Job description

The postholder will take a lead role in delivering the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR ARC) South London Implementation Research theme and King's Improvement Science (KIS) research and evaluation projects, utilising their mixed-methods (ideally qualitative and quantitative) expertise. 

The role includes planning, coordinating, executing, and reporting on implementation and improvement science research and evaluation projects in health and social care settings, and delivering some teaching and training. 

The postholder will work alongside members of NIHR ARC South London, the Centre for Implementation Science (CIS) and the KIS team, under the guidance of the NIHR ARC South London Implementation Research theme lead, CIS Director and KIS Principal Investigator. The post-holder will also work collaboratively with funders, NHS staff, public members and other stakeholders to plan and deliver high-quality, applied research aimed at improving health or social care services. 

NIHR ARC South London, is a research organisation that brings together researchers, health and social care practitioners, and local people to improve health and social care in south London. Member organisations include King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Kings Health Partners, King's College London, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, St. George's, University of London, Health Innovation Network South London (AHSN), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and Kingston University. The NIHR ARC South London, is one of 15 NIHR ARCs in England, establish in 2019. For more information about NIHR ARC South London please see: https://www.arc-sl.nihr.ac.uk.   

The Implementation Research theme is led by Professor Nick Sevdalis and is one of cross-cutting methodological themes of the NIHR ARC South London. The current portfolio of NIHR ARC South London Implementation Research theme includes, but is not limited to, the expansion of the usability of the ‘Implementation Science Research Development’ (ImpRes) tool and supplementary guide into social care and a project to advance the conceptualisation and measurement of pragmatism, as a measurement construct/quality of implementation outcome and determinant measures.   

KIS is a Kings Health Partners supported research programme led by Professor Nick Sevdalis and aimed at enhancing how quality improvement activity is carried out across major south London health care providers. Established in 2013, KIS comprises an interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in improvement and implementation sciences, evaluation, patient and public involvement (PPI), and economics, and a core team of managers and communication professionals. For information about the first phase of KIS work (2013-2018) please see: http://www.kingsimprovementscience.org 

The current portfolio of KIS research includes (but is not limited to) an evaluation of a King's Health Partners-wide staff support and wellbeing programme, evaluation of the scale-up of remote monitoring of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a project examining implementation, effectiveness and experiences of remote working within mental health NHS Trusts in south London during the COVID19 pandemic. The post-holder will be required to take a supporting role across multiple projects, in collaboration with other members of the team. Further projects will emerge in accordance with the funder’s priorities. 

This post will be offered on a  fixed-term contract until 1st November 2022 

This is a part-time post - 80% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Work effectively with members of the NIHR ARC South London and KIS teams and other collaborators to deliver research and evaluation activities and outputs

• Take a lead role on research planning and delivery, providing methodological and project management expertise

• Collect and analyse qualitative and/or quantitative data, utilising mixed-methods approaches

• Disseminate findings from projects through writing papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and presenting research at local, national and international meetings

• Contribute to the development of the improvement/implementation science knowledge base through an original portfolio of research - it is critical that the post-holder can work within and contribute to a highly-driven, high-achieving academic environment of significant reputation

• Contribute to and attend appropriate meetings and events, as required

• Communicate regularly and effectively with relevant colleagues and stakeholders from King's College London/Health Service & Population Research Department/Centre for Implementation Science, King's Health Partners and other stakeholders

• Deal with problems effectively as they arise

• Contribute to decisions affecting the team

• Demonstrate appropriate time management techniques

• Ensure compliance with protocols, guidelines and research governance

• Demonstrate initiative, autonomy and self-motivation

• Seek help and guidance where necessary

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria for grade 6 Post-Doctoral Research Associate 

• Good quality (upper second or above) first degree (BA, BSc or equivalent) and PhD in behavioural, social, management or health sciences, or in a discipline with a health-related orientation
• Post-Doctoral level training in applied health research methods, excellent data collection and analysis skills, and experience of conducting and reporting mixed-methods research or evaluation projects
• Experience of conducting evidence syntheses (e.g. systematic reviews, meta-analyses) and evidence appraisal
• Experience of working in health or social care services (as a healthcare professional or researcher) and working collaboratively with healthcare professionals and patients / service users / family members
• A good peer-reviewed publication record, commensurate with level of experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships both within and across organisational boundaries, report writing and presentation skills
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage a varied workload, comfortable with changing agendas and re-prioritisation of workloads whilst meeting performance targets and milestones

Essential criteria for Grade 7 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow 

All of the above, plus:

• Involvement in successful funding applications
• Experience of supervising others and management
• Experience of managing large multi-faceted projects

Desirable criteria

• Experience of evaluation, quality improvement, implementation projects/initiatives within healthcare and social care provider organisations
• Previous work experience in the fields of implementation science research and/or improvement science research

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

Shortlisting and interviews will take place in January 2022 

KCL employees are required to be residing in the UK whether they are working remotely or on campus. The post-holder will be expected to work on campus at Denmark Hill and attend meetings with partner organisations across London should government and KCL guidance concerning the COVID-19 pandemic allow.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.