Vacancies
Current vacancies with the Northern Health Science Alliance are featured below.
NHSA External Non-Executive Director
The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) is expanding its board and looking to recruit a new External Non-Executive Director.
Background
The NHSA is a growing alliance of 21 research universities and NHS hospital trusts across the North of England. We bring together and advocate for health research and innovation excellence in the North of England.
Over the past 10 years the NHSA has enjoyed significant success in creating opportunity and value for its member organisations. The alliance combines individual organisational strengths for greater impact and allows the expertise in the North to be heard as one voice on important health and research issues. In this way, The NHSA aims to raise the profile of health science in the North of England, attract more research funding from traditional and non-traditional sources, and contribute to a better economy and better patient outcomes across the North.
NHSA Vision
- To end northern health and wealth inequality through health research and innovation.
- To establish the North of England as an internationally recognised health research system.
Since the pandemic, the gap between North and South health and funding inequalities has become more acknowledged, along with the need to address this with the combined experience and assets in the North.
The work of the NHSA has expanded and has become even more widely recognised. Due to this growth, we are recruiting new board members.
About the NHSA board
The board comprises a minimum of three elected representatives from NHSA member organisations (Currently the Chairperson, NHS representative and university representative) and the NHSA Chief Executive, plus a number of externally recruited directors (External Non-Executive Directors). All board directors provide crucial advice and guidance on business direction and action. This advertisement relates to the External Non-Executive Directors (NEDs).
External Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) are expected to provide valuable experience to enhance and complement the experience from the internal company and elected member representatives.
We are particularly looking for someone with experience in any of the following areas:
- Health and life sciences industry
- Funding allocation (research and grant funding bodies, charities, government institutes/departments)
- Patient and Public Engagement
- Regional or National Government
- Digital and AI strategy implementation
- Marketing, branding, promotion and stakeholder engagement
- Public health policy development, implementation and advocacy
Responsibilities
The NHSA board meets four times per year – three annual board meetings (usually held via Microsoft Teams) and one in-person AGM.
All board directors, apart from the Company CEO, are non-executive directors (NEDs) and are responsible for the management of the Company’s business including:
- Compliance with company law, the company’s governing document and relevant regulations
- approving and overseeing rules of procedure and governance
- financial oversight and accountability
- risk management
- approving company resolutions (prior to approval by a majority of company members)
- recruiting and approving new board members
- recruiting and approving new company members
- appropriately promoting and communicating company work and success
- advising on strategy development and change management
Specific further responsibilities for External NEDs include:
- advising the board and council on areas of expertise
- keeping the board apprised of external factors and developments that could affect company business
- suggesting external initiatives that could be of benefit to the company
Duties are light and board members always have the power to delegate responsibility for tasks to a person or committee.
The term of office for the External NED role is three years (in the first instance, with an extension to 4 or 5 years possible if desired by the incumbent and approved by the NHSA board).
External Non-Executive Directors are moderately remunerated in line with NHSA’s position as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
The successful candidate will be appointed by the board and then approved by a majority (calculated in number and evidenced in writing) of the NHSA Members.
We would welcome the new External NED to start at their earliest convenience.
Further information
For more information on the NHSA and its current board members please visit the NHSA webpages:
For an informal talk about the position please feel free to email the NHSA Chief Executive, Hannah Davies (Hannah.davies@thenhsa.co.uk)