Research and Community Engagement Officer
Salary: £34,329 pa
Location: Remote with regular travel across Hertfordshire
Type: 9-month contract with possible extension up to 3 months
About Healthwatch Hertfordshire:
Healthwatch Hertfordshire are an independent champion for people who use health and social care services. Being a values-driven organisation with a national reputation for our research and engagement work, we are here to find out what matters to local people and help ensure their views shape the support they need.
Our purpose is to help make care better for people by improving how services are run now and in the future. We have an ambitious vision to ensure that health and social care work for everyone.
The Role:
We are looking for someone who enjoys talking to people, listening to their experiences, and turning those conversations into meaningful change.
You will gather evidence from Hertfordshire residents about their experiences of health and social care services, analyse the findings, and produce clear insight driven reports that drive service improvement through insightful recommendations, and partnership with decision makers.
The broader health and social care landscape is actively changing around us, and we need someone who can work flexibly, respond to changing needs, and stay confident and calm during change – making sure our values and duties to the public are successfully delivered.
Responsibilities:
Building relationships with local residents, including those from underserved and marginalised communities
Running focus groups, surveys, and engagement events
Engaging with senior stakeholders (internally, NHS, county council, voluntary sector)
Managing research and engagement projects from start to finish
Writing clear, practical reports and insights
Presenting findings and recommendations
Essential Criteria:
You live in or near Hertfordshire and can travel regularly across the county
You are confident and experienced communicating with the public, diverse communities, and senior leaders
You have experience designing and delivering research questions, running focus groups, and crafting and analysing survey data
You can write clear, engaging reports for health and care decision makers and the broader public, drawing recommendations from the insights
Skills and Experience:
Ability to scope, design, organise, deliver, and analyse insight from focus groups and online surveys
Experience of engaging directly with members of the public to gather insights
Talking to people from a wide range of communities
Good organisation and project management skills
Strong written and verbal communication
Ability to work collaboratively and in a flexible and agile way
If you do not meet the entire criteria but believe you have preferential experience and transferable skills, we welcome you to apply.
To Apply:
Please submit your CV and a tailored covering letter to Louis Eastwell of Hire Purpose, before 23:59 on Sunday 31st May 2026 via louis@hire-purpose.uk.
Louis is exclusively managing this recruitment campaign and will be speaking with all longlisted candidates prior to a formal interview with Healthwatch Hertfordshire.
Application Guidance:
A tailored covering letter highlighting how you meet the essential requirements of the role, outlining your relevant experience, skills, attributes, and your motivation for applying and supporting Healthwatch Hertfordshire’s mission.
Hire Purpose champions inclusive recruitment.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We uphold equal opportunity principles and challenge bias at every stage, partnering only with organisations that share our commitment to integrity, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Hire Purpose is also proud to be an active member of The TEAM Network, the UK’s largest recruitment community of independently owned recruitment businesses.
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