About Us

King’s College London’s Better Health & Care Futures (BHCF) is a world-leading, cross faculty initiative to develop research and education dedicated to the transformation of health and care, on a local, national and international scale. BHCF aims to radically redesign interventions, systems and pathways to address the most pressing challenges faced by people living with complex illnesses and the healthcare systems that support them.

Led by the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, our initiative harnesses interdisciplinary expertise from across King’s College London, bolstered by strategic partnerships with NHS, social care, community, patient-led, charitable and international organisations.

About the role

Applications are now open for the Better Health & Care Futures (BHCF) Postdoctoral Fellowships. We are seeking four exceptional postdoctoral fellows with the ambition and potential to develop independent research careers in health or social science. This prestigious opportunity is open to qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods researchers from a wide range of disciplines whose projects have local, national or international focus. It is designed for clinical or non-clinical researchers eager to drive innovation, shape future health and care systems and make a meaningful impact through work aligned to the core objectives of BHCF. King’s College London has an excellent track record of researcher development, coupled with a wide range of training and support systems to offer continuous growth and improvement.

Each fellowship provides up to 24 months of dedicated support to help individuals develop and deliver research projects, produce outputs such as peer-reviewed articles, enhance their research skills and collaborations, generate pilot or feasibility evidence and prepare and submit applications for more substantial, competitive external research funding through grants or individual fellowships, ensuring continuation of their work beyond the fellowship. The fellows’ research aspirations and activity should align to at least one of three key themes of BHCF:

• Careforce: Advancing research on expanding the traditional workforce by enhancing self-care, supporting informal carers and empowering communities to take active roles in care. This can include developing and evaluating interventions and strategies for people with multiple or complex conditions or needing palliative care, their informal carers and volunteers or reimagining interdisciplinary care, while recognising the contributions of health and social care professionals
• Frugal Innovation: Advancing research to develop cost-effective, scalable solutions that optimise resources, improve access and maintain quality to enhance care in people’s homes and community settings. This can include leveraging technology, engineering or data-driven insights
• Communities: Advancing research on ways to broaden the delivery and/or measurement of value in health and care in diverse communities. This can include advancing methods of co-production or pioneering and evaluating ways to engage communities in the design and delivery of health and care services or improving measurement to incorporate quality of life, symptoms and daily living to reduce inequalities

It should also align with the strategic aims of BHCF, ensuring that research benefits individuals (adults or children) affected by multiple long-term conditions, complex care needs, advanced illness or requiring palliative care to:

• Pioneer innovative, evidence-based approaches to improve care and support
• Drive research, impact and education to shape better health and care futures
• Ensure findings are scalable and relevant to todays and tomorrows health and care challenges
• Reduce inequalities to improve outcomes for all

While research is the central and major component of the fellowship, appointees are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to contribute to a limited number of wider activities within BHCF.

These activities may include delivering education related to their expertise and developing or supporting the Better Futures Advisory Hub which offers education and consultancy to external groups seeking to apply BHCF findings or expertise locally, nationally or internationally.  Applicants will also benefit from links to wider activities and infrastructure across King’s College London including the NIHR Applied Research Collaborative and other relevant teams and development opportunity.

This is a full time and you will be offered an a fixed term contract until 30th June 2027.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience.  For more detailed information about the specific criteria required for this role, please view the Job Descriptions.

Grade 6

Essential criteria

1. PhD in a relevant subject *
2. Strong research track record with ability to demonstrate a trajectory towards scientific independence and achievements with a strong record of publications, contributions to impactful research projects, prizes or distinctions
3. Aligned research focus
4. Methodological expertise – demonstrated expertise and experience in research methods relevant to BHCF with demonstrated strength in at least one area
5. Highly motivated and analytical - strong problem-solving skills, capable of developing innovative solutions and tackling research challenges
6. Organised and detail-oriented – manage tasks efficiently, maintaining high standards of accuracy
7. Excellent communication and engagement skills (verbal and written) able to engage effectively
8. Collaborative yet independent – works effectively both independently and within a team

* 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.

Desirable criteria

1. Evidenced commitment to research impact, ensuring findings translate into meaningful outcomes for policy, practice or public benefit
2. Adaptable and resourceful with the ability to navigate complex research and health care landscapes and evolving priorities
3. Demonstrate understanding of and commitment to an academic career in health or care with relevant experience within a leading academic centre
4. Capable of mentoring and supporting junior colleagues and students
5. Understanding of health and care challenges

Grade 7

Essential criteria

1. Advanced research qualifications – a higher degree (MD, PhD or equivalent) in a relevant subject
2. Excellent research track record – demonstrate a trajectory of scientific independence and achievements with an excellent record of publications, clear contributions to impactful research projects, prizes or distinctions. Evidence also of recent successful grant acquisition
3. Aligned research focus
4. Methodological expertise – demonstrated strong expertise and significant experience in research methods relevant to BHCF with demonstrated strength in at least one area
5. Highly motivated and analytical - strong problem-solving skills, capable of developing innovative solutions and tackling research challenges
6. Organised and detail-oriented - manage tasks efficiently, maintaining high standards of accuracy
7. Excellent communication and engagement skills (verbal and written) able to engage effectively
8. Collaborative yet independent – works effectively both independently and within a team. Has experience of mentoring and supporting junior colleagues and students or providing education, fostering a collaborative and supportive culture

Desirable criteria

1. Evidenced commitment to research impact, ensuring findings translate into meaningful outcomes for policy, practice or public benefit
2. Adaptable and resourceful, with the ability to navigate complex research and health care landscapes and evolving priorities
3. Demonstrate understanding of and commitment to an academic career in health or care, with relevant experience within a leading academic centre
4. Understanding of health and care challenges

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held on 28th March 2025

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.

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