Director of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Vocal

We are recruiting a new Director of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) to lead PPIE across our Trust, within our research programmes and throughout our research culture.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will embed and deliver our MFT PPIE Strategy, leading the Vocal team and ensuring that research staff, patients, the public and communities are true partners in research.
• Providing sector expertise and subject knowledge, the postholder will collaborate with colleagues across the Greater Manchester research and innovation infrastructure to embed a cohesive approach to PPIE and Community Engagement and Involvement at scale.
• The postholder will work inclusively to develop and maintain partnerships and relationships with multiple stakeholders (e.g., academic, commercial, community), organisations and individuals and at local, national and international levels.
• They will secure funding streams and lead bids/ grant applications to support and grow PPIE activities, ensuring sufficient capacity, financial sustainability and resilience for the future.

About us

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is a leading, integrated healthcare provider, the largest of its kind in specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, serving over 1 million people per year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are at the forefront of system leadership, innovation, and transformation across Greater Manchester.

As a senior manager, you will play a critical role in shaping and delivering our strategic objectives. You will lead complex programmes, drive operational excellence, and influence Trust-wide transformation, working collaboratively with or through Executive and Clinical Leaders to deliver sustainable improvements for our patients, staff, and communities.

MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, vision, and expertise are valued. You will have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, develop future talent, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, supported by advanced digital infrastructure and a commitment to professional development.Join us to make a lasting impact--help shape the future of our Trust, drive innovation, and deliver outstanding care for the people of Manchester, Trafford and beyond.

Details

Date posted

08 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year

per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-RES-8324987-RL3E

Job locations

Citylabs 1

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9WL

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Job responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training and experience

Essential

• Degree in health related subject
• Doctorate/PhD in science communication, community engagement or related area
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Coaching qualification
• Successful completion of a leadership programme

Knowledge

Essential

• A broad and highly developed understanding of PPIE theory and practice, national and international policy and drivers related to PPIE
• An in-depth understanding of the health research sector, including research funding, governance, policy and strategic direction within the NHS and other clinical academic settings (eg. Higher Education Institutions)
• An in-depth understanding of the VCFSE (voluntary, community, faither and social enterprise) and local authority sectors, and how they interface to develop and deliver PPIE strategy and practice.
• Detailed knowledge of PPIE strategy, policies and practices, and their implementation across multiple professional partners, areas of research and patient, public, community constituencies
• Understanding of inclusivity in health research and PPIE, and knowledge of the evidence-base and initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusive in health research and PPIE

Experience

Essential

• Extensive leadership and/or senior management experience within the NHS, charity and/or health research sector.
• Experience of strategy development
• Demonstrable experience of working successfully across functional boundaries at a strategic level, including membership of local and/or national advisory and oversight structures
• Evidence of strong partnership working with other NHS organisations and beyond, including HEIs, VCFSE partners, including in the delivery of PPIE initiatives and in identifying best practice and areas for development.
• Experience of working with or within the commercial health research sector
• Experience of successfully managing a service in a complex organisation including people and budgetary management
• Experience of providing PPIE advice to and liaising with, managers and staff at all levels, including working with Executive Directors and senior clinicians
• Leadership and line management of teams from a range of different disciplinary backgrounds; experience of matrix working across teams within an NHS Trust and partners.
• Experience of working on national and/or international initiatives.
• Proven leadership, development and implementation of initiatives focused on equity in health research.
• Evidence of thought leadership, through academic or similar publications.

