Job Description
Position Details
School of Social Policy and Society
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £57,422 to £66,537 with potential progression once in post to £86,760
Grade: 9
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 24th July 2025
Background
The University of Birmingham is seeking to appoint an ambitious and outstanding academic with expertise in Evidence Synthesis and Health Services Research.
You will be joining the College of Social Sciences as a senior member of a dynamic team of academics in the new Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science (CEIS). You will be part of a growing multi-disciplinary team at the forefront of methodological innovation and policy and practice change.
The Centre encompasses: 1) A National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Technology Appraisal Review (TAR) team that delivers diagnostic and medicine technology appraisals for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other stakeholders, 2) an NIHR Evidence Synthesis Group (ESG) delivering a range of evidence synthesis products for the NIHR and a wide range of stakeholders, 3) an Evidence Based Surgery Group and 4) a Policy and Methods Innovation research group.
The post holder will be a developing leader in their field bringing their own excellence in relevant research and education activities to support School and Departmental programmes. You will provide leadership for, and work with, a multidisciplinary team of information specialists, systematic reviewers, epidemiologists, statisticians and modellers in conceptualising and undertaking various forms of evidence synthesis and in appraising evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of diagnostic and medical technologies. You will provide senior leadership to junior and mid-career colleagues and guidance in evidence reviews and your field of expertise.
You will collaborate with colleagues in other Schools and Departments at the University of Birmingham with synergistic research activities and contribute to other workstreams within CEIS. Other national and international collaboration and outputs will be expected commensurate with the role, including representing the team at senior level in external meetings and events.
Role Summary
To play a leading role in strengthening Evidence Synthesis and Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham and to contribute to international research excellence and impact. This will include supporting the NIHR West Midlands Evidence Synthesis Group (WM-ESG) and leading health technology assessment reviews.
To attract substantial external research funding to support and develop the research group. Members of CEIS already have an established track record of generating significant income to support research activity relating to systematic reviews and mixed methods evidence synthesis, health economics, medical statistics, screening and test evaluation, and health and social care research.
Research is likely to involve an established national and developing international reputation through significant original research work and a clear record of impact, and/or developing and applying innovative evidence synthesis methods and processes.
You will contribute at a senior level to teaching, research, and administration. In addition, you will be expected to contribute to academic citizenship, likely to be demonstrated through generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students.
Teaching is likely to include: (a) development and leadership of major teaching programmes or equivalent; and (b) enhancement of the student experience or employability.
Management and administration is likely to include Departmental/School leadership and management activity with University wide involvement – for example through sustained high value research, knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement or similar activities.
Main Duties
Research
To pursue sustained research activity in Evidence Synthesis and Health Services through original research and scholarship, including other research-related contributions through conference papers and presentations and/or consultancy projects and advice, including (as appropriate):
- contributing to the management of research activities and/or supervising other research staff;
- Lead successful funding bids which develop and sustain research support for the specialist area;
- consistently publishing internationally excellent research, with some research regarded as world leading, that results in a sustained, highly respected reputation of international quality;
- supervising and examining PhD students, both within the institution and externally;
- providing expert advice internally and externally;
- peer reviewing articles for peer reviewed academic journals and grant applications by research councils and/or other major funding bodies;
- leading sustained impact activity including public engagement and makes a significant contribution to policy development at a national and international level;.
- supervising and examine PhD students, both within the institution and externally;
- as appropriate, managing research activities and/or supervising other research staff;
- developing novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued.
Education
You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:
- making a significant contribution to the pedagogical knowledge base of the subject that advances teaching through the enhancement of practice, the development of teaching resources and/or through practice-based research;
- leading on the management and the development of approaches to teaching and learning, including designing innovative approaches to digital resources/environments and supporting colleagues to use them that are innovative to the subject area or institution;
- leading on curriculum design at module and programme level to ensure it is contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging;
- actively engaging students in curriculum design and sharing evidence of “what works”;
- making an impactful, high quality contribution to debates about education policy, methods and practices through internal and external publications, subject societies and conference activity;
- developing an external profile evidenced through engaging in external quality assurance activities related to teaching, e.g. external examining and engaging with/supporting education in other institutions;
- playing an important and sustained role in the recruitment and admission of students;
- co-supervising doctoral students to completion;
- leading the development of teaching, learning and assessment policies and strategies; acting as an education mentor to colleagues in the School/Department/College or more widely;
- leading the development of new and appropriate approaches to learning and teaching. This may be underpinned by research and evaluation of teaching methods and systems
- leading sustained high value impact in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or or employability, and is of manifest benefit to learning and teaching in the College and the University;
- undertaking own teaching, which will include teaching and examining courses at a range of levels, planning and reviewing own teaching approaches, developing programme proposals, supervision, marking and examining. You will ensure that your teaching practice is informed by discipline based research, through participating in the research culture of the School.
