Deputy Chief Investigator of the Generation Study - (1 Year FTC)

We are seeking a Deputy Chief Investigator to support the Chief Investigator (Chief Medical Officer) and Service Owner for the Newborns Service in the Generation Study. This world-leading research study is in the early stages of recruiting 100,000 babies, in partnership with the NHS, to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and utility of applying genome sequencing in the context of newborn screening, returning results relating to over 200 rare conditions for which early intervention is available.

This role requires an excellent clinical thought leader with experience working in Maternal and Child Health in the NHS, who can develop strong relationships with NHS recruitment sites, ensuring both efficient and scaled participant recruitment while maintaining a safe and smooth recruitment process.

Please note this role is based on a 1 year fixed term contract.

Everyday responsibilities include:

• Establish and maintain robust working relationships with NHS recruitment sites, ensuring active clinical engagement.
• Collaborate closely with the Mobilisation Lead and Site Performance and Delivery Lead (Newborns) to address mobilisation or recruitment issues.
• Lead the recruitment process to ensure timely sample processing and resolve operational challenges in line with study targets.
• Act on behalf of the Chief Investigator at internal and external meetings, actively contributing to decision-making processes and adhering to established protocols.
• Collaborate with the Newborns Service Operations Lead and colleagues across the Newborns Service to identify and resolve any emerging issues relating to recruitment pathways, working closely with the Clinical Director who leads on clinical delivery for the programme.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Newborn Genomes Programme within the Maternal and Child Health community.
• Engage actively in the broader activities of the newborns clinical team and the Clinical Chapter at Genomics England, including participation in clinical safety and risk management procedures, service desk enquiries, chapter meetings, rotas, and events.
• Engage with Royal Colleges and other professional networks to foster collaboration and advocate for the programme’s objectives.
• Contribute to the dissemination of the Generation Study’s findings through publications and presentations, ensuring the study’s results reach the broader scientific community.
• Contribute to broader questions of strategy and implementation related to Maternal and Child Health across the organisation, beyond the Generation Study.
• Embody and promote the organization’s core values and leadership behaviours in all aspects of your role, setting a positive example for the team and stakeholders.

Skills and Experience for success:

• Proven strong clinical leadership and expertise in midwifery, obstetrics or other relevant discipline.
• Excellent presenting and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts clearly and effectively.
• Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities.
• A well-established network within the clinical and scientific communities.
• Adaptable, responsible, and committed to clinical safety and the strategic goals of the programme.

Due to the specialised nature of this role, we are open to considering secondments and can offer flexible arrangements to suit the right candidate

Salary from £97,500

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including: 

• 30 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays), with additional days for long service awards
• A generous pension scheme of up to 15% combined contribution
• Life Assurance (3 x salary)
• Individual learning budgets for every colleague, a Blinkist account and a wide variety of courses on our portal
• A wide variety of wellness benefits including Gympass, a Headspace account, free weekly Yoga classes
• Enhanced maternity & paternity benefits
• Blended working arrangements

Talk to our Talent Team and find out how a career with Genomics England will benefit you.

#LI-Hybrid

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background.

Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity and will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor. 

Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour is contrary to our virtues, undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. 

Genomics England operates a blended working model as we know our people appreciate the flexibility. We expect most people to come into the office 2 times each month as a minimum. However, this will vary according to role and will be agreed with your team leader. There is no expectation that staff will return to the office full time unless they want to, however, some of our roles require you to be on site full time e.g., lab teams, reception team. 

Our teams and squads have, and will continue to, reflect on what works best for them to work together successfully and have the freedom to design working patterns to suit, beyond the minimum. Our office locations are Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds.

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.  We therefore require applicants to disclose any previous offences at point of application, as some unspent convictions may mean we are unable to proceed with your application due to the nature of our work in healthcare.