IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Design Associate (SM168-13)
Department:
Surgery and Cancer
Division:
Surgery
Job Family/Level:
Professional Services, Level 3b
Salary Range:
£32,930 - £40,720 per annum
Responsible to:
Professor the Lord Darzi
Key working relationships:
The HELIX Centre Leadership team - including Dr Paul
Thompson – RCA, Professor Lord Darzi of Denham – ICL,
Professor Jeremy Myerson – RCA,
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - as host of the Helix
Centre
Imperial College / RCA faculty teams
Senior Design Associate
Contract:
Full time for a fixed term of 2 years
Location:
The post holder will be based at St Mary’s Hospital Campus,
but may be required to spend time in other offices.
Background and context:
Improving the quality, outcomes and productivity of health services is now an
imperative in health systems across the world, regardless of a country’s socioeconomic status. Changing patterns of disease, new technologies, growing patient
demands and advances in clinical practice mean that different ways need to be found
to deliver care. In this context, design and innovation have increased prominence. A
joint venture called HELIX will capitalize on this trend by combining the clinical and
scientific know-how of Imperial College London with the creative and user-centered
design expertise of the Royal College of Art to create a new health and design
innovation centre.
The HELIX Centre will provide international excellence by instilling the principles of
design practice into clinical innovation; by tackling long-term health issues in lowresource settings; and by improving health outcomes and delivery internationally in
health systems. Conceived as centre based in a working hospital that will interface
with frontline NHS staff as well as international partners, HELIX will focus on costeffective, high-impact, design-led initiatives that can transform healthcare both in
developed and developing health systems. Design application of frugal technologies
will be at the centre of its programme.
HELIX will demonstrate how design and innovation in the sector can stem the tide of
rising healthcare costs and save money, as well as adding value and improving
patient care. The Centre will help to make the UK a global business hub for
healthcare innovation.
It is proposed that through the Centre, there will be developed, a new ICL-RCA
Masters in Healthcare Design & Innovation in partnership with other leading
international Universities alongside a new Doctoral programme that advances
interdisciplinary research in the field and educates the next generation of designfocused healthcare leaders.
The Centre will also be working in partnership with The Singapore University of
Technology and Design (SUDT) and will be aiming to help to bring the philosophy of
the “Big D” into the education and research programmes within the Centre.
Scope of the Role:
The Design Associate will report to the Senior Design Associate and work alongside
Imperial Clinical Research Fellows to develop design programmes to respond to the
challenge of cost-effective, high-impact health innovation.
The Design Associate will bring experience of practical design work, project
management, teaching and course development.
The Design Associate will be responsible for supporting delivery of a collaborative
programme in healthcare design and helping to establish a portfolio of externally
funded research and development projects.
HELIX’s mix of project work, NHS staff workshops, specialist Masters programmes,
PhD training and international collaborations with leading academic and commercial
organisations within a working hospital will create a unique environment for
innovation and the Design Associate will work with staff and partners and contribute
to the development of teaching and teaching methods across the department.
The Design Associate will be responsible for elements of practical design activity,
research and education i.e.
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Developing project plans
Delivering and managing individual design projects in collaboration with the
Clinical Research Fellows
Supporting and drafting scientific papers and conference presentations
Supporting the Masters in Healthcare Design & Innovation and Doctoral research
programmes
Working with local NHS staff to develop educational and workshop activities
Supporting teaching activities
Other responsibilities:
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To observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, including the key
policies and procedures on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest, Data Protection,
Equal Opportunities, Financial Regulations, Health and Safety, Imperial
Expectations (for new leaders, managers and supervisors), Information
Technology, Private Engagements and Register of Interests, and Smoking.
To undertake specific safety responsibilities relevant to individual roles, as set out
on the College Website Health and Safety Structure and Responsibilities page
(http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/organisationandarrangements)
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required
to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key
responsibilities.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out
in our Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality
Policy and Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice
frameworks.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
Essential
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A good higher degree or equivalent in design or engineering
Knowledge / Experience
Essential
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An understanding of healthcare-related design with a track record of practical
expertise and achievement
An understanding and experience of the principles and methods of inclusive and
people-centred design, and experience of working collaboratively with user
groups in healthcare
An understanding of change management and how to make innovation happen
practically
Desirable
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Experience in healthcare design
Previous teaching experience
Experience in supporting events and event logistics
Skills / Abilities
Essential
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Proven ability to plan and support the delivery of research programmes
Ability to design and deliver teaching and learning programmes – working with
key partners to develop the curricula
Skills in managing and motivating staff
Project management skills
Good communications and presentation skills to support drafting and
development of presentations and research papers
Ability to work as part of a team, using digital technologies within a busy research
centre
Excellent written and verbal and communication skills
Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Word, Excel and Access or equivalent
Time management skills
Ability to work well to tight deadlines
Ability to be flexible to deal with and prioritise a variety of tasks
Ability to work unsupervised and using own initiative
Excellent organisational skills
Other
Essential
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A flexible attitude and an outgoing personality through which to grow a research
group in partnership with a wide range of different organisations.
APPLICATION GUIDANCE
Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your
application, how much you feel you meet each of the criteria.
Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.