Job Advert
Flexible Location: Based throughout Scotland, NES is a remote friendly employer supporting office and hybrid working. We’re happy to talk about how you want to work.
Work Pattern: Fixed Term, Part Time, 15 hours per week
Fixed-term or Secondment** for 24 months from the date of appointment
**For NHS applicants, an NHS secondment will be offered in the first instance. For non-NHS applicants, a fixed-term or secondment would be considered.
You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.
Who We Are
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.
The Dental Directorate is responsible for the delivery of high-quality education and training across a diverse range of training programmes, including the management, funding and provision of postgraduate education for dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs).
The Opportunity
We are looking for an innovative individual to provide a high quality, proactive and professional service, undertaking a portfolio of responsibilities within the Dental Directorate, primarily in relation to implementation of evidence-informed education and learning, quality improvement and patient safety.
Reporting to the Associate Postgraduate Dental Dean (Clinical Effectiveness), you will provide leadership for a range of research and innovation initiatives in relation to implementation, quality improvement, patient safety and best practice regarding scientific theories, methodologies and conduct.
In this exciting post you will have a lead role in liaising and representing NES externally in relation to these initiatives which impact across the NHS in Scotland.
Do you want to have a key role in supporting improvements in the quality and delivery of patient care?
Do you feel passionate about evidence-based health care?
Do you want to work in partnership with a range of professional, educational and academic stakeholders to research and develop innovative solutions for workforce development ?
Do you enjoy working at pace and being adaptive in an ever-changing environment ?
Do you enjoy building relationships and a shared vision for the future to support change and innovation?
Working within the Dental Directorate’s Clinical Effectiveness workstream you will have the opportunity to apply your specialist knowledge and skills as leader of a team dedicated to improving oral health care through research and innovation whilst advancing the scientific evidence-base for the implementation of education and learning in healthcare
Does this sound like you?
What We Love to See
Principal Research Leads offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:
· An honours degree and a PhD in a science or healthcare-related discipline plus relevant professional knowledge and experience
· Advanced postgraduate theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in scientific research methodologies
· Vision, strategic management skills and an innovative, flexible approach to leading a portfolio of highly complex educational research and innovation initiatives
· Ability to work at the interface of academic research, NHS education and service delivery often in a highly politicised context.
· Ability to function politically and the skills necessary to develop and utilise an extensive and complex professional network of contacts and relationships with government agencies, funding bodies, professional regulatory bodies, other education providers and the service.
· Substantial experience of planning and managing programme/project initiatives in a health care, research or educational context
· Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary
· Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines
Benefits Which Matter
As a valued employee of NHS Scotland, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:
· Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and hybrid working
· Generous NHS pension scheme
· Annual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review
· Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday
· NHS discounts and more
Diversity and Inclusion
Developing a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.
We are focused on hiring the very best talent available for NES, and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and aim to ensure everyone is treated fairly, with respect and has a positive recruitment experience – regardless of the outcome.
It’s not essential to be in a Principal Research Lead role right now. You may be returning from a career break (e.g. maternity, paternity, caring for others) or returning after working in another field. Your experiences elsewhere can bring a fresh perspective to our work.
If you are considering applying and feel it would be helpful to discuss this initially, please contact Linda Young, Assistant Postgraduate Dental Dean) linda.young@nhs.scot
Next Steps
**NHS candidates will be considered firstly on a secondment basis, and so are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current NHS employer at the earliest opportunity, ideally prior to application.
Our recruitment process is currently 100% remote and if successful you would initially work remotely, working from our offices as operationally required.
All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.
Online interviews (including a presentation) will take place on Tuesday 15th April 2025.
For further information please refer to the Job Information Pack below.
Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CVs will not be accepted.
If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: EoS.ERRS@nhs.scot