Management/administration
Lead activities in the Department/ School and represent the School on College/ University committees or working groups. Where appropriate to the discipline, this is likely to include some, but not all of the responsibilities listed below:
- making an important contribution to the development and running of the Department or School, for example, leading activity on research and/or teaching assessment
- leading a successful international engagement at School or College level;
- developing and managing staff and resources in support of major research and/or teaching activities;
- making important contributions to the development of the Department’s research and/or learning and teaching strategy;
- contributing significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University;
- promoting a culture (including policies and procedures) that embeds equality and values diversity and inclusion;
- leading, serving on and assisting the work of committees and task and finish groups beyond School/ Research Institute, e.g., Senate, Council, University Education or Research Committee etc.;
- leading external committees, e.g., those associated with public/professional bodies or delivery of activities for an external body at an appropriate level, e.g., chairing sub committees associated with large elements of work;
- leading/project managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. a new research initiative, or a recruitment drive);
- making a sustained contribution to widening participation, schools outreach and/or public understanding of the discipline;
- contributing to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups).
Citizenship
- identifying wellbeing issues within the School/College/University and developing appropriate solutions to address these;
- taking collective ownership of challenges faced by the School or College and working with colleagues to develop solutions;
- mentoring and coaching of colleagues, particularly those in the early stages of their career.
Person Specification
- Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.
- An in-depth understanding of the wide ranges of evidence synthesis products and diverse methodological approaches including quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods, and a strong track record in successfully leading and delivering related evidence synthesis projects and research.
- A solid foundation in the theory and practice of applied health research, including growing expertise and reputation in the subject areas of health and social care service delivery and evaluation, health technology assessment, public health research and/or research methodology.
- Strong knowledge of the research, health and social care and higher education landscape in the UK, and substantial experience in undertaking research, teaching and management activities related to these, including communication and engagement with funders, decision makers, practitioners, service users, researchers and other stakeholders. in different areas of applied health research including
- Demonstrated excellence in at least Research, with competence in Learning and Teaching and Management and Administration.
Learning And Teaching Requirements
An excellent teaching profile and performance in terms of both impact and quality. The teaching quality demonstrated to be informed by an appropriate level of scholarship.
Where appropriate, evidence of success under the following headings:
- High national reputation for the development of teaching and learning excellence within the discipline
- Successful and sustained use of a range of appropriate teaching methods, and assessment strategies that promote high quality learning, including learning that is flexible, distinctive and current and stimulates learners’ natural curiosity
- Significant and sustained contribution to one or more of the following: strategic development of new programmes; approaches to learning; the development of learning resources
- High quality and sustained contributions to fostering excellence in teaching activities more widely, i.e. in the Department/School or College and/or externally
- Track record of substantial and sustained high value impact on the enhancement of the student experience, and/or employability
- Mentoring and expert advice which develops the skills of colleagues in teaching and in fostering learning
Research Requirements
An excellent national reputation and a developing international profile through significant original research work and a clear record of impact. Evidence of success under the following headings, as appropriate to the discipline:
- High level peer esteem as evidenced by:
- Excellent reputation in evidence synthesis in the UK and often internationally, reflected in sustained high-quality output, level of innovation, impact on scholarship, people and society, and other recognitions
- An excellent and sustained record of peer reviewed research publications
- Successful and sustained supervision of doctoral students to completion
- Substantial and sustained research income generation, e.g. through research grants, contracts, research consultancy or other external funding
- Sustained high-value impact through knowledge transfer and enterprise that is of manifest benefit to the College and University
Management And Administration-related Requirements
Demonstrated significant achievement in management and administration-related activities, which may include leadership of activities/initiatives. Evidence of success under the following headings
- Successful and sustained performance in significant administrative/managerial role (s) (e.g. exams officer)
- Significant and sustained high quality innovative contributions to the management/administration of the Department/School/College or University
- Successful and sustained contribution to the corporate life of the School/College/University, displaying willingness to contribute actively to committees, collaborative teaching and administrative tasks
- Actively promotes equality and diversity to internal and external stakeholders
- Able to use data to identify equality and diversity issues
- Experience of developing interventions to address equality and diversity issues
Informal enquiries to Amy Grove, email:
[email protected]We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website . 
