Role:  IMPACT Senior Strategic Improvement Coach

Department: School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences

Grade: 8 (£48,822 pro rata per annum)

Responsible to: UK Demonstrator Lead

Location: Northern Ireland (based on site within the relevant host organisation)

Fixed-term from 1st September 2026 until 31st August 2027 / Part-time, 0.5 FTE

Job Purpose:

IMPACT is the UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Health Foundation. IMPACT draws on knowledge from different types of research, the lived experience of people who draw on care and support and carers, and the practice knowledge of social care staff.

IMPACT Demonstrators focus on a large, strategic issue in a host organisation or local system, helping to get evidence of what works used in practice to make a difference to services and to people’s lives. They involve using change management, organisational development and leadership skills to bring about evidence-informed change, in partnership with people who draw on care and support, families, social care services and policy makers.

Each Demonstrator is typically supported by two Senior Strategic Improvement Coaches. In each pair of coaches, one appointee will often have a background in strategy / improvement and have experience of applied research, organisational development or behavioural science. The other may well have experience of drawing on care, being a carer or working in front-line roles. We recognise that we all have multiple aspects to our identity, and that some candidates may bring a combination of these different backgrounds and experiences.

Positions are offered at 50% of FTE for 12 months, and will be based primarily in the Demonstrator site/host organisation. While successful candidates are often employed by the lead University in each nation (Stirling, Ulster, Cardiff, Birmingham, or Sheffield), the nature of our Coach roles also make them ideal for possible secondments from policy, practice, applied research or citizen-led organisations. This can help people build on current skills and experiences while also developing new ones, supporting the longer-term development of more ‘hybrid’ research-practice roles.

THE TOPICS AND LOCATIONS (See additional information document below)

• Promoting a culture which genuinely values its social care workforce - Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland (Hybrid working between home and the host organisation office (Armagh)
• Recognising and supporting the role of personal assistants - Centre for Independent Living NI, Northern Ireland ( Hybrid working between home and the host organisation office (Belfast)

To apply, you must:

1)  Send a CV and cover letter to impactcentre@contacts.bham.ac.uk, clearly detailing the role, project and location you are applying for in the subject of the email. Your cover letter should be no more than two sides of A4, drawing attention to the key skills, values and experiences you would bring to the role, if successful, and the ways in which your CV to date fits with the requirements of the role and the host setting.

2) Complete the mandatory additional information form:     IMPACT Job Application 2026 - Mandatory additional information - Please complete – Fill out form

Applicants that do not complete the form will not be considered.

Please do not apply through the UU site — to be considered, you must follow the steps above.

Informal enquires can be sent to impactcentre@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Further information about IMPACT can be found at https://impact.bham.ac.uk/

Closing date: 13th April 2026 at 23.30

(Interviews will likely be held between 6th and 22nd May 2026)

Click on the link below to view further details about the role – Please note, this will not be available after the job advert closes. Please ensure that you download and save this.

Candidate Briefing Document - 041567

Additional Information - IMPACT Senior Strategic Improvement Coach

If you have any specific queries regarding this post, please contact Suzanne McFarlane, email: sj.mcfarlane@ulster.ac.uk

Please be advised that due to the minimum salary thresholds imposed by the UKVI, this post will not qualify for university sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please check your options here:    https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

If you have any specific queries regarding eligibility to work in the UK, our Resourcing Compliance team may be able to help: Resourcing-compliance@ulster.ac.uk

Ulster University holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality in higher education, read more on our website   https://www.ulster.ac.uk/peopleandculture/employee-benefits/equality-diversity/athena-swan.The University has a range of initiatives to support a family friendly working environment, including flexible working.