Professional Lead for Workforce Research
Location: RCN UK HQ with hybrid working
Contract type: Permanent, 35 hours per week
Salary range per annum: £66,909 - £75,492
Ref: RCN02692
At the Royal College of Nursing, we represent over half a million nurses, nursing support workers, and students across the UK. We are a voice for the profession – and behind that voice is the evidence. We’re looking for an exceptional individual to lead our workforce research, shaping the agenda that influences policy, practice, and the future of healthcare.
Our aim in the Workforce Academy situated in the Institute of Excellence, is to use robust evidence as the catalyst for combatting the nursing workforce crisis. We're focused on the systemic causes of trends that are driving up mental ill health and attrition among nursing staff and driving down the quality of patient care.
We're accredited with Investors in People Silver Standard. Our people are our greatest asset, and we want people who can contribute to our purpose in line with our values.
As our Professional Lead for Nursing Workforce Research, you’ll make a critical contribution to the Workforce Academy’s programme of research, informing national debate, RCN policy, and advocacy. Your work will help to tackle vital issues such as staffing levels, workforce planning, recruitment and retention, and the health and wellbeing of the nursing workforce.
You’ll work closely with policy leaders, academic partners, and external stakeholders across health, education, and government to ensure our research is timely, relevant, and influential.
This role sits at the heart of our mission to improve the lives of those in nursing and ensure safe, effective care for patients. We will demonstrate the value of nurse staffing to achieving nursing excellence and identify means of ensuring care is a safe and positive experience for both staff and patients.
You’ll have a PhD in a relevant discipline, with expertise in mixed methods and / or quantitative methodology and excellent knowledge and understanding of workforce research, data analysis, evidence synthesis and philosophy of social science.
You will bring extensive experience of designing and conducting programmes of research, alongside knowledge mobilisation expertise.
You’ll have excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to translate complex theory and data to diverse audiences.
What we offer you
We expect you to look after our members. And we expect you to be rewarded for it. We offer an impressive range of benefits, a broad range of learning development opportunities and an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. We offer annual leave up to 32 days plus bank holidays and three additional days for the Christmas break plus generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages.
*We offer a competitive pay structure with annual pay progression until you reach the top of the salary scale. We normally offer new employees the first point of the salary range, although you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary depending on your skills, experience and current salary.
We are a diverse organisation and understand everyone has different needs and many of our employees enjoy flexible working enabling them to deliver results whilst having a good work life balance. Our hybrid working model allows for up to 60% of your working time to be carried out from home. At least 40% of your working time will be spent working in person.
Our selection process
Please click the ‘apply now’ button to submit a CV and answer the supporting questions online demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this role. You may not be shortlisted if you don’t. Please ensure your CV is in a simple format with minimal tables and sections. Any identifying information in your application will automatically be anonymised for shortlisting purposes.
We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We may hold our interviews and assessments in person or by video call. If you foresee any problems, please let us know.
Equal opportunities for everyone
Equity, diversity and inclusion are a priority for us and we aim to foster an inclusive environment so our people can bring their authentic selves to work. This is integral to our mission to enable you to support our members and ensure their voice is heard by all UK governments to get the best outcomes for them and their patients.
As a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.
Contact details
For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact Dr Kate Kirk, Associate Director of Workforce, please visit our website for the email address.
For more information about the recruitment and selection process, please visit our website.
Closing date: 13 July 2025.
If we receive many applications after a week of advertising, we may close this vacancy earlier.
Selection date: TBC
Interview date: TBC
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role Overview
The role is responsible for delivering comprehensive HR support across the organisation, covering recruitment, onboarding, training, and support for performance management and employee relations. It includes managing volunteer processes and working closely with both internal managers and external HR and payroll providers. The postholder will play a key role in maintaining effective HR systems, ensuring policy compliance, and supporting a positive workplace culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Managing end-to-end recruitment processes across multi-disciplinary teams; including
- Ongoing development, coordination, and oversight of SCT’s volunteer recruitment, onboarding, training, and administration in collaboration with SCT’s managers.
- Working closely with SCT’s outsourced HR support.
- Providing SCT managers with guidance on volunteer recruitment and any management issues.
- Implementing, maintaining and reviewing an annual training plan for all employees.
- Maintaining up-to-date staff files and HR system records including DBS validation, handling confidential employee and volunteer data in line with data protection legislation.
- Supporting employee relations by assisting with complaints, grievances, and disciplinary procedures, including provision of support to managers on all employee-relation matters.
- Working with SCT’s Business Operations Officer to ensure accurate information is provided to SCT’s outsourced payroll administrators to ensure accuracy of all relevant information.
- Supporting the ongoing review, development and improvement of clear, consistent, and accessible policies and procedures across the organisation.
- Working closely with SCT’s managers to promote the ongoing communication, implementation, and participation in the review cycle of policies and procedures.
- Undertaking other reasonable duties that may be required from time to time.
Person Specification
• CIPD qualified to level 5 or significant HR Management experience will also be considered
• 3+ years demonstrable generalist HR Management experience or similar role types
• Demonstrable experience of working across multiple sites
• Excellent communication skills both in the written form and in person with the ability to adapt to all audiences
• Experience of presenting material and report writing to a range of audiences
Essential Skills and Experience
- Proven experience in managing end-to-end recruitment processes, including onboarding, training, performance management, absence, and leaver procedures.
- Awareness of UK employment law and GDPR, with a willingness to learn and apply policies correctly.
- Understanding of volunteer management, including recruitment, onboarding, training, and administration.
- Experience with outsourced HR support services, providing HR guidance and support to managers, particularly in volunteer and employee management matters.
- Experience in maintaining accurate HR records and handling confidential information in line with data protection legislation.
- Practical knowledge of employee relations processes, including handling complaints, grievances, and disciplinary procedures.
- Familiarity with payroll processes and working collaboratively to ensure accurate payroll data.
- Comfortable using HR databases, spreadsheets, and Microsoft Office tools.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
- Help coordinate internal communications and staff events.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience in developing and implementing annual training and development plans.
- Previous involvement in reviewing and updating organisational HR policies and procedures.
- Experience in the charity or voluntary sector, particularly in managing and supporting volunteers.
Registered Charity
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