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates commitment to an empathetic and caring approach to patients, carers, members of the public and community partners, and relatives and ability to motivate staff to demonstrate this to ensure that dignity & respect are maintained at all times
• Proven skills in inclusive and reflective practice in PPIE and working collaboratively
• Ability to form effective relationships at all levels including with patients, communities and members of the public, providing them with the support they need to be involved in research strategy, planning and delivery
• A demonstrable commitment to Inclusive Research and/or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Cultural competency and humility.
• Advanced capacity in sensitive and strategic thinking and decision-making, including when working with partners and people underserved by health research
• Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills; capable of interpreting and evaluating complex, multi-faceted information; ability to summarise complex information; ability to make judgements and advise on the best course of action
• Ability to present highly complex/controversial information to a wide range of audiences, with differing levels of understanding, in a suitable format and with appropriate explanation
• Able to maximise leadership skills in direct and wider teams so all staff are managed effectively through effective standard-setting, monitoring, feedback, appraisal, mentoring, clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Ability to influence, persuade and motivate others
• Ability to collaborate constructively with all key stakeholders (internal and external) and to create the conditions for successful partnership working. Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries
• partnership working. Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries
• Skilled in all aspects of managing change, including supporting staff.
• Ability to monitor and act to improve and deliver performance and establish high levels of quality and to hold others to account for delivery
• Highly skilled in identifying opportunities for partnership working, managing on going stakeholder relationships and proving support to others in this area.
• Highly-developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams across the Trust and wider teams
• Be able to articulate the evolving strategy and vision for the future of PPIE and be able to demonstrate the opportunities this will provide
• Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with diverse groups and common sense in knowing when to escalate any issues.
• A strong commitment to openness, honesty and integrity
• Highly developed communication skills to resolve complex, high impact situations in highly complex environments
• High level of work organisation, selfmotivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training and experience

Essential

• Degree in health related subject
• Doctorate/PhD in science communication, community engagement or related area
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Coaching qualification
• Successful completion of a leadership programme

Knowledge

Essential

• A broad and highly developed understanding of PPIE theory and practice, national and international policy and drivers related to PPIE
• An in-depth understanding of the health research sector, including research funding, governance, policy and strategic direction within the NHS and other clinical academic settings (eg. Higher Education Institutions)
• An in-depth understanding of the VCFSE (voluntary, community, faither and social enterprise) and local authority sectors, and how they interface to develop and deliver PPIE strategy and practice.
• Detailed knowledge of PPIE strategy, policies and practices, and their implementation across multiple professional partners, areas of research and patient, public, community constituencies
• Understanding of inclusivity in health research and PPIE, and knowledge of the evidence-base and initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusive in health research and PPIE

Experience

Essential

• Extensive leadership and/or senior management experience within the NHS, charity and/or health research sector.
• Experience of strategy development
• Demonstrable experience of working successfully across functional boundaries at a strategic level, including membership of local and/or national advisory and oversight structures
• Evidence of strong partnership working with other NHS organisations and beyond, including HEIs, VCFSE partners, including in the delivery of PPIE initiatives and in identifying best practice and areas for development.
• Experience of working with or within the commercial health research sector
• Experience of successfully managing a service in a complex organisation including people and budgetary management
• Experience of providing PPIE advice to and liaising with, managers and staff at all levels, including working with Executive Directors and senior clinicians
• Leadership and line management of teams from a range of different disciplinary backgrounds; experience of matrix working across teams within an NHS Trust and partners.
• Experience of working on national and/or international initiatives.
• Proven leadership, development and implementation of initiatives focused on equity in health research.
• Evidence of thought leadership, through academic or similar publications.

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates commitment to an empathetic and caring approach to patients, carers, members of the public and community partners, and relatives and ability to motivate staff to demonstrate this to ensure that dignity & respect are maintained at all times
• Proven skills in inclusive and reflective practice in PPIE and working collaboratively
• Ability to form effective relationships at all levels including with patients, communities and members of the public, providing them with the support they need to be involved in research strategy, planning and delivery
• A demonstrable commitment to Inclusive Research and/or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Cultural competency and humility.
• Advanced capacity in sensitive and strategic thinking and decision-making, including when working with partners and people underserved by health research
• Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills; capable of interpreting and evaluating complex, multi-faceted information; ability to summarise complex information; ability to make judgements and advise on the best course of action
• Ability to present highly complex/controversial information to a wide range of audiences, with differing levels of understanding, in a suitable format and with appropriate explanation
• Able to maximise leadership skills in direct and wider teams so all staff are managed effectively through effective standard-setting, monitoring, feedback, appraisal, mentoring, clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Ability to influence, persuade and motivate others
• Ability to collaborate constructively with all key stakeholders (internal and external) and to create the conditions for successful partnership working. Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries
• partnership working. Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries
• Skilled in all aspects of managing change, including supporting staff.
• Ability to monitor and act to improve and deliver performance and establish high levels of quality and to hold others to account for delivery
• Highly skilled in identifying opportunities for partnership working, managing on going stakeholder relationships and proving support to others in this area.
• Highly-developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams across the Trust and wider teams
• Be able to articulate the evolving strategy and vision for the future of PPIE and be able to demonstrate the opportunities this will provide
• Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with diverse groups and common sense in knowing when to escalate any issues.
• A strong commitment to openness, honesty and integrity
• Highly developed communication skills to resolve complex, high impact situations in highly complex environments
• High level of work organisation, selfmotivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach

