Job vacancy: Product Owner, Health Research Authority, Nottingham

Job summary

Main area

Product owner

Grade

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Contract

Fixed term: 19 months (End date: 30 June 2027)

Hours

Full time
Flexible working
Home or remote working
Compressed hours

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

980-HRA7560276-D

Employer: Health Research Authority
Employer type: NHS
Site: Equinox House,
Town: Nottingham
Salary: £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 03/12/2025 23:59

Product Owner

NHS AfC: Band 8a

The HRA is a Non Departmental Public Body with the remit to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research. We do this by supporting and promoting a robust and efficient regulatory and governance framework in the UK. We provide the Research Ethics Service (RES), Confidentiality Advice function, assessments and assurances on behalf of the NHS, and learning, guidance and advice for the research community. Our ambition is to make the UK a great place to do research, where more money invested in research goes into carrying out relevant, good quality research.

Our purpose is to ensure that research involving NHS patients and members of the public is approved through a proportionate and robust system, that they are provided with the information they need to help them decide whether they wish to take part, and that their opportunity to do so is maximised by simplifying the processes by which high quality research is assessed. We have already delivered significant improvements by centralising and simplifying the approval of research in the NHS in England, and are undertaking a range of significant programmes to deliver further improvements.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Approvals Directorate
This role sits within the HRA Approvals Service directorate which consists of various teams that all work together to provide the appropriate approval for health research in England and, for some applications, across the UK.

This directorate is responsible for:

Delivering HRA Approval
Supporting the Confidentiality Advisory Group and advising on the use of confidential patient information without consent
Working to refine the systems and processes researchers need to follow to ensure a swift, robust and simple experience
Providing guidance to applicants
Providing training
Working collaboratively with external partners to improve the research environment

To find out more and to understand the full duties of the role, please refer to the job description attached.

In submitting your application with us, please note the following:

We currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.

We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement.

Where applicants fail to demonstrate how they meet any one of the essential criteria of the person specification, the application will not be shortlisted. You will be considered based only on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered.

The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

An appropriate recognised management qualification equivalent to a degree qualification and/or significant relevant equivalent experience.
Evidence of agile and/or product management training or certification

Desirable criteria

Evidence of continuous professional development / Post- graduate qualification in relevant discipline.
Product Owner Certification from a recognised provider / CDDO service assessor training / Agile Certification from a recognised provider / Professional/ Accredited qualification in Change Management Certification.

Knowledge, skills and expertise

Essential criteria

An extensive specialist knowledge of research regulation and approval systems in the UK, including a working knowledge of key legislation
Current, expert knowledge of UK ecosystem for health and social care research including NHS R&D, and NIHR structures and delivery processes
The product lifecycle and how products in different stages of it benefit from different design and development approaches.
Professional standards and practices relevant to digital public health services (e.g. NHS Service Manual, Government Service Standard & Manual, Technology Code of Practice).

Desirable criteria

Leading and coaching staff in ways of working, professional development and standards / Common technology standards – including software, security, privacy and accessibility standards / Contemporary organisational management practices / The wider private/public/third sector digital landscape - including public sector procurement and contracting frameworks or supplier management.

Experience

Essential criteria

Significant demonstrable experience and understanding of user-centered design, technology and data perspectives.
Significant experience of working within digital products and projects / Experience of developing and maintaining a product roadmap which is fit for purpose and meets organisational requirement

Desirable criteria

User-centred service design practices and methodologies for public-facing, business-facing or internal services and applications / Able to identify areas for improvement in ways of working and product management practices across a service areas and suggest and implement appropriate solutions

Analytical and judgemental skills

Essential criteria

High level ability to understand and identify problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution. You can classify and prioritise problems, document their causes and implement remedies.

In return for your commitment, we offer excellent opportunities for personal development and a healthy work-life balance. The HRA is committed to promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality. We welcome and encourage applications, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity and gender expression, disability, race, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, sex or sexual orientation or any other personal circumstances. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can be made upon request, for candidates with a disability. The HRA welcomes applicants who are interested in flexible working including job share, part time work, secondments or home-based working. Please discuss any preferred flexibility at your interview.

The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of applications.

The HRA does not hold a sponsor licence in respect of skilled worker visas and so is unable to employ candidates requiring sponsorship.

In order to be considered for this position you must address the criteria outlined in the person specification in your supporting statement. You will be considered based on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered. All contact is made via our Trac recruitment system. Please check your account regularly.

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

If you have a query relating to your application, please contact the recruitment team on [email protected] or 0300 330 9416.

The NHSBSA is responsible for the processing of your application; a privacy notice is available at the following link to advise you on how we will process your personal data.

HRA Recruitment Privacy Notice