Job description and Person Specification

Please note this statement is for information only and does not form part of a contract. This list is not exhaustive and you will be expected to undertake such duties as may be assigned to you by Arthritis Research UK from time to time. Staff are expected to be flexible in their work in order to deliver the objectives of the organisation.

Job title / Head of Professional Engagement / Location / London or Chesterfield
Contract type / Full time / Contract length / Permanent
Date / March 2016
Context
Arthritis Research UK is the charity dedicated to stopping the devastating impact that arthritis has on people’s lives. Everything that we do is focused on taking the pain away and keeping people active. Our remit covers all conditions which affect the joints, bones and muscles, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis. We fund research into the cause, treatment and cure of arthritis and we provide information on how to maintain healthy joints and bones, and how to live well with arthritis. We also champion the cause, influence policy change and work in partnership with others to achieve our aims. We depend on public support and the generosity of our donors to keep doing this vital work.
Across the UK, more than 1 in 6 people of all ages live with the pain and disability of arthritis. The impact is enormous and so much more needs to be done. Arthritis Research UK is an organisation determined to change things. We want to improve quality of life for people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, and we are committed to supporting the professionals who deliver care and support to them.
Main purpose of the role
The Head of Professional Engagement will shape and lead the delivery of a programme of impactful work to engage, inspire and educate professionals to deliver high quality care and support to people with arthritis and other MSK conditions. This is a new role, leading an exciting programme of work in a growing directorate. The post will therefore change and evolve as the team develops.
Building on the work of our current programme of activity that focuses on GPs and nurses in primary care, the Head of Professional Engagement will expand and lead the team to engage in a variety of ways with other professional audiences, including physiotherapists and fitness professionals.
Operating with confidence in a range of health and social care settings, the post holder will build strategic and purposeful relationships to challenge, inform and advocate for the programme of professional engagement activities. This will include work with individual professionals and clinicians, a range of professional bodies, funded Centres of Excellence, other charities and commercial providers.
Alert to changes in the environment, and drawing on insight from professionals, this post holder will operate strategically to spot opportunities to work with professionals to improve the quality of life of people with arthritis or other MSK conditions, through direct delivery, partnership working or influencing.
Management and key relationships
Staff managed / Engagement and Education Manager (total team is 5 posts: this role; two in post and two to be recruited)
Reports to / Director of Strategic Development
Key Relationships
Senior Leadership and Management teams, Strategic Development Directorate colleagues (Service Development, Impact and Evaluation, Funding Programmes), Research Directorate, Policy and Public Affairs, Brand, Communications, Digital, Content Delivery and Fundraising teams.
Main Responsibilities and Duties
1 / Carry out a strategic review of professional engagement opportunities and lead the delivery of an impactful programme of activity with healthcare and fitness professionals.
2 / Grow and lead the professional engagement team to deliver a high quality programme of work that supports professionals to deliver great care and support for people with arthritis or other MSK conditions.
3 / Develop and deliver a range of useful, high quality information and educational resources (e.g. e-learning, blended learning and signposting/accreditation of existing and new CPD education programmes), tools, events, networks and potentially funding (e.g. bursaries) for professional audiences that enable them to deliver good care and support, while enabling us to reach more people living with arthritis and other MSK conditions.
4 / Build an alumni of professionals to curate our relationship with professionals, seeking to understand and respond to their needs and interests, and ensuring that we deliver value to them through events, communications and connections.
5 / Ensure that Arthritis Research UK’s professional engagement work both informs and adds value to the provision offered by other third sector organisations, the public sector and commercial providers.
6 / Develop and maintain effective relationships with a range of professionals across the MSK and long term conditions sector in order to ensure Arthritis Research UK is a credible and informed partner and to identify potential opportunities to develop new channels of professional support. This could include the recruitment and management of clinical leads/experts/advisors.
7 / Ensure that the quality and impact of our professional engagement work is evaluated, and that we apply learning to maximise our impact for people with arthritis.
8 / Explore potentially innovative models of care, in order to identify potential projects and interventions that may benefit from support from our Innovation and Scaling fund.
9 / Use the robust evidence emerging from our research and innovation projects and from our policy and public affairs work to promote the adoption and spread of best practice in the delivery of MSK care across the UK.
10 / Represent Arthritis Research UK externally at meetings or events as required.
11 / Provide strategic direction to and line manage direct reports, providing professional advice and guidance, and ensuring ongoing learning and development, and effective performance management of all staff in the Services team.
12 / Ensure effective financial planning, risk management and project management of the department’s programme of work.
13 / Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other departments, including contributing to our charity-wide Leadership and Management Group, personally contributing to a culture of collaboration and learning.
14 / Identify and support potential opportunities for income generation, for example through partnerships with commercial organisations that deliver positive impact to people with arthritis and other MSK conditions.
15 / Undertake any other relevant duties or projects delegated by the Line Manager which are in line with the responsibilities of the post. To provide support and cover where required for other team members.
DBS Check
Requirement / This role DOES NOT require a DBS check

