Job Title: Project Manager – RHO Transition Research Project

Location: Flexible home working with in-person meetings on site in London.

Salary: £19,364 (pro rata of £32,273 )

Working Hours: Part-time 0.6 FTE (3 days per week)

Contract: Fixed-term Sept 2025

Reports to: Sickle Cell C&YP Peer Mentoring Programme Manager (London) Sickle Cell Society

Responsible for: No direct reports

 

Job Purpose:

To work with the Project Leads and Race and Health Observatory (RHO) to deliver a research project funded by RHO. The project focuses on transitioning children and young adults with sickle cell disorder from paediatric services to adult services. The job purpose is to plan, execute, and oversee the project from start to completion. The post holder would be the central point of communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement.

he post holder would be responsible for translating our aims and intended outcomes into actionable project plans. This would include addressing challenges that may arise throughout the project lifecycle and implementing strategies to mitigate risks, ensuring the successful and timely delivery of the project. processes, recruiting participants, collecting data (interviews, surveys, and co-design workshops), analysing data, and supporting dissemination strategies.

 

About the Sickle Cell Society (SCS)

The Sickle Cell Society (SCS) is the only national charity in the UK that supports and represents people affected by sickle cell disorder. We provide information, advice, and support to empower individuals and families to improve their quality of life. Approximately 18,000 people in the UK have a sickle cell disorder, predominantly affecting people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage, as well as those of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Central/South American descent. Our team comprises 14 skilled and committed staff members (9 part-time, 5 full-time) and around 30 active volunteers.

 

About the NHS Race and Health Observatory (RHO)

The NHS Race and Health Observatory (‘the Observatory’) is a new, independent organisation, set up to explore ethnic inequalities in access to healthcare, experiences of healthcare, health outcomes, and inequalities experienced by black and minority ethnic members of the health and care workforce. In doing so, it assesses aspirations in these areas as outlined in national healthcare policy, including those set-out in the NHS Long Term Plan. It is a proactive investigator, providing strong recommendations that inform policymaking and facilitate change. It is evidence-driven and solution-focused. The Observatory is supported by NHS England and hosted by the NHS Confederation. The Observatory’s board and team are independent, and it dictates its own direction and areas of focus.

 

The Observatory has three main functions:

• facilitating new, high-quality, and innovative research and evidence
• making strategic policy recommendations for change
• supporting the practical implementation of those recommendations

 

Key Responsibilities and Duties of the role:

• Organise and Minute Meetings: Arrange and document meetings between key project stakeholders and advisory group meetings.
• Support Presentations: Assist in the preparation and presentation of work to key project stakeholders and advisory group members.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate written and electronic records of all work undertaken throughout the project.
• Support Approvals Processes: Assist in navigating and completing any necessary approvals processes.
• Advertise the Study: Promote the study through various channels, including social media.
• Data Collection: Gather data via interviews, surveys, and co-design workshops to support research efforts.
• Data Analysis: Analyse both qualitative and quantitative data to draw meaningful insights and conclusions.
• Project Oversight and Management: Oversee and manage the entire project, ensuring it stays on track with scheduled timelines, budgets, and alignment with our objectives.
• Coordination of Work Packages: Coordinate 5 work packages, ensuring collaboration and integration across all areas. For instance, insights from Work Package 1 (WP1) should be reflected in the educational interventions implemented across other packages. Additionally, efforts across work packages, such as aligning psychological services and peer mentoring programs with physical management strategies, should be integrated.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary contact for all communications with the Race and Health Observatory (RHO) and other stakeholders. Provide regular updates to the project team to ensure everyone is informed of progress and developments.
• Meeting Preparation and Reporting: Prepare and submit regular reports, ensuring they accurately reflect the project’s progress, outcomes, and any challenges encountered.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure that all aspects of the project comply with best practices and maintain high standards throughout the project lifecycle.
• Budget Management: Oversee the project budget, monitoring spending to ensure the project stays within financial limits.
• Outcome Evaluation: Lead the evaluation of project outcomes, using feedback to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the project meets its goals

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

 

Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in engagement, project management, or a similar role.
• A first degree and a Master’s level qualification or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Experience of qualitative and/or quantitative research.
• Experience of delivering successful research and/or health engagement projects.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with a willingness to develop research abilities.
• Enthusiastic communicator comfortable liaising with people at all levels.
• Experience of coordinating meetings and writing and disseminating outcomes (e.g. minutes).
• Eye for detail and ability to work within strict regulatory guidelines (e.g. ethics, HRA).
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams across organisations.
• Commitment to co-production and equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Excellent IT skills across a wide range of channels including Microsoft, survey platforms, social media tools.
• Strong team player who is also self-motivated.
• Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, add value, and develop in the role.
• Interest in health research, rare conditions, and sickle cell disorder.

 

To Apply:

Complete our  Application Form and send it along with your CV and our equal opportunities monitoring form, to application@sicklecellsociety.org and using ‘Project Manager role’ in the subject line – before the closing date.

Please note that applicants must reside in the UK.

Closing date for applications: extended to 21 November 2024

Interview date: On MS Teams, date tba