Healthy Activity Practitioner Jobs in Edinburgh

INFORMATION AND RESEARCH MANAGER

Hours:

3 days per week, open to flexibility

Location:

Homebased within the UK with a requirement to travel to meetings, mostly held in London and/or supporting events

Reporting to:

Chief Executive

Benefits:

Flexible working arrangements, 28 days of annual leave (FTE pro rata for part-time) + 1 day for your birthday, pension scheme and Employee Assistance Programme

Key relationships:

Senior Leadership Team, Medical Advisor, Healthcare Partnerships Lead, Communications & Engagement Manager, Facilitators (course trainers), external stakeholders

Salary:

£22,800 (£38,000 per annum FTE)

Contract:

Permanent

The role

Overcoming MS is the world’s leading healthy lifestyle organisation for people with MS, recommending a holistic, evidence-based seven-part Program of healthy lifestyle habits that will impact symptom load as well as disease progression. The Program is based upon the work of Professor George Jelinek, who evaluated all the research on lifestyle and MS to create the original version of his book, Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis. In recent years, there has been ever increasing interest in lifestyle and MS, and the body of research is systematically increasing. Overcoming MS therefore has a need for someone to regularly review the most recent research, update our Program recommendations, and ensure we communicate the latest updates with our community – working alongside our Medical Advisor. In the medium to longer term, we would like to identity research gaps and have a role in influencing, or even commissioning, lifestyle research to add to the current research base.

Key Responsibilities:

• To oversee the Overcoming MS Program recommendations, ensuring our advice always adheres to the latest and most robust evidence.
• To review each of the seven Overcoming MS pillars, review the evidence available, making any changes as needed. Work with the team to communicate any changes within the community, including leading the development of new tools and guides as needed (eg How to talk to your GP about testing vitamin D levels).
• To identify gaps in the existing Program based on new research (eg sleep, intermittent fasting etc), reviewing the evidence base and making recommendations on adaptations and support tools (subject to IP owner approval).
• To foster solid relationships with key stakeholders (including Facilitators and expert advisors) to ensure buy in and understanding in any updates or changes to research evidence and the Program.
• To create a research strategy, to maximise Overcoming MS’s credibility and reputation within MS lifestyle research.
• To support the communication of new studies published in reputable journals, enabling Overcoming MS to quickly understand the relevance to our community and the Program, formulating an action plan and supporting a public response where relevant.
• To support Overcoming MS’s public profile, giving credibility and expertise in the research behind the Program, including presenting at conferences, submitting articles and posters for publication, etc.
• To support the collation of impact evidence to demonstrate the value of Overcoming MS to individuals and as part of funding applications.
• To create a network of external research advisors, possibly creating a Research Advisory Group, to ensure oversight of upcoming research as well as diversity of opinion on research outcomes and their impact.
• To identify potential partners to collaborate with on research projects that corroborate the existing Program, fill research gaps, or build additional independent evidence around healthy lifestyle and MS.
• To manage the research section of the website.
• Longer term, to create a position for Overcoming MS in identifying research gaps, influencing new research, the role of the Overcoming MS community in research projects, and (subject to funding) commissioning research.

About you

We are looking for a passionate and committed individual, with proven experience of working with desk research and research professionals to produce high quality but accessible information.

• Strong previous experience of having worked in a research or health information role, with a solid understanding of the health research environment.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with experience in producing clear, warm, accessible information for people affected by a health condition, underpinned by solid evidence.
• Demonstrable ability to be able to produce information for different audiences (eg community members and researchers), understanding how audience needs might differ.
• The ability to quickly review and deeply understand research about lifestyle and multiple sclerosis and translate that research into relatable actions.
• Demonstrable credibility in working with researchers, healthcare professionals and other health experts.
• Professional experience of carrying out literature reviews, desk research, developing research methodologies, conducting key informant interviews, and qualitative and quantitative analysis (desirable)
• Ability to work independently and remotely, self-motivate and build independent relationships and networks.
• Ability to work as a team player, helping to upskill the wider team and supporting information provision more widely.
• A proactive approach to work, able to identify opportunities and solutions
• Excellent eye for detail, working to deliver high-quality, accurate work.
• Excellent organisational, planning, prioritisation and time management skills with an ability to work to deadlines and change priorities when needed.

Working location and hours  

You are comfortable working remotely within the UK, as part of a small team, and happy to travel occasionally to London and other locations for meetings and events. 

You have a clean driving licence and have access to a vehicle to use for business purposes. 

What can we offer you?  

Our staff benefits include:  
• 28 days annual leave (FTE - pro rata for part-time) plus a day off for your birthday and bank holidays  
• Flexible working  
• Remote working  
• Pension  
• Employee Assistance Programme  

How to apply  

Please send your CV and a covering letter by 10am on Wednesday 2nd April 2025. 

In your covering letter, please let us know:  

• Your motivation for applying for the role 

• Your notice period  

• Your current location.  

Please respond ASAP, as we will start screening candidates as soon as we receive applications.  

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We make hiring decisions based on merit. If you fill most or all the requirements, please apply.  

No agency contact, please.