Group Head of Research and Innovation (R&I)

Transformationunitgm; Greater London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Greater London seeks a Group Head of Research and Innovation to shape research strategy and operational delivery across multiple sites. This role involves overseeing a dynamic team, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations, and driving innovative partnerships. The ideal candidate will have significant leadership experience and a strong background in research management. A competitive salary package is offered based on experience and qualifications. Join us to make a transformative impact in healthcare.

Benefits

Generous salary

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in a healthcare research environment at a management level.
• Knowledge of clinical research regulation, legislation, and standards.
• Experience of direct budget management.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development and operational delivery of clinical research.
• Oversee multidisciplinary teams and manage research budgets.
• Ensure regulatory compliance for all research activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budget Management

Research Governance

Education

Degree level (BA or BSc Hons)

Postgraduate qualification in Life or Clinical sciences

Job description

Main area Research and Development Grade Band 8b Contract Permanent: Tooting Main site, expected to work across the Group Hours

• Full time
• Compressed hours

37.5 hours per week Job ref 200-NN-7575746-A&C-Z

Employer St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Tooting, SW17 0RE Town London Salary £72,921 - £83,362 pa pro-rata incl HCAS (inner london) Salary period Yearly Closing 04/01/2026 23:59

Group Head of Research and Innovation (R&I)

Band 8b

Job overview

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh) is seeking an experienced and visionary Group Head of Research & Innovation (R&I) to lead the strategic development and operational delivery of clinical research across one of the London’s largest healthcare groups. Based primarily at the Tooting site, but expected to work flexibility across group sites, this senior leadership role offers the opportunity to shape research governance, drive innovation, and foster partnerships with academia, industry, and regulatory bodies. The successful candidate will oversee multidisciplinary teams, manage research budgets, and ensure compliance with national standards, while cementing performance. If you’re passionate about advancing healthcare through research and ready to make a transformative impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• Strategic Leadership: Support and implement the Group’s research strategy; represent mesh in external forums; build partnerships with academic and industry stakeholders. Ensure mesh wide high level research performance and KPI reporting.
• Operational Oversight: Lead research operations across the Trust; co-lead the Joint Clinical Research Office; develop and monitor R&I policies and systems.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure regulatory compliance for all research activities; manage study setup, approvals, and sponsor responsibilities; maintain quality standards and SOPs.
• Financial Management: Oversee research budgets; support grant applications and costings; ensure transparent financial practices across research projects.
• Workforce Development: Promote training, career pathways, and inclusive engagement in research; support Principal Investigators and staff development.
• HR & Leadership: Manage R&I Ops teams; lead appraisals and resource planning; act as a visible and supportive senior leader across the organisation.
• Communication & Engagement: Foster strong internal and external relationships; deliver presentations; communicate complex issues clearly and professionally.

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Operational Oversight

• Provide senior operational leadership across all R&I functions.
• Co-lead the Joint Clinical Research Office (JCRO) with City St George’s University of London.
• Develop and implement systems and policies to support high-quality research delivery.

Research Governance & Compliance

• Serve as sponsor representative for research governance across the Group.
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP, HRA, MHRA, and other regulatory frameworks.
• Lead the development and implementation of SOPs and assurance frameworks.
• Provide expert advice on ethics, regulatory submissions, and contracting.
• Act as budget manager for research funding, ensuring contractual compliance.
• Partner with finance teams to monitor and report on research income and expenditure.
• Support financial planning and reporting for research

Workforce Development & Engagement

• Drive development of research workforce, including training and career pathways.
• Promote inclusive access to research for staff and patients.
• Support researchers and teams in meeting governance and legal requirements.
• Lead staff engagement initiatives and training programmes.

HR Management

• Line manage senior R&I staff, overseeing appraisals, performance, and development.
• Act as a visible leader and role model across the organisation.

Communication & Engagement

• Establish strong communication channels within the department and across the Trust.
• Deliver presentations and reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead on communicating complex or sensitive issues with clarity and professionalism.
• Foster an open and inclusive environment that encourages dialogue and collaboration.

Person specification

Education/Qualification

• degree level (BA or BSc Hons) or be able to demonstrate relevant experience commensurate with the post
• A scientific background or qualification, preferably at the post‑graduate level and ideally in the Life or Clinical sciences
• ICH-GCP certification
• ICH-GCP accredited facilitator/trainer

Experince and Knowledge

• Experience of working within a healthcare research environment at a management level
• Knowedlege of the national healthcare research strategy
• Experience leading the development of policies and procedures for research, including standard operating procedures
• Knowledge of clinical research regulation, legislation and standards
• Knowledge/experience of regulatory inspections
• experience of research finance and funding at a senior level
• Knowledge of national research agenda
• Experience working with/at regional and or national organisations relevant to healthcare
• Experience of developing business plan and strategies for research
• Experience of direct budget management

Skills

• able to prepare high quality written reports and presentations for senior audiences
• proven skills in leading multidisciplinary teams, managing change, and delivering large-scale research initiatives across healthcare settings.

Your recruitment team
The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:
E: [email protected]

Your application
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References
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Closing date
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Shortlisting
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.

Application feedback
If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Safeguarding and DBS Checks
We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.