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

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

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Citylabs 1

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9WL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Citylabs 1

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9WL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Qualifications/Training and experience

Essential

• Degree in health related subject
• Doctorate/PhD in science communication, community engagement or related area
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Coaching qualification
• Successful completion of a leadership programme

Knowledge

Essential

• A broad and highly developed understanding of PPIE theory and practice, national and international policy and drivers related to PPIE
• An in-depth understanding of the health research sector, including research funding, governance, policy and strategic direction within the NHS and other clinical academic settings (eg. Higher Education Institutions)
• An in-depth understanding of the VCFSE (voluntary, community, faither and social enterprise) and local authority sectors, and how they interface to develop and deliver PPIE strategy and practice.
• Detailed knowledge of PPIE strategy, policies and practices, and their implementation across multiple professional partners, areas of research and patient, public, community constituencies
• Understanding of inclusivity in health research and PPIE, and knowledge of the evidence-base and initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusive in health research and PPIE

Experience

Essential

• Extensive leadership and/or senior management experience within the NHS, charity and/or health research sector.
• Experience of strategy development
• Demonstrable experience of working successfully across functional boundaries at a strategic level, including membership of local and/or national advisory and oversight structures
• Evidence of strong partnership working with other NHS organisations and beyond, including HEIs, VCFSE partners, including in the delivery of PPIE initiatives and in identifying best practice and areas for development.
• Experience of working with or within the commercial health research sector
• Experience of successfully managing a service in a complex organisation including people and budgetary management
• Experience of providing PPIE advice to and liaising with, managers and staff at all levels, including working with Executive Directors and senior clinicians
• Leadership and line management of teams from a range of different disciplinary backgrounds; experience of matrix working across teams within an NHS Trust and partners.
• Experience of working on national and/or international initiatives.
• Proven leadership, development and implementation of initiatives focused on equity in health research.
• Evidence of thought leadership, through academic or similar publications.

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates commitment to an empathetic and caring approach to patients, carers, members of the public and community partners, and relatives and ability to motivate staff to demonstrate this to ensure that dignity & respect are maintained at all times
• Proven skills in inclusive and reflective practice in PPIE and working collaboratively
• Ability to form effective relationships at all levels including with patients, communities and members of the public, providing them with the support they need to be involved in research strategy, planning and delivery
• A demonstrable commitment to Inclusive Research and/or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Cultural competency and humility.
• Advanced capacity in sensitive and strategic thinking and decision-making, including when working with partners and people underserved by health research
• Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills; capable of interpreting and evaluating complex, multi-faceted information; ability to summarise complex information; ability to make judgements and advise on the best course of action
• Ability to present highly complex/controversial information to a wide range of audiences, with differing levels of understanding, in a suitable format and with appropriate explanation
• Able to maximise leadership skills in direct and wider teams so all staff are managed effectively through effective standard-setting, monitoring, feedback, appraisal, mentoring, clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Ability to influence, persuade and motivate others
• Ability to collaborate constructively with all key stakeholders (internal and external) and to create the conditions for successful partnership working. Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries
• partnership working. Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries
• Skilled in all aspects of managing change, including supporting staff.
• Ability to monitor and act to improve and deliver performance and establish high levels of quality and to hold others to account for delivery
• Highly skilled in identifying opportunities for partnership working, managing on going stakeholder relationships and proving support to others in this area.
• Highly-developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams across the Trust and wider teams
• Be able to articulate the evolving strategy and vision for the future of PPIE and be able to demonstrate the opportunities this will provide
• Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with diverse groups and common sense in knowing when to escalate any issues.
• A strong commitment to openness, honesty and integrity
• Highly developed communication skills to resolve complex, high impact situations in highly complex environments
• High level of work organisation, selfmotivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach