Guidance and Advice Service Manager

A core function of the HRA is the provision of guidance and advice for the research community. The post-holder, working with other members of the guidance and advice team, HRA colleagues and stakeholders, is expected to make a substantive contribution to this core function.

The key responsibilities of this role are to:

·     ensure that the HRA guidance and advice function is delivered to agreed standards.

·     oversee and co-ordinate work delivered through this function and the team.

·     identify opportunities for improvements and implement them.

·     implement new systems that will support the work of the team and contribute to improving performance of the function; this may include introducing use of dedicated customer relationship management systems and new technology platforms for guidance and will require working with relevant HRA colleagues from across the organisation.

·     fulfil the leadership role for the team and represent the guidance and advice function at governance meetings and in programmes/projects.

The post-holder will be expected to:

·     oversee the ongoing review, revision, and continual improvement of existing guidance, this will include activity identified within team, requested by colleagues internal and external to the HRA and/or identified through user feedback.

·     oversee the development and implementation of new guidance, ensuring involvement of relevant colleagues, external partners, and stakeholders. This includes preparation of high quality, user-friendly and accurate guidance in a range of formats, covering a variety of topics and remits.

·     manage the team, prioritising / re-prioritising work as required, ensuring that this small team works as effectively and efficiently as possible.

·     ensure that the relevant policies and procedures are followed, identifying any issues and implementing corrective actions as necessary.

·     take responsibility for ensuring that the activities of the team are co-ordinated with the work of others, both internal and external to HRA, where appropriate. For example, this may include publication of guidance to co-ordinate with launch of a new approval process, system change, regulatory or policy change and any associated transition plan activity.

·     ensure that guidance and advice needs of stakeholder groups are understood and met. The post-holder will be expected to use feedback from the research community, experience gained through a variety of channels and through liaison with colleagues to identify these requirements. 

·     bring together complex information from a range of sources and work in collaboration with colleagues across the relevant HRA Directorates as well as colleagues external to the HRA.

·     work flexibly and have the ability to act as lead, project manager or be a key contributor or facilitator, depending on the activity.

·     act as an expert advisor to the HRA’s queries services and, where required, in response to other ad hoc queries received through other channels. This will include providing bespoke, accurate and clear advice that is appropriate to the target audience, for example in response to complex and/or novel queries. Production of such advice may require working with multiple experts to reach agreement on an appropriate response.

The role demands attention to detail, commitment to excellent customer service and a detailed knowledge of the regulatory and governance requirements for health and social care research, and the lifecycle of health research, in the UK.