Head of Service Delivery

We are seeking an experienced Head of Service Delivery to lead the end-to-end London Secure Data Environment Research Service. The London SDE is a jointly owned resource for London, bringing together linked, de-identified health and care data in a secure environment to support discovery, service improvement and research for public benefit.

You will own the researcher journey from first enquiry and feasibility through governance, onboarding, data delivery, analysis support and study completion. Working across the NHS, universities, life sciences and technical partners, you will turn complex user needs into clear data, analytics and platform requirements--and translate technical constraints into practical advice.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who combines research-data expertise with outstanding delivery discipline. You will oversee a diverse portfolio, manage risks and resources, improve service standards, lead senior colleagues and build trusted relationships across London. You will champion strong governance, transparency and meaningful patient and public involvement.

You will bring substantial experience of complex research, data or digital services; confidence working with real-world health data, clinical informatics and feasibility assessment; and the ability to lead through ambiguity while keeping users, quality and public benefit at the centre.

Main duties of the job

o Provide senior ownership of the end-to-end London SDE Research Service, ensuring researchers, life sciences partners and NHS organisations receive a clear, consistent and responsive service.o Translate service-user requirements for data, analytics and platform capability into clear technical requirements, and translate technical constraints into practical advice.o Lead continuous improvement of service delivery methods, data advisory practice, researcher support standards and portfolio oversight.o Maintain safe, governed access to linked, de-identified health and care data while strengthening transparency, public trust and patient and public involvement.o Identify delivery risks and operational constraints, develop mitigations and ensure the service remains aligned to the London SDE business plan.

About us

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

Environmental sustainabilityClimate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan.

Details

Date posted

14 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£88,250 to £100,355 a year

pa inclusive

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

290-CR-2101

Job locations

Trust Wide

London

W2 1NY

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person Specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential

• PRINCE2 qualification or equivalent experience managing complex projects
• Evidence of post-qualification development in health economics, statistics or scientific writing

Experience

Essential

• Senior experience delivering and managing parallel research, data or digital services within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing end-to-end service delivery, including governance, technical delivery and customer-facing support.
• Experience translating researcher requirements into data, analytics or platform specifications and interpreting technical constraints
• Experience of real-world health and care data, SQL-based feasibility assessment, portfolio risk management and service improvement.
• Experience managing budgets and leading middle-grade and senior staff.
• Experience working with universities, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and other external partners.

Desirable

• Experience participating in bids to secure external funding.
• Good understanding of national research infrastructure and funding priorities

Person Specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential

• PRINCE2 qualification or equivalent experience managing complex projects
• Evidence of post-qualification development in health economics, statistics or scientific writing

Experience

Essential

• Senior experience delivering and managing parallel research, data or digital services within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing end-to-end service delivery, including governance, technical delivery and customer-facing support.
• Experience translating researcher requirements into data, analytics or platform specifications and interpreting technical constraints
• Experience of real-world health and care data, SQL-based feasibility assessment, portfolio risk management and service improvement.
• Experience managing budgets and leading middle-grade and senior staff.
• Experience working with universities, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and other external partners.

Desirable

• Experience participating in bids to secure external funding.
• Good understanding of national research infrastructure and funding priorities

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Trust Wide

London

W2 1NY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Trust Wide

London

W2 1NY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Education/ qualifications

Essential

• PRINCE2 qualification or equivalent experience managing complex projects
• Evidence of post-qualification development in health economics, statistics or scientific writing

Experience

Essential

• Senior experience delivering and managing parallel research, data or digital services within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing end-to-end service delivery, including governance, technical delivery and customer-facing support.
• Experience translating researcher requirements into data, analytics or platform specifications and interpreting technical constraints
• Experience of real-world health and care data, SQL-based feasibility assessment, portfolio risk management and service improvement.
• Experience managing budgets and leading middle-grade and senior staff.
• Experience working with universities, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and other external partners.

Desirable

• Experience participating in bids to secure external funding.
• Good understanding of national research infrastructure and funding priorities