*Closes 17th September*

Ministers are seeking to recruit 3 Non-Executive Directors to the board of Health Research Authority (HRA).
The Health Research Authority’s (HRA’s) Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) play a key role in the effective governance and leadership of the organisation. They contribute to the work of the board, both by actively participating in board discussions and more widely, contributing to the board’s governance, performance management and development of strategy for the HRA.
NEDs contribute to representing the HRA externally, maintaining (or developing where necessary) excellent relationships with a range of key partners and stakeholders such as the NHS, the public, industry, research funders and researchers, research ethics committees, other arms-length bodies, and regulators.
They are also expected to contribute across a range of specific areas, including:
  •  ensuring the board listens to the public and patient voice.
  • ensuring appropriate financial controls are in place and risks managed accordingly.
  • contributing to the development of strategy.
  • ensuring that best practice is followed in leadership and people policies and behaviour.
Qualities required for the role of a NED
  • We particularly welcome applicants from an ethnic minority background to bring their experience and insights to the HRA.

Number of vacancies: x 3

Time commitment: 3 day(s) per month

Remuneration: £7883 per annum

Length of term: Ministers will determine the length of the appointment, which will be a maximum of 3 or 4 years.

Application deadline: Midday on 17 September 2024

Organisation description

The Health Research Authority is a non-departmental public body, set up in 2011 and established under The Care Act 2014 with a mission to protect NHS patients, their tissue, and their data when they are involved in research. We have transformed UK research regulation and governance by simplifying processes, removing duplication, and reducing timelines.

We have better supported the research community by putting people first. To make it easy to do research that people can trust, we:

  • work with people to understand what they want research to look like and act on this so that they can trust research.
  • make sure that people taking part in research are treated ethically and fairly by reviewing and approving health and social care research studies that involve people, their tissue or their data.
  • work with other organisations across the UK to make sure that, wherever you are, research studies can be set up smoothly and are always subject to the same scrutiny before they start.
  • work with others to coordinate and standardise the way research is set up and managed.
  • encourage and support transparency about research so that everyone can find out what research is taking place, and what it found.
  • are one of the gatekeepers of patient data making sure that information is protected if it’s used for research.
  • put in place and support the digital platforms to help research get set-up and managed in the UK.

How we work

 Our 260 staff, who work at home and in our offices in Bristol, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Nottingham, provide specialist advice and learning to researchers about research ethics and governance. They also develop policies concerning research ethics and governance and support our committees and advisory groups to deliver our services. Our staff work with users of our services to design and put in place the digital systems used by the sector to set up studies. and effectively administer the organisation.

We could not operate without our HRA Community. The Community is made up of our Research Ethics Committees (REC) members, Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) members, and our Public Involvement Network (PIN) – which includes members of the public who have experience of, or have been impacted by, research.

They all make an invaluable contribution to our work and the experience of people taking part in research. They help us make sure that people can trust the research that we approve, so the research findings can improve care. They give their time generously, enabling the HRA to operate efficiently and respond rapidly when needed.

To deliver our ambition to make it easier to do research that people can trust and ensure that health and social care research is conducted with and for everyone, it is important that we are informed by a range of insights and experiences that reflect the population we serve.

We can make better decisions by working with a diverse group of people and we work with our HRA Community to ensure working with us is a positive experience, open to everyone.

Role and Responsibilities of the NEDs

HRA’s NEDs play a key role in the effective governance and leadership of the organisation. They contribute to the work of the board, both by actively participating in board discussions and more widely, contributing to the board’s governance, performance management and development of strategy for the HRA.

NEDs contribute to representing the HRA externally, maintaining (or developing where necessary) excellent relationships with a range of key partners and stakeholders such as the NHS, the public, industry, research funders and researchers, research ethics committees, other arms-length bodies and regulators.

NEDs are also expected to contribute across a range of specific areas, including ensuring the board listens to the public and patient voice; ensuring appropriate financial controls are in place and risks managed; accordingly, contributing to the development of strategy; ensuring that best practice is followed in leadership and people policies and behaviour

Further information

The HRA’s strategy, alongside the HRA’s most recent business plan and annual report, provide further information regarding the HRA and the important work it delivers.

The HRA has a robust governance framework in place with the Board’s terms of reference set out in the HRA’s standing orders and standing financial instructions.

Board composition

Board meetings are normally held at the main office on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month at:
No2 Redman Place
Stratford
London
E20 1JQ
specific dates are as follows:
  • 22 January 2025 (Private session)
  • 19 March 2025 (Public session)
  • 21 May 2025 (Public session)
  • 9 July 2025 (Private session)
  • 17 September 2025 (Public session)
  • 19 November 2025 (Public session)
Please note – 1 meeting a year is held at one of the HRA’s other offices, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Newcastle, and meetings also take place virtually.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills, and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment.
We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following:
  • a career record of achievements of scale and relevance, with an ability to operate effectively on the board of a high-profile national organisation.
  • an ability to provide effective scrutiny and challenge to the Executive and to hold them to account for the delivery of performance and strategy and delivery of digital transformation.
  • excellent communication skills, sound judgement and the highest standards of personal propriety in relation to governance, accountability, risk, and financial management.
  • demonstrable interest in the work of the HRA and the challenges it faces.
Candidates must also be able to demonstrate skills and experience in at least one of the following areas:
  • the Research Ethics service or the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG). This could include experience of sitting as a member on a Research Ethics Committee or CAG.
  • an ability to provide the perspective of the user, such as someone undertaking research and submitting research applications to the HRA.
  • significant expertise in major digital programmes.
  • experience of the pharmaceutical industry from the private sector.
  • an ability to evidence a commitment to driving continuous improvement and value for money for the public purse
  • experience of working in another Government department such as the Office for Life Sciences or the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology.

Desirable criteria

For at least one of the NED positions, it would be desirable to have:
  • a practising clinician who understands how the NHS operates.

How to apply:

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in on the ‘Apply for a public appointment’ website.

Once you are logged into your account, click on ‘apply for this role’ and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

  • a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • a supporting statement
  • equality information
  • information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

Guidance on what to include in your CV/Supporting Statement and tips for applying can be found in the corresponding sections below and on the public appointment website: Public appointments – GOV.UK.

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

You will also be required to make any declarations related to standards in public life and ensuring public confidence in your Supporting Statement.  Further information on this can be found in the relevant section below.

If you are unable to create an account and apply online, or if you have any problems submitting your application online, please contact Karen Dinsdale on 0113 2545414

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.