space of ~ 5000m2 which includes a state-of-the-art exercise and metabolic assessment lab, metabolic kitchen, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner for the gold standard assessment of body composition, clinical assessment rooms, patient education facilities, large and small meeting rooms, and a 4/5 space day ward.

Please see the accompanying job summary form for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Main duties of the job

LDC are renowned for research harnessing the power of lifestyle behaviours within the prevention and management of obesity and diabetes, including ongoing work investigating how lifestyle therapies can be used in synergy with pharmaceutical therapies to optimise whole body health. Funders include the NIHR, various research councils (including MRC), charities and industry, and its senior investigators hold and/or lead the largest research funding awards within UHL and the University of Leicester.

The Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) are looking for a talented, motivated Senior Clinical Research Dietitian (Band 7) to join the team and contribute to a diverse portfolio of work exploring the impact of lifestyle behaviours, including diet and nutrition, on whole-body health in people living with obesity, diabetes, and other related long term conditions. A developmental role would also be considered, starting at Band 6 Clinical Research Dietitian initially with a tailored development plan linked to progression to the advertised Band 7 role.

The post is permanent, ideally full-time although part-time/job share will be considered.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For appointment into either a Band 7 or development Band 6 role, the post holder will be a self-motivated, accessible, and responsive dietitian with UK HCPC registration and an active professional portfolio.

At Band 7, the post holder will have demonstrable experience of clinical practice and research delivery in populations with obesity, diabetes and associated long-term conditions. In support of senior researchers and management, and working closely with a friendly and experienced team of nurses, clinicians, clinical academics and administrative supporting teams, the post holder will take a lead role in the oversight and management of dietetic and nutrition research delivery across both academic and commercial research portfolios led by and/or conducted within the LDC. This will include studies involving the measurement of habitual diet and eating behaviour, and those containing various dietetic or nutritional interventions. In doing so, the post holder will work closely within the clinical research infrastructure located within the LDC, including the BRC Lifestyle Theme and CRDC. The post holder will oversee the provision of specialist dietetic and nutrition support and measurement to patients and/or their families and carers whilst taking part in research, contributing both directly and through the management, guidance and supervision of other research dietitians or nutritionists. They will also oversee the related research spaces, processes and procedures to ensure the safe, effective and efficient delivery of this activity, as well as contributing to the design/development of new study protocols and funding applications.

For appointment into a developmental Band 6 role, the post holder would be expected to have demonstrable experience of clinical practice or research delivery in populations with obesity, diabetes and associated long-terms conditions, and working knowledge of the other. They would also be expected to have at least some leadership experience (supervision essential, line management desirable). They would support research delivery in a Band 6 capacity, whilst working closely to with senior researchers and operational leads to contribute to the responsibilities of the role as outlined above and undertaking a personalised development plan to reach the required competencies for progression into the Band 7 role.