We’re Hiring! Science Officer

We’re Hiring! Science Officer

Action Duchenne was established in 2001 as the first national charity dedicated to supporting young
people, adults and their families living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. 87p in every £1 we raise
is invested in charitable activities; research, educational and support programmes, and life-changing
campaigns. We are looking to appoint a Science Officer, to make a real contribution to the lives of
those living with Duchenne.

Job Title: Science Officer (Maternity cover)
Reports to: National Director
Type: Fixed Term Contract – maternity cover
Working week: 21hrs, 3 – 4 days/ week, days to be agreed
Salary: £36 – £40k per annum, pro rata
Location: Flexible Home/Office split
Line Management: 1 – Science Communications Coordinator

Overview

Most children are diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy around the age of 4. Hearing the
words “your child has Duchenne muscular dystrophy” is extremely upsetting and emotionally
challenging for families to understand, process and cope with. It leads to a myriad of dark thoughts
and feelings and anticipatory grieving shortly follows.
We would like to provide all families living with Duchenne with free and widely available support
that is not otherwise available. We want every family receiving this life-changing diagnosis to be able
to immediately access whatever it is they need to help them at such a difficult time. This role is a
vital part of that plan.

Benefits

We offer the competitive salary shown, flexible working hours, home-working and an innovative and
supportive working environment.

Why should you apply for the role of Science Officer maternity cover?

Young people and adults living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) face many challenges in
their foreshortened lives. Our support is vital to thousands of young people, adults and families
living with Duchenne. We developed our progamme in response to their needs and since 2017 we
have been developing a sustainable, long-term funding model for this work.

This is a great opportunity for you to make a significant contribution, whilst covering the maternity
leave for our current Science Officer, within our small yet vital patient organisation.

We work to achieve our vision by

• Supporting the Duchenne community – to bring people together to share their experiences
  and learn from each other.
• Working with the NHS to improve care and provide their patients with the earliest possible
  access to approved medicines.
• Funding research into potential therapeutic strategies for everybody living with Duchenne.
• Helping to create an inclusive society where everybody is equal, and disability is accepted.

About the role

This is a great opportunity for you to make a significant contribution within our small yet vital
patient organisation. Supported by a Science Communications Coordinator, the Science Officer
(Maternity cover) will work directly with our Duchenne young people, adults, and their families on
our science related projects.
A part of the role will also be collaborating across our teams, such as our Communications team, to
translate complex research and evaluation findings into easily accessible language and briefings
aimed at internal and external stakeholders.
Key deliverables will also be:

• conducting literature reviews and/or desk-based research on topics related to the diagnosis and management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy for a variety of purposes, e.g. initial scoping for research tenders.
• conducting ad-hoc qualitative and participatory research projects with Duchenne young people and adults.
• supporting the creation and collation of research and evidence that has a transformative effect, building close working relationships with Duchenne clinics and clinicians across the UK to understand what support they already offer and what support is needed.
• sharing updates and findings of research projects internally and externally, through internal communications channels and external events.
• translating research outputs into accessible, user-friendly content for internal and external.
• assisting in writing bids for continued funding of the project and reporting to funders andother project stakeholders.

Candidate specification

The Science Officer (Maternity cover) will have a strong commitment to Action Duchenne’s aims and
objectives and a drive to deliver tangible outcomes.
You will be a self-starter with a hands-on, operations-focused approach. As Science Officer you will
work in a collaborative and flexible manner with our team of staff, volunteers, committees, and
trustees.

Essential criteria

• a demonstrable track record in supporting successful research projects from design to dissemination.
• Experience of conducting qualitative and or participatory research.
• Experience in effectively communicating research findings and producing user-friendly content for different audiences
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Has empathy and can communicate well with audiences of all levels
• Good organisational and time management skills, ability to work as part of a team and work on own initiative and to deadlines
• Strong MS Office skills
• Ability to build strong working relationships across teams
• Willingness and ability to travel across the UK (including remote sites)
• An understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities and the ability to promote this in the day-to-day work of the post.

Desired criteria

• PhD in relevant discipline
• Experience of working in the context of the Duchenne care considerations, psychosocial management.

How to apply

Send your CV and cover letter to HR@actionduchenne.org, explaining why you are the best
candidate for the Science Officer (Maternity cover) and what is your connection, if any, to Duchenne
muscular dystrophy.
Application deadline: 31st May 2023.
Successful applicants will be invited to attend a face to face first interview via video, googlemeets.
With 2nd interviews, via googlemeets, with the National Director and a Trustee. Final interview will
be face to face in London with the National Director.

If this sounds like an opportunity you would succeed in, please get in touch!

A note to candidates:
Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they
believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are
committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment and we are most interested in finding the
BEST candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional
background, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe
you meet every one of the qualifications described.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT
As part of its recruitment policy, Action Duchenne intends to ensure that no prospective or actual
employee is discriminated against on the basis of race, sex nationality, marital status, sexual
orientation, employment status, class, disability, age, religious belief, or political persuasion, or is
disadvantaged by any condition or requirement which is not demonstrably justifiable.