Senior Business Change Manager
Employer: Health Research Authority
Location: Home based - Please note, if applying to our Manchester, Nottingham or Bristol locations, we are only able to offer the role as home based. Willingness to travel and occasionally stay overnight.
Temporary: 14 months (Fixed term until 30/04/2027)
Working hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Flexi hours available)
Salary: £55,690 - £62,682 Per Annum
Closing date: 11/01/2026 23:59
-
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.
Job overview
The NHS Health Research Authority is recruiting a Senior Business Change Manager to play a leading role in a major national programme to deliver new digital services that simplify and accelerate research approvals across the UK.
This is an opportunity to shape how thousands of researchers, sponsors and partners experience research setup — improving speed, consistency and access.
This is a fixed term or secondment opportunity until April 2027.
The HRA is leading the transformation on behalf of our IRAS partners. As Senior Business Change Manager, you’ll lead the planning and delivery of business change to support the successful adoption of the new IRAS service. You’ll work across a complex stakeholder environment to ensure readiness, drive engagement, and embed change in practice.
You’ll be part of a cross-functional team working closely with our IRAS partners including representatives from Health and Care Research Wales, Chief Scientist Office (Scotland), and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland.
Work flexibly across organisational boundaries, contributing to areas beyond your immediate remit to lead? Support joined-up delivery and transformation outcomes.
This is an opportunity to work at the heart of public sector digital transformation helping to ensure change lands well for the people and organisations who use our services.
Main duties of the job
Shape the roadmap for business change across transition states, aligned to delivery phases.
Lead communication and engagement across a complex and politically sensitive landscape, interpreting and explaining highly complex or contentious information to large and diverse audiences including senior national stakeholders, programme boards and cross-government groups.
Lead the organisational interpretation of emerging UK research legislation and government policy, ensuring business change requirements are identified early and incorporated into programme delivery.
Influence national partners and policy leads to align regulatory processes with service delivery objectives, shaping joint guidance, SOPs and implementation frameworks.
Translate programme goals into change outcomes for users, staff and partners.
Provide senior-level steer on readiness, adoption, and operational alignment.
Contribute to decision-making and prioritisation at programme board and transformation leadership forums.
Ensure benefits are defined, tracked and evaluated across implementation phases
Working for our organisation
Working at the HRA, we are reminded daily of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.
When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement – if it works for us, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note, if applying to our Manchester, Nottingham or Bristol locations, we are only able to offer the role as home based.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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
Masters level qualification or equivalent experience in business change, digital/service transformation
Desirable criteria
Qualification in change management (Prosci/APMG), service design or digital transformation
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
Ability to manage, coach and develop others
Desirable criteria
Ability to use Jira and other planning tools to plan and track activities.
Experience
Essential criteria
Experience of line managing change staff and delivering through matrix teams
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
Advanced communication and influencing skills with senior internal/external stakeholders across organisations
Ability to translate technical change into clear messages for non-technical audiences
Desirable criteria
Understanding of research regulation and study set-up in the UK
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Essential criteria
Able to evaluate complex information and make judgements that shape direction
Highly developed problem-solving skills and ability to balance competing priorities and risk tolerances
Interpersonal Skills
Essential criteria
Credible with senior leaders and partners; able to secure alignment where organisational interests diverge
High emotional intelligence and resilience in high-change environments
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
In-depth knowledge of change and improvement methodologies, benefits realisation and risk management
Desirable criteria
Understanding of agile and iterative delivery models and integration with product teams
Experience
Desirable criteria
Experience working with NHS, research stakeholders and regulatory partners
Other
Essential criteria
Willingness to travel and occasionally stay overnight
Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity
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.
The Work From Home Hub is dedicated to finding and sharing remote and hybrid job opportunities across the UK. The content available on theworkfromhomehub.co.uk is intended for general informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the information provided is accurate and reliable, we make no guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of the information presented on our site.
Whether you are looking to change careers, advance in your current role, navigate workplace challenges, or return to work after a break, I can give you expert guidance and practical strategies to help you achieve your goals.
Visit Victoria-Hopkins.com for more information
This page may contain adverts for products and services tailored to those seeking homebased roles or already working remotely. These adverts help The Work From Home Hub source and share more job opportunities to our community. Support our mission - become a partner today.