Professor / Associate Professor

The University of Plymouth is excited to welcome an outstanding academic leader with strong quantitative methodological expertise to join our thriving research community as a Professor or Associate Professor in Applied Health Services Research. In this pivotal role you will develop and lead your own innovative research programme within the remit of a new mental health research group and play a key part in building research capacity across the team. About the role You will play a pivotal role in advancing our innovative System Balance research programme, which is dedicated to improving equity within mental health care systems. Working in partnership with King's College London and the University of Exeter, our collaborative work investigates how health services can better allocate resources, reduce inequalities, and support both patients and staff through evidence-informed system change. Anchored in the principles of Learning Health Systems, this work adopts a whole-systems approach to transforming mental health care for people with significant mental health challenges, making services more integrated, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of local communities. You will lead the development and delivery of novel quantitative methodologies to drive this work forward. This is an exceptional opportunity to help shape a growing field of applied research with the potential to influence how mental health care is designed and delivered across the region and far beyond. Plymouth offers an extraordinary environment for both research and living. As a city with a richly diverse population and strong regional partnerships, it provides unique opportunities to engage with communities whose experiences and needs are central to advancing impactful applied health research. Beyond its academic strengths, Plymouth is an inspiring place to call home: from the dramatic landscapes of Dartmoor to the iconic Hoe overlooking Plymouth Sound, to miles of beautiful coastline and beaches perfect for walking, swimming, or simply unwinding. With its vibrant cultural scene, welcoming neighbourhoods, and easy access to some of the South West's most breathtaking natural spaces, Plymouth offers an outstanding quality of life alongside a thriving research ecosystem. For this role, you will need to be on site 2 days a week. Although we can accommodate working from home for this role, flexibility to be on-site will be expected due to business needs. This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 49 months.

If you're driven by meaningful health research and excited about the chance to create real, lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

The Faculty of Health holds four Silver Athena Swan awards, which recognise our commitment to supporting gender equality within higher education. The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our two strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Earth Institute. As a member of our academic community, you'll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today's global challenges., The University of Plymouth is building an inclusive and equitable university where everyone feels represented, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is guided by the Inclusive Institutions Framework, a strategic and externally validated approach that embeds these principles across the entire institution.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course. Our Offer Staff appointed within the Faculty of Health may be able to join the NHS pension scheme subject to eligibility criteria. We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:

• Generous annual leave: 35 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays & Closure Days
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery