The Research & Insight Manager is a key role in Moondance Cancer Initiatives core team, bringing research intelligence, evidence appraisal and practical insight into MCI’s work. Working to the Managing Director and closely with the Clinical Director, the post helps ensure MCI’s decisions, priorities and activity are informed by current evidence, relevant intelligence and a clear understanding of the Welsh cancer system.

It provides MCI with a clear and current view of developments across cancer data, research, policy, innovation and service improvement, turning this intelligence into practical insight that can shape work across the organisation.

A central part of the role will be helping to deliver CADARN, MCI’s system-level intervention to unlock the potential of cancer research in Wales. Through targeted, tumour-site focused rounds, CADARN brings people together to agree priorities, activate delivery and generate new ideas, ensuring patients across Wales benefit from research that improves care and outcomes.

Within CADARN, this means combining research intelligence, study identification, practical coordination and delivery partner oversight, helping ensure each round is well prepared, well informed and able to translate discussion into action beyond the National Meeting.

The wider remit brings evidence and insight into MCI’s funding, delivery and learning activity, helping to identify and appraise opportunities, understand the impact of the work we fund, and draw out learning that can inform future action.

In practice, the work cuts across internal priorities and external relationships, including clinicians, researchers, Chief Investigators, trial teams, delivery partners and other stakeholders. It requires sound judgement, organisation and follow-through, particularly where activity involves multiple contributors, deadlines or dependencies.

Key responsibilities

Research intelligence & horizon scanning

• Maintain a clear and current understanding of relevant developments across cancer services, research, data, policy, innovation and service improvement in Wales, the UK and internationally, considering what these mean for MCI’s objectives, priorities and role in accelerating improvement across cancer services in Wales.
• Analyse and summarise key developments, drawing out implications for MCI’s funding, programmes, stakeholder engagement, communications and future planning.
• Maintain MCI’s intelligence library, ensuring relevant information, reports, data sources and internal insight products are organised, accessible and up to date.
• Prepare concise briefings, summaries and insight products to support internal discussions, external meetings, Board reporting and organisational decision-making.

 CADARN

• Lead the research intelligence and horizon scanning process for each CADARN tumour-site round.
• Identify suitable studies from the NHS research portfolio for consideration through CADARN, working with the Clinical Director and relevant clinical leads to test assumptions and apply local intelligence.
• Prepare clear study information and materials for internal discussion, R&D teams, delegates and CADARN National Meetings.
• Support engagement with Chief Investigators, trial teams and clinical leads for shortlisted studies, including coordinating follow-up, arranging meetings, maintaining contact information and tracking agreed actions.
• Play an active role in preparing for and supporting CADARN National Meetings, bringing knowledge of the shortlisted studies, CADARN aims and wider MCI context.
• Act as MCI’s key point of coordination with the appointed CADARN delivery partner, supporting update meetings, reviewing reports, tracking progress and identifying risks, issues or actions requiring MCI input.
• Contribute to CADARN updates for internal review, Board reporting, stakeholder updates and communications where required.

 Evidence appraisal and funding insight

• Contribute to the appraisal of funding opportunities and proposals where research, evidence, technology, clinical practice or innovation require further scrutiny.
• Undertake proportionate evidence appraisals to support decision-making, including reviewing published literature, clinical guidance, emerging practice and relevant data.
• Work with the Managing Director, Clinical Director and Funding & Delivery Manager to help ensure evidence, context, uncertainty and relevance to the Welsh cancer system are clearly understood as part of MCI’s funding decisions.
• Coordinate MCI’s peer review process where external or specialist input is required to inform funding decisions.

 Evaluation, impact and organisational learning

• Support MCI’s approach to evaluation, impact and learning across funded activity.
• Help MCI understand what has changed as a result of funded work, including impact on patients, services, access, capacity, outcomes, adoption, spread or sustainability.
• Review evaluation outputs from funded initiatives where an evidence, research or analytical perspective is required.

Wider organisational support

• Support the preparation and delivery of MCI roundtables, workshops, discussions and events where research, evidence, data or insight input is required.
• Help capture outputs from discussions or events and translate them into useful notes, summaries, reports or recommendations.
• Contribute to Board papers, stakeholder updates, website content, communications and presentations.
• Work flexibly as part of MCI’s core team, supporting wider organisational activity where required, including MCI events such as the Moondance Cancer Awards.

Requirements

This role is for someone who is curious, rigorous and practical. You will have strong research, evidence and analytical skills, with the judgement to apply them across a broad and ambitious programme of work focused on improving cancer outcomes in Wales.

You will be scientifically literate and comfortable working with complex information, forming a view and making clear recommendations. You will be able to manage multiple priorities, relationships and deadlines, bringing structure, momentum and follow-through to agreed areas of work.

This role could be for you if you have:

• Strong evidence searching, reviewing, synthesis and critical appraisal skills.
• The ability to distil complex information and translate evidence and data into practical insight, including what matters, why it matters and what MCI may need to consider or do as a result.
• Experience of working with research, data, policy, clinical evidence or service improvement in health, science, public services or a related field.
• Confidence working with research portfolios, clinical studies, published literature, policy documents, data sources and reports.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to produce clear briefings, appraisals, reports, visual summaries and practical recommendations for different audiences.
• Strong practical coordination and project management skills, with the ability to manage workstreams, track actions, monitor progress and keep others aligned.
• Sound judgement about when to act, when to seek input and when to escalate risks, issues or decisions.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, clinicians, researchers, delivery partners and wider stakeholders.
• A good understanding of cancer services, research delivery or the wider health system, ideally including NHS Wales.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.

You are also likely to have:

• Education to degree level or equivalent experience in health, research, public services, policy, life sciences or a related field.
• Experience of supporting research, evaluation, evidence, insight or improvement activity.
• Experience of working with clinicians, researchers, NHS teams, academic partners, delivery partners or health system stakeholders.

Benefits

This is a permanent contract with a three-month probationary period.

Reports to: Managing Director

The role reports to the Managing Director and works closely with the Clinical Director, particularly on CADARN, research intelligence, evidence appraisal and clinically led areas of work.

Hours of work: 40 hours per week Monday to Friday inclusive, including some evening meetings as required.

Location: We’re committed to working collaboratively and with purpose. We offer a hybrid working model, where team members can work flexibly from home and our office in central Cardiff. We have regular anchor days, usually once a week, where all team members come together at our office. You will therefore need to live within commuting distance of Cardiff.

The role will also require attendance at in-person meetings and events, including CADARN National Meetings, roundtables, Board-related activity, wider MCI events, and external meetings or conferences relevant to the role. Some activity may involve travel across Wales, elsewhere in the UK or occasionally further afield, as well as evening commitments.

Salary: £42,000 per annum plus a 5% employer pension contribution via the NEST scheme (alternative schemes considered by request).

Annual holiday entitlement: 25 working days together with the usual Bank and Public holidays. The days between Christmas and New Year are also awarded as additional paid leave.

Right to work: All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.