Partnership and Involvement Officer

Location:

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust – Site St Nicholas Hospital Town, Newcastle upon Tyne. Main area:
Research and Development. Grade:
Band 5.

Contract:

Fixed term – 4 years (4.5 years, until 31 March 2031).

Hours:

Full time – 37.5 hours per week.

Salary: £32,073 – £39,043 per annum.

This role provides comprehensive support for the external engagement activities of the Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria (ARC NENC), funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). ARC NENC brings together six universities, health and social care providers, voluntary and community organisations, patients, and the public to deliver better, fairer health and care at all ages and in all places.

The core team works on five research themes.

In this position you will work alongside internal and external colleagues at universities, members of the public, Health Innovation Networks and industry partners, supporting events, activities, and communications. You will support the Public Involvement and Community Engagement Manager and the Communications Manager.

• Support external engagement and reporting for the Applied Research Collaboration’s external engagement work, providing comprehensive project and public involvement support through monitoring research activity, collating data, and providing reports to the Chief Operating Officer as per funder requirements.
• Act as the first point of contact for enquiries, providing high levels of professionalism and positive customer service.
• Manage effective communication channels with stakeholders, including health and care professionals, service users, carers, industry and voluntary sector partners, other agencies and the public.
• Coordinate events and engagement activities, occasionally working outside core hours to support meetings, workshops, and community events.
• Liaise with partner organisations, including the Health Innovation Network, and support collaborative working and the ARC’s Business, Industry and Social Enterprise engagement activities.
• Provide proactive, professional and comprehensive administrative support, including organising meetings, taking minutes and establishing follow‑ups on actions.

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce. In return, we offer a dynamic working environment that supports career development.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re‑Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant subject such as science, social science, research, healthcare, or management.

• Ability to travel across the North East and North Cumbria, with occasional national travel for events required by the post.

• Experience of working with external partners (universities, charities, businesses and local employers).
• Experience of providing proactive professional support to a distributed, multi‑organisation team.
• Experience of working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working in a research, evaluation or innovation support role.
• Experience of data collection to support reporting, e.g. collating information for annual reports.
• Understanding of the role of communications via digital channels in an organisation.
• Understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion.

• Excellent IT skills across Microsoft office packages.
• Strong organisational, time‑management, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including investigators, research teams, R&D staff and external partners.
• Presentation skills, including the use of PowerPoint.
• Attention to detail when presenting and communicating information to all internal and external partners.
• Demonstrable understanding of the importance of continued and timely communication with external partners.
• Experience of, or enthusiasm for, supporting a wide range of communications work.
• Experience of delivering events including…