Research Project Support Officer

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Applicants will need to have some experience in project management within healthcare or primary care research, skills in using MS Office and analytical tools (e.g. Epidata, NVivo), experience in data collection, analysis, and reporting, and an ability to communicate research findings through publications and presentations.

Experience in community healthcare, infections and analysis of large data sets and working experience of qualitative and quantitative research and evaluations of public health or educational resources will be an advantage.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports, facilitates and monitors the progress of a specific project
• Responsible for managing, delivering, maintaining and developing the areas of work allocated to them by line manager or project manager
• Identifies, reviews and escalates risks/issues to project manager or project board as appropriate
• Set up and maintain databases and systems to support the effective running of the programme
• Input into development of business cases and proposals to establish new projects
• Contribute to the production of timely and accurate reports on project performance by providing progress reports on specific actions
• Analyse assessments and project reports, taking appropriate action to resolve failures to meet project standard or escalate to project manager
• Accurately interpreting data (verbal and numerical) and research papers, and summarising and effectively communicating this data
• Writing and designing draft research specifications for individual research projects
• Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to undertake research
• Carry out primary research such as interviewing health care staff and patients
• Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships at all level
• Work collaboratively across teams and functions
• Contribute to the planning, development and delivery of learning events and networks to enhance knowledge and skills amongst relevant stakeholders
• Liaise with other team members across the programme, supporting other staff to deliver the programme objectives
• Assisting with the creative development of promotional materials such as poster presentations and advertisements placed in scientific press
• Be responsible for your own administration
• Deputise for the Project Manager
• Encourage quality improvement of products and services
• Suggests changes to and implements policies and procedures in own work area
• Work within the scope of the project budget
• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.  Attending internal / external training events.

To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training. 

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Internal

• Joint Clinical Leads of Primary Care and Interventions Unit
• Primary Care and Interventions Unit Manager
• Other Primary Care and Intervention Unit staff
• Other UKHSA departments including HCAI, AMR and behavioural insights 

External

• Colleagues within the NHS 
• Universities
• Research & Development Units
• Primary Care commissioners
• Ethics and Grants Committees
• Project and research participants including patients
• Other research groups and collaborators
• Professional societies with interest in infections in primary care, especially RCGP, BSAC, RPS and RCN

Essential role criteria (including qualifications, licenses and registrations):

• Educated to MSc degree level in microbiological sciences, public health and/or research or equivalent relevant experience and training in public health science related data collection, analysis, reporting and application to health policy and interventions
• Project Management Qualification (e.g. Prince2 Practitioner) or equivalent relevant experience and training of working with a team to deliver project objectives, working with project management tools, and reporting on project progress
• Communicates effectively with project stakeholders and partners. With experience of maintaining good stakeholder relations and of working with others to achieve common goals
• Previous experience in public health, NHS, or similar research role, with experience of working in a changing environment
• Ability to manage own workload, prioritise work and deliver within set timescales, while working within a multi-disciplinary team. Must also be able to travel throughout the region and country as required
• Ability to negotiate, influence and engage with staff and stakeholders at all levels.  With an understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
• Ability to lead as a specialist in area of quantitative or qualitative research/education and provide guidance
• Ability to assess user/customer/stakeholder needs and translate these into a product or service that meets those requirements
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills. Also a working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skill

Desirable role criteria:

• Able to supervise staff and to motivate them to deliver agreed objectives  

Selection Process Details

Stage 1: Application & Sift  

This vacancy is using Competency.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 9 essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

•    Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
•    (up to 1000 of words) word supporting statement  

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V. Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.  

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of: 

• Meets all essential criteria  
• Meets some essential criteria  
• Meets no essential criteria  

We will take pile "Meets all essential criteria"  through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large amount of applications, we will sift on:

• Educated to MSc degree level in microbiological sciences, public health and/or research or equivalent relevant experience and training in public health science related data collection, analysis, reporting and application to health policy and interventions

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates. Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based):

You will be invited to a remote interview. 

Interviews will be held in January or February 2026.  Specific dates will be disclosed closer to the time.

During the interview we will assess against the below:

• Knowledge
• Experience
• Skills and Abilities 

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be how you would carry out a critical appraisal of evidence for health behaviours.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. 

Additional Information

Eligibility to work in the Civil Service 

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).  

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our office in Gloucester. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) in the office. 

Additional Information

Security Clearance Level Requirement:

Successful candidates must pass an enhanced disclosure and barring security check. 

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our office in Gloucester. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) in the office. 

Salary

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.