Fellow in health

data science/
statistics/
econometrics
Candidate Brief
July 2023 | Reference F06/2023
 About us
The Nuffield Trust is an independent health think tank. We aim to improve the quality of
health care and health policy in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy
analysis and informing and generating debate.

Vision
We want to help achieve a high-quality health and social care system that improves the
health and care of people in the UK.

We set out to do this by:

• Improving the evidence base that leads to better care by undertaking rigorous
applied research and policy analysis.
• Using our independence to provide expert commentary, analysis and scrutiny of
policy and practice.
• Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, and others to develop solutions to
the challenges facing the health and social care system.

We will be grounded in the practical implications of policymaking, working closely with

NHS staff and policymakers to identify solutions. Above all, we aim to be a trusted and
respected voice at a time of unprecedented challenge to the NHS and social care system.

Values
In everything we do, we strive to be:
• Independent and free from vested interests.
• Rigorous, robust and evidence-based in the work we undertake.
• Relevant, supportive but also challenging when we need to be.
• Open and engaging with all those we come into contact with.
• An organisation that makes a difference to the quality of policymaking and practice
in the UK.

Current priorities
The current priorities are identified on The Nuffield Trust Website.

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 Job Description
Purpose
As a Fellow in the Nuffield Trust, you will play a key role in furthering the Trust’s overall
aims by delivering, and maximising the impact of, high quality research and analysis. You
will be expected to work on a number of projects across different topic areas as needed,
taking a lead on smaller projects or workstreams within larger projects. As you progress in
the role, you will take on greater responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and delivery of
projects, supporting and managing small teams and drawing in support and expertise as
required.

You will bring your individual expertise to the role. A track record of health or care
research, with a strong grounding in statistical, econometric or data science methods, is
essential, along with a good understanding of current NHS or social care policy. Strong
critical thinking as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential
for the position. The role also requires someone who has an ability to collaborate with
others and potential to develop management and leadership skills.

Main responsibilities
Reporting to a Senior Fellow or Deputy Director, and working closely with the Research &
Policy and Communications teams, you will assume the following principal
responsibilities:-

Leading and undertaking research

1. Take responsibility for small projects or parts of projects, including the research
design, planning, development and delivery of research projects; working in
collaboration with others within internal and external project teams.

2. Undertake research relevant to health and care policy, drawing on relevant and
appropriate evidence and using appropriate research and analysis methods. This will
include quantitative methods such as analysis of large health and care administrative
datasets or electronic health records using appropriate data science, statistical or
econometric methods, synthesising and analysing data from multiple sources, and
presenting findings visually.

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 3. Analyse and synthesise your research findings along with evidence and information
on a wide range of health and care topics, bearing in mind the relevance to the policy
context, drawing appropriate conclusions and proposing recommendations.

4. Develop expertise on relevant methods and datasets, and keep abreast with policy
developments and contextual changes in areas relevant to the work and identify
implications of those changes to the project work, adapting and evolving it as
necessary.

Project and people management

1. Take responsibility for the development of small project proposals and funding
bids, eventually designing manageable research projects.

2. Ensure the effective management of projects, including undertaking the project

manager role on some projects or elements of projects; setting, and meeting, goals
and milestones.

3. Supervise the analytical, research and data management work carried out by
colleagues, setting clear objectives within projects and tasks; and helping to
develop their skills, coaching and supporting them where appropriate; undertaking
quality assurance of outputs.

4. Actively contribute to a collaborative and supportive culture, ensuring all team

members (inside and outside the Trust) can contribute, making efforts to share
opportunities appropriately.

5. Ensure that the Nuffield Trust’s research processes (e.g. research ethics, data
governance, and writing conventions) are adhered to in all our work.

Securing impact

1. Write in a range of formats to disseminate the results of our research and analysis,
being mindful of the target audience and the policy context. Examples include
writing academic-style reports, concise parliamentary briefings, and short blogs.

2. Act as lead author for all or substantive parts of publications, offering support and
feedback to other authors, and refining drafts to ensure they reflect the strength of
evidence and draw out relevant policy implications.

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 3. Make written and oral presentations to internal and external audiences (which could
include via the media), and communicate complex findings in an accessible way,
thinking creatively about how best to present data and key messages.

4. Assist with, and in some cases lead, the planning, organisation and running of
seminars and workshops held by the Trust and write reports of such events.

5. Work with colleagues in the communications department throughout the life cycle
of projects to identify potential impacts from your work and disseminate them
effectively, exploring different outlets and outputs.

Building knowledge and working with stakeholders

1. Keep abreast of developments in quantitative research methods and relevant areas

of health and social care policy and actively participate in meetings and
discussions about policy relevant research, contributing that knowledge to outputs
relevant to the work of the Trust beyond project publications.

2. Build and manage working relationships with colleagues in the Trust to facilitate the
smooth running of the organisation and to ensure the quality of our work.

3. Proactively build new relevant networks with external stakeholders both to extend
impact and influence and to ensure effective exchange of information about shared
work and interests.

Contributing to the Trust’s values

1. Uphold the ethos of the Nuffield Trust, demonstrating a commitment to our

principles of objectivity and equal opportunities.

