Could you help shape how Portsmouth uses evidence to create a healthier, fairer city?
HIVE Portsmouth is looking for an experienced and confident strategic leader to play a key role in the development of Portsmouth’s Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC). This is a senior, influential role at the heart of a major partnership bringing together local government, academic partners, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, residents and people with lived experience.
Health is shaped by far more than healthcare alone. Housing, income, employment, education, transport, social connection, access to green space and the strength of local communities all affect people’s chances of living well. Through the HDRC, Portsmouth has an opportunity to strengthen how evidence, research and community insight inform decisions that matter to local people.
As HIVE HDRC Strategic Lead, you will ensure HIVE Portsmouth’s contribution is ambitious, practical and rooted in the realities of the city’s communities. You will help build research, evaluation and impact capacity across the VCSE sector, champion co-production and make sure learning from the HDRC is translated into action that supports prevention, reduces inequalities and strengthens community wellbeing.
About the role
This is a part time (18.5 hours) 2-year fixed term strategic leadership post for someone who can work confidently across systems, build trusted relationships and turn shared ambition into meaningful delivery. You will represent HIVE Portsmouth within HDRC governance and senior partnership spaces, shape research priorities so they reflect local need and community experience, and ensure the voice and contribution of the VCSE sector are central to the programme.
You will also line manage the Community Research Engagement Lead, supporting high-quality engagement, co-production and community research activity. Working closely with the Chief Officer and HDRC partners, you will connect evidence, lived experience and sector intelligence so that research becomes something practical, accessible and useful for decision-makers, practitioners and communities.
We are looking for someone who can
- Provide senior strategic leadership in a complex, cross-sector partnership environment.
- Build strong relationships with communities, VCSE organisations, local authority colleagues, NHS partners, universities and other stakeholders.
- Champion co-production and ensure residents, people with lived experience and community organisations help shape research priorities and outputs.
- Translate research, evidence and insight into strategy, service improvement and practical action.
- Strengthen research, evaluation and impact measurement capacity across the VCSE sector.
- Influence at senior level while remaining grounded in the needs, assets and experiences of local communities.
- Lead with integrity, curiosity and a strong commitment to reducing health inequalities.
About you
You may come from health, local government, the voluntary and community sector, academia, research, public health, community development or another partnership-focused environment. What matters most is that you bring senior strategic experience, excellent influencing and communication skills, and a strong understanding of prevention, health inequalities and place-based working.
You will be comfortable working with ambiguity, navigating different perspectives and helping partners find shared purpose. You will understand the value of evidence, but also the importance of lived experience, community knowledge and trusted relationships. You will be someone who can think strategically, act collaboratively and keep people at the centre of the work.
Why join HIVE Portsmouth?
HIVE Portsmouth brings people together to build a happier, healthier and more connected city. We work alongside local people, voluntary groups and partner organisations to improve lives across Portsmouth, supporting collaboration, early intervention, community resilience and a stronger VCSE sector.
This role offers the chance to make a lasting contribution to how Portsmouth understands and responds to the wider determinants of health. You will be joining a committed, values-led organisation and a partnership with real potential to influence systems, strengthen community voice and create better outcomes for local people.
If you are excited by the opportunity to lead across partnerships, strengthen the role of communities in research and help build a healthier, fairer Portsmouth, we would love to hear from you.
Further Information
For further information or an informal discussion on this post please contact Lorna Reavley, Chief Officer at lorna.reavley@hiveportsmouth.org.uk
To Apply - Please submit a CV and cover letter explaining how you meet the person specification to: workwith@hiveportsmouth.org.uk by midnight on Sunday 19th July.
Interviews will be held 30th July