Strategic Lead – Health Determinants Research Collaboration

Manchester, Lancashire
Old Moat
About The Role

Working hours: 35 hours per week
Contract type: Time limited to 31 January 2030
Closing date: 11.59pm, 8 May 2025
Interview method: in person

Manchester City Council is seeking a dynamic and experienced Strategic Lead to oversee the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) programme. This role involves managing a team of 12 professionals and collaborating with stakeholders within the University of Manchester, Public Health, Neighbourhood services and localities across the city. The Strategic Lead will provide strategic direction, foster a collaborative team environment, and drive transformative initiatives to ensure effective delivery of the programme.

The NIHR funds the Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) to boost research capacity and capability within local government. HDRCs aim to embed a culture of using evidence to improve decision-making on health and health inequalities. The programme involves local authorities working with university partners to build collaborative infrastructure, combining local government knowledge with academic research skills. At present there are 30 HDRCs across the country.

The mission for HDRC Manchester is “to put communities at the heart of policy”. This means:

• Local residents are more able to directly influence decisions about their area through greater control and influence over research activities and learning new skills and experience
• Improved decision making and impact across the City Council and partner organisations, through officer and member engagement and clear governance arrangements
• Investment will turbo-charge what we are already doing so that it becomes more consistent and more impactful
  Better, more ‘real life’ research, improving our understanding of the wider determinants of health at a local level
  Dissemination of learning through Core Cities, GM, government, academia, VCSEF sector
• Sustainable legacy of working in this way beyond the investment

To do this the HDRC Manchester team will focus on the delivery of three main pillars: Culture Change; Research; and Methods. The Strategic Lead will lead work on embedding a research-driven culture across the council and will work closely with local communities and stakeholders to identify and prioritise research needs. They will direct work on the development of guidance, toolkits, training, and support to enhance the quality and impact of research conducted within the programme.

The team will be embedded within Manchester City Council’s Policy, Performance and Reform (PPR) service. PPR is an outward facing, central function which advises and develops policy, undertakes and collaborates on transformation and reform projects and ensures that MCC is data-driven, and evidence led through robust analysis, research and evaluation. The three constituent teams of PPR (Policy, Performance, Research and Intelligence and Reform and Innovation) work together on shared strategic priorities.
Within PPR, HDRC Manchester will be based in PRI: the centre of excellence for data and insight, reporting to the Head of PRI. It will be a new team focused solely on HDRC priorities but would sit close to business-as-usual (BAU) teams to enable maximum impact on current council approaches and to support knowledge transfer and increasing capability.
The HDRC Strategic Lead will play a crucial role in advancing the HDRC Programme’s mission and objectives, in what is an exciting time for local authority research.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Paul Holme, at to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

About the Candidate

We are looking for someone who is passionate about research and evidence and understands the importance of an evidence based culture. In the role we are looking for someone who can:

• lead a programme which provides specialist support to the organisation and external stakeholders.
• lead and drive the design, implementation, development, support and monitoring of programmes of work to support the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan. In doing so they will support the achievement of strategic and operational objectives through a focus on quality, value for money and innovation whilst providing organisational assurance.
• proactively engage with senior management and decision makers to agree clear programmes of work providing appropriate support and challenge.
• work collaboratively with, and influence, both internal services and external partners in a manner which is focused on organisational objectives and embraces the principle of joint working.
• ensure the effective and prioritised deployment of resources to provide reliable information and support to managers and decision makers.
• provide effective programme management and oversight interpreting strategic vision (Our Manchester Strategy and the Corporate Plan) into a coherent programme of projects or priorities.
• demonstratea broad understanding of the context of HDRC and the wider determinants of health.
• demonstrate an awareness of the importance of evidence led decision making.

Please see the attached role profile for a full list of key responsibilities, skills and knowledge require d.
About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks – Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member- W e are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments : Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats : Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the “Accessibility tools” button at the top of our careers page . This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirement s for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below :

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice. . click apply for full job details