Associate Director of Research, Development & Discovery

A Vacancy at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. The Associate Director of Research, Development & Discovery is a key senior leadership role within UHDB, providing vision, direction and corporate leadership for the development of a high-performing research, innovation and organisational discovery culture. The postholder leads the Trust's research, development and innovation functions, including operational leadership of the Research & Development Department, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant and patient-centred research services that meet and exceed the expectations of regulators, commissioners and national bodies. Working at the interface with the University of Nottingham, other Higher Education Institutions, partner Trusts, NIHR infrastructure, and industry collaborators, the Associate Director plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the UHDB Research & Development Strategy. The postholder is responsible for creating the organisational conditions in which professional discovery, inclusive research participation, evidence-led improvement and research-active clinical services can thrive across all professions and Divisions. The Associate Director provides leadership for research, innovation, organisational discovery and workforce capability. The Associate Director of Research, Development & Discovery holds Trust-wide responsibility for the full Research & Development portfolio, providing strategic and operational leadership across a rapidly expanding research portfolio, with increasing volumes of active clinical trials, externally funded projects, and applications for major research infrastructure. The Associate Director is responsible for multi-million-pound R&D income streams, including NIHR infrastructure funding, commercial research income, grant income and charitable funds. The postholder oversees significant digital, data and research infrastructure including EDGE, electronic data capture systems and the Study Intensity Tool, ensuring that the Trust maintains high-quality, compliant and efficient research systems. The breadth, scale and external visibility of the portfolio require the Associate Director to exercise substantial autonomy, advanced leadership, and considerable influence across the research ecosystem, ensuring UHDB maintains a credible national reputation as a provider of world-class research and innovation. Closing date: 25 November 2026 Interview date: 11 December 2026 As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence continue to shape how we work as a Trust, and the associated behaviours are well embedded across our services and teams. In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes
Key Facts:
• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
  
  We are the 4thbusiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&E across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.
The postholder holds senior responsibility for Trust-wide research governance, the development and stewardship of R&D financial resources, oversight of research performance, and the development of applications for major R&D infrastructure, including NIHR bids and national reporting requirements. The role requires substantial external engagement at local, regional and national levels, and demands exceptional strategic leadership, partnership building, communication and negotiating skills. Operating with a high degree of autonomy and authority, the Associate Director is expected to act independently within minimal guidelines, setting organisational standards, shaping long-term strategic direction, and ensuring UHDB maintains a credible national reputation as a provider of world-class research, innovation and clinical trials.