The JLA is recruiting advisers to join the team

Vacancy for James Lind Alliance Adviser (Self-Employed, Independent Facilitator)

Location: Flexible throughout the UK
Working hours: Flexible. After training may amount to approx. eight days a month
Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 18th June 2023

The James Lind Alliance (JLA) is seeking self-employed, independent consultants, with facilitation and project management experience in the health research sector, to join the small JLA Adviser team.

The JLA is committed to a supportive, inclusive, caring, and positive community. We warmly welcome those of different cultures, ages, ethnicities, and beliefs. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our values and vital to our success.

As a JLA Adviser, you will have:

• A proven track record of effective chairing and facilitation of diverse groups of people both in person and online
• Excellent communication skills
• Extensive project management experience
• Knowledge and experience of the health research landscape and the health and social care community
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Experience of the JLA priority setting process would be helpful, although training and mentoring is provided.

JLA PSPs follow the method set out in the JLA Guidebook and are facilitated by one of the small team of JLA Advisers. JLA Advisers are independent consultants who support and guide PSPs as neutral facilitators, to ensure that the JLA process is followed in a fair and transparent way and that the key principles of JLA priority setting are upheld There have now been over 150 completed PSPs in the UK and internationally, addressing a wide range of health and social care topics. There are about 40 PSPs currently active.

The JLA is coordinated by a small team, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and hosted by the School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation, University of Southampton. The University of Southampton contracts with, trains and supports the JLA Advisers to provide flexible capacity for working with PSPs. Although working independently, JLA Advisers work closely with the central JLA Coordinating team and the other Advisers for learning and support and to contribute to the ongoing development of the JLA method.

Overall, there are seven JLA Advisers based in the UK and one in Canada and we are looking to add to the team.

Training in the JLA method is provided, which will include the shadowing of existing Advisers as well as support and mentoring. Once fully trained, JLA Advisers contract directly with individual PSPs. Advisers typically work with each PSP for about 10 days during the priority setting process and the number of PSPs an Adviser works with at any one time can be around six or more. We estimate that this is approximately eight days of work each month, but it can vary and there is no commitment on the part of the JLA or the University of Southampton for the amount of work provided.

The JLA does not fund PSPs. All PSPs are self-funded and the JLA responds to requests for PSP support. There is therefore no guarantee at any time that a JLA Adviser will be offered work and it should be noted that there is likely to be some time (approximately up to six months – one year) before a JLA Adviser is working with a full portfolio of PSPs.

Most PSPs take place in the UK, but some PSPs take place in other countries (e.g., Canada, Australia, Africa and Europe) so JLA Advisers will need to be prepared to support PSPs internationally. Some international travel may be required, in particular to chair and facilitate final priority setting workshops.

We believe that this agreement is best suited to applications from individuals who can demonstrate availability and flexibility for their work with PSPs and with the JLACoordinating team.

Interested in finding out more?

Applications for this are now closed.