2. Undertake any other duties which may reasonably be required in furtherance of the
objectives of the Trust.

3. Understand and apply the principles of good research and information governance
and abide by the Nuffield Trust research policies.

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 Person Specification
Essential
Experience

• A postgraduate qualification (master’s degree or doctorate) in a subject – or

equivalent experience in a role – relevant to health data science, statistics or
econometrics.
• A broad knowledge of health and care datasets, with specific experience of analysis
of record-level NHS data.
• A demonstrable interest in health and social care policy.

Skills and abilities

• A track record in health care research, demonstrating an understanding of quantitative

research methods and their application in health and care services research, and
expertise in applying statistical or econometric methods.
• Excellent skills in manipulating large and complex datasets using specialist database
and analysis software (including programming expertise in R, and in other statistical
packages such as SAS or STATA).
• Excellent written communication skills and demonstrable experience of writing in a
range of styles and presenting to academic, professional, and lay audiences.
• Ability to gather, analyse, interpret, and synthesise complex information derived from
policy documents and research studies.
• Proven ability to work to strict deadlines, delivering high quality output, managing your
own time to suit changing priorities and deadlines, with experience of managing
projects or components of projects.
• An ability to collaborate with colleagues, internally and externally, sharing
opportunities and enabling others to make a full contribution.
• Ability to lead by example and provide coaching, supervision and support to
colleagues, particularly around the development of their analytical skills.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities and cultural diversity.

Desirable skills/experience
• Experience of data application processes, and the management of large datasets,
with demonstrable regard to data governance and security considerations.
• Experience of applied research evaluating health services.

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 • Experience in coaching and mentoring others in the use of analytical tools and the
development of analytical code to be used by others.
• Experience coding in other programming languages (e.g. Python), and publishing
code (e.g. via GitHub).

All staff are required to work within Nuffield Trust’s policies, ensuring these are carried out
in relation to the job, e.g., Confidentiality; Data Protection; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

All staff may be asked to undertake other duties and responsibilities appropriate to their
level as determined by their Line Manager on an occasional basis.

This Job Description reflects the requirements of the post at the time of writing. The needs
and circumstances may change over time and therefore the Job Description may need to
be reviewed in the light of any such changes which may occur.

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 Health and Safety
Employees of the Trust are required to be aware of, and observe fully, the employee duties
under the Health and Safety at Work Act and to observe all Nuffield Trust policies related to
health and safety and risk management.

Data Protection
Disclosures of confidential information or disclosures of any data of a personal nature can result
in prosecution for an offence under the Data Protection Legislation or an action for civil damages
under the same Legislation in addition to any disciplinary action taken by the Trust which might
include dismissal.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Nuffield Trust is committed to ensuring equality for its employees and job applicants and will
value and respect their diversity. We recognise that everyone has a contribution to make and we
will aim to ensure that all staff, Trustees, volunteers, organisations and individuals with whom we
have contact will be treated fairly and in an unbiased way. The Nuffield Trust is committed to
actively promoting equality and diversity and will work to address unfair treatment, discrimination
and prejudice where found within the workplace and in its work. We will work within the current
legislative framework to promote best practice.

To ensure the continued development of equality and diversity, all applicants are asked to
provide information about how they identify themselves as part of the application process. You
are not obliged to answer the questions, however, the more information you supply, the more
effective our monitoring will be. If you choose not to answer any or all of the questions, it will not
affect your application. Any information you do supply is kept strictly confidential and will be used
solely for monitoring purposes. The selection panel will not see this information.

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 Benefits
The Trust offers a competitive benefits package including a defined contribution pension scheme
(with 14% employer contribution), death in service insurance and an Employee Assistance
Programme. Eligible employees also have access to a number of other benefits including
interest-free travel loans and enhanced maternity, paternity and parental leave pay. We operate
a hybrid working policy, which supports a mix of office and remote working.

Annual leave is 28 days per year. This rises to 30 days per year on completion of 5 years’
service with the Trust. All Annual leave is calculated pro rata for part time positions.

The Trust also encourages personal development and training programmes for all employees.

Terms of Appointment
This is a full time (35 hours per week) appointment based in London with hybrid working in
operation. Requests for part time working (minimum 80% FTE) will be considered.

The remuneration for this position is £48,090 per annum (pro rata if part time).

The appointment will be subject to receipt of two satisfactory references and evidence of
the right to work in the UK.

Application and Selection Process

Candidates wishing to apply should submit a detailed CV and complete the application
questions via the online web portal.

Any queries should be directed to:

Email: recruitment@nuffieldtrust.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Tuesday 29 August.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Monday 11 September.

You are encouraged to submit your application without delay as candidates will be reviewed on
an ongoing basis.

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 10

Nuffield Trust is an independent

health charity. We aim to improve
the quality of health care in the
UK by providing evidence-based
research and policy analysis and
informing and generating debate.

For more information about Nuffield Trust,

including details of our latest research and
analysis, please visit www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/newsletter-signup

Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/NuffieldTrust

59 New Cavendish Street

London W1G 7LP
Telephone: 020 7631 8450
www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Email: info@nuffieldtrust.org.uk

Published by the Nuffield Trust.

© Nuffield Trust 2018. Not to be
reproduced without permission.

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