Job Description

About The Role

Closing Date: 31st July

Contract: This is a fixed term contract opportunity, covering maternity leave.
Application Process: Please ensure you apply with your most updated CV and a supporting statement on why you believe you would be the most suitable individual for this position.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Research will make the diagnosis of dementia faster and more accurate. Research will improve the quality of care people living with dementia receive. One day, research will cure dementia. Alzheimer\xe2\x80\x99s Society, the UKs leading dementia charity is looking for a Head of Research to deliver on its new and exciting research plan, to tackle the biggest biomedical challenge facing the UK.

This critical role will lead the Alzheimer\xe2\x80\x99s Society\xe2\x80\x99s ambitious research programme, ensuring that grant activities support the delivery of our organisational strategy and that we effectively communicate the difference research is making to people affected by dementia.
The role involves building close collaborative relationships with the scientific, clinical and social research communities, individual researchers at all levels and university administrations. The postholder will be expected to actively seek opportunities to foster and develop partnership opportunities with other research charities and related organisations.

The role will provide strategic leadership both internally and externally, and work closely with colleagues in other directorates to support activities in fundraising, media, policy and influencing.

Alzheimer\'s Society have recently been named on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023. We have achieved excellent scores for workplace happiness, pride, and job satisfaction. This is a fantastic achievement and we\'re incredibly proud as this is fantastic indication of how far we\xe2\x80\x99ve travelled over the past few years.

There has never been a more exciting time to involved in dementia research. We would love to welcome more outstanding people to join our exciting journey to make the greatest difference for people affected by dementia.

About you
You will be responsible for a varied work programme and will be expected to work at a senior, strategic level and with a high level of autonomy.

• Ability to demonstrate high levels of integrity, leadership and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to ability to work effectively as part of a leadership team and have an evidence excellent sense of judgement.
• Be accountable for the effective management of the multi-million-pound research budget
• Have proven experience from working in active research
• Significant experience in charitable grant funding or a similar field
• Have personal evidence of continuing professional development.
• Significant experience of working in a research environment
• Exceptional understanding of the UK research landscape
• Demonstrate experience in research management
• You will have the ability to develop and implement strategies, adopting an innovative and creative approach to problem solving
• You will have an advanced ability to understand scientific literature, and to foster working relationships with senior members of the scientific community.

Person specification:

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Work collaboratively and be able to prioritise your workload effectively and remain solution focussed throughout your areas of work.
• Strong interpersonal and interpretation skills will allow you to have open jargon-free conversations with the business.
• Excellent organisational and timekeeping skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Be a team player, supporting colleagues when there are deadlines, and who knows when to ask for help themselves.
• Be a self-starter and incredibly motivated.

About Alzheimer\'s Society

At Alzheimer\'s Society, we believe passionately that life doesn\'t end when dementia begins. We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most.

Everything we do is shaped by people affected by dementia. Their knowledge and experience are critical to bringing about real-world solutions. From choosing the most promising research through to telling their stories to raise awareness; they are the heart of this organisation.

Our Values

We are Determined to make a difference when and where it matters most, by being passionate, focussed and making a lasting impact for people affected by dementia.

Every one of us is a Trusted expert, listening, learning and using evidence and experience. We are Better together by being open, combining our strengths, helping us to achieve more together. We are Compassionate, we are kind and honest, and we don\xe2\x80\x99t shy away from challenges.

Through our values we will make the greatest difference for people affected by dementia.

Equal Opportunities

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer\'s Society.

We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do. During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and be at your best.

Alzheimer\'s Society