Person specification

Knowledge, skills and experience: key requirements
Requirement / Evaluation[1]
1 / Substantial experience of delivering a programme of services and engagement work to professionals, preferably within a UK wide context. / App/ Int
2 / Prior experience of building a new or growing function, including strategic review, writing a delivery plan, and managing and motivating teams. / App / Int /Test
3 / Track record in managing complex engagement programmes with multiple audiences and stakeholders. / App / Int
4 / Ability to devise and deliver engaging presentations and workshops to professional audiences. / App / Test
5 / Effective partnership working with health and social care or clinical professionals, including the ability to negotiate solutions between divergent or disengaged groups. / App / Int
6 / Sound understanding of the health service, particularly the context in which professionals work to deliver high quality care. / App / Int
7 / Management of risk, budgets (£100k+), financial planning, budget preparation and management. / App / Int
8 / Proven project management experience and excellent organisational skills. / App / Int
9 / Excellent written, listening and oral communication skills. / App / Int / Test
10 / Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience. / App
11 / Demonstrable track record in excellent people and performance management at a senior level. / App / Int
Desirable
1 / Experience of working in a relevant healthcare or fitness provider environment (perhaps gained from an NHS management role or similar role in another charity or professional body) / App / Int
2 / Knowledge of MSK conditions. / App / Int
3 / Understanding of the charity sector. / App / Int
4 / Working knowledge of the commissioning environment in health and social care. / App / Int
5 / Understanding of new technologies in the field of health and social care. / App / Int
6 / Digital delivery of training or other resources. / App / Int
7 / Professional events’ management. / App / Int
8 / Digital marketing experience. / App / Int
Competencies
Requirement / Evaluation
Arthritis Research UK has developed a set of leadership competencies to describe the leadership and management behaviours that we expect from all of our people managers. Further details of our Leadership Competency Framework and how competencies are assessed during the recruitment and selection process can be found in the candidate information pack for this role.
1 / Setting direction: Creating, setting and communicating strategy and objectives, considering how these affect others and ensuring seamless processes throughout the organisation / App & Int
2 / Business awareness: Raising awareness of customers and the organisation, externally and internally, while relating spend to available resources in light of costs, benefits and ROI / App & Int
3 / Change and innovation: Thinking creatively and flexibly while rigorously analysing potential improvements. Welcoming and adapting readily to change / App, Int & Test
4 / Delivering results: Committed to achieving strong reliable outcomes, prioritising tasks and taking timely decisions, minimising risk while remaining positive and focused / App, Int & Test
5 / Problem solving: Ensuing problems are fully understood, options thoroughly examined in the light of impact, risk and consultation, and solutions rigorously evaluated / App, Int & Test
6 / Accountability: Taking responsibility proactively for necessary actions and for good and bad outcomes, remaining open to criticism and learning from mistakes / App, Int & Test
7 / Creating teams: Motivating, inspiring, supporting and developing strong, high performing and cohesive teams while taking a timely and effective approach to managing performance / App, Int & Test
8 / Interpersonal behaviours: Understanding your own behaviour, working to grow and improve, role-modelling collaborative, co-operative, generous and resilient behaviour to others / App, Int & Test
9 / Two-way communication: Using strong listening and communication skills with understanding and empathy to help you inform, challenge and influence effectively / App & Int

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[1] This is relevant for recruitment purposes and sets out how a candidate will be assessed against requirements. Options are application form (App), interview (Int) or test (Test)