Three quick questions

Are you a Christian professional experienced in research?

Are you looking for a new voluntary challenge?

And do you have a heart for detainees?

Yes, yes and yes?

Then why not have a think about serving with us in this voluntary post? A faith-inspired non-government organisation (NGO) with a heart for detainees, we are in great need of a solid Head of Research (HoR) to take our research service to the next level!

This senior appointment would suit a mature Christian professional with experience of researching matters related to healthcare. Perhaps you live in Europe, the Philippines or elsewhere in the Western Pacific region, or somewhere else. Maybe you're retired on a pension or perhaps you'd be doing this role alongside paid employment. Regardless, if you've got the skills we're looking for and a heart for this world's 11 million souls behind bars, please read on...

Post description

What would we require of you, and what could you expect of us?

Base

This position is suitable for home working, so you could be based at your usual residence:-
- although you could reside in the UK or the Philippines, which is where most of our non-European personnel live & work, residence in another country would be possible provided that it has adequate, secure communications infrastructure and tolerance of online Christian activities;
- if you choose to move to reside & work at our Philippines base (Integritas House Olongapo), accommodation will be provided with a charge to cover the cost of utilities;
- if you reside outside of the Philippines, there may be the occasional need to travel there.

Duties

To ensure the efficient and optimal running of our research service in Europe (primarily the United Kingdom (UK)), the Western Pacific (primarily the Philippines) and any other World Health Organisation (WHO) region in which we perform activities.
Your duties will include but not be limited to:-
- Development:-
  - growing our research service in line with our strategic plan;
  - looking for new opportunities for research service growth;
  - working with the other service heads, particularly the head of healthcare, to develop our organisation in line with the research findings coming out of your department.
- Governance:-
  - expanding and updating our research policies;
  - managing our research governance risk;
  - obtaining medical ethics committee approvals and maintaining the necessary registrations with research regulators in the UK, Philippines and other countries.
- Leadership:-
  - leading by example in the provision of excellent research;
  - line managing our researchers;
  - participation in our managers’ on-call rota.
You will be taught any necessary new skills and you will not be permitted to work beyond your competence.

Hours

Although we will consider a lesser commitment, ideally you will provide at least 10.5 hours (three half-day sessions) of voluntary work per week, depending upon your availability; these could be quarterised or even annualised.
At least some of your usual working hours will be within the Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00 UK window; if you choose to reside in an area of the world that has a very different time zone, further modification of this aspiration will be agreed.
Occasional evening and weekend working will be required (for example, if visiting the Philippines and to attend quarterly governance meetings) and time-off-in-lieu will be given.
You will receive six working weeks of annual leave and one working week of study leave per year, which ordinarily should be taken at times when the chief medical officer (CMO) is not on leave & vice versa.

Line management

You will be line managed by our CMO who currently also functions as our Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
You will also liaise with our Board of Directors’ member who holds the research governance portfolio.
Your line management will be supportive in nature and will include regular performance reviews to enhance your performance and professional growth.

Remuneration & Travel

This is not a remunerated post; you will be a volunteer and so will need to raise your own financial support.
If & when working at Integritas House Olongapo, you will receive free working week lunches.
Travel expenses will be reimbursable.

Person specification

Read on to find out if this position would be a good fit for you…

Experience, knowledge, qualifications & skills

Essential
- experience of conducting and publishing peer-reviewed research
- fluency in oral & written English
- good knowledge of basic medical statistics
- relevant university degree
- skilled in applying to medical ethics committees
- skilled in designing research projects
Desirable
- Arabic, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog or any other language speaker
- car driver with a clean licence
- excellent knowledge of +/- qualification in medical statistics
- experience of applying for research grants
- experience of field research, preferably in resource-poor settings
- experience of human resource management of researchers
- experience of presenting research findings
- experience of qualitative patient interviewing as part of clinical research
- experience of service development
- experience of teaching research skills
- experience of virtual research interviewing
- experience of working within a multi-cultural team
- experience of working within a management team
- masters or PhD in relevant subject
Health & Safety
Essential
- if wishing to reside in the Philippines:-
  - fit enough to live for several hours on occasion (during electrical blackouts) in 30-35 degrees Celsius of shady heat without air conditioning
  - no uncontrolled chronic health problems
  - no phobias of things common within Philippines life (eg cats, cockroaches, dogs, dust & spiders)
  - willing to undergo basic safety awareness training
- willing to obtain enhanced criminal records check (1)
- willing to undergo in-house induction training

Personal Attributes

Essential
- acknowledgement that this work is service unto God
- active Christian faith with ecumenical outlook (2)
- adaptable
- appreciation of multi-culturalism
- appropriate relationships and personal boundaries
- autonomous worker who takes initiative
- compassion for detainees
- compatibility with our CMO’s ISTJ personality
- confidential
- delegator
- highly organised
- professional approach to working life
- punctual & reliable with excellent time management skills
- superb communication & interpersonal skills
- sympathy with our aims & values
Desirable
- interest in human rights, offender healthcare & social justice
- possession of a passport & willingness to travel long haul on occasion
- subscriber to concept of integral mission

Availability

Essential
- available at least 7 to 10.5 hours (two or three half-day sessions) per week
- available for at least three years
- available to reside in a country that has an adequate, secure communications infrastructure and is tolerant of online Christian activities
Desirable
- available up to full time
- available indefinitely
- availability to reside in the UK
- willingness to travel occasionally to the UK, the Philippines +/- other countries