Role description
The post of BGS Vice President Research and Academic Development will become vacant in November 2026. Expressions of interest are now being invited for this position. We are recruiting early to allow for a full handover with the current post-holder, Professor Miles Witham.
The VP is responsible for leading the BGS’s work to strengthen the profile of research in ageing and geriatric medicine, to promote the value and impact of research, and to support research capacity and development.
This is an exciting opportunity to support the BGS’s mission to improve healthcare for older people by strengthening the role of research and evidence in underpinning high-quality clinical care. The VP Research and Academic Development works alongside the other four Vice Presidents (for Policy, Education and Training, Workforce, and Clinical Quality), leading their work area in support of the BGS’s strategic goals.
Purpose
- To lead the implementation of a BGS Research Strategy;
- To strengthen the profile of research in ageing and geriatric medicine;
- To promote the value and impact of such research;
- To support research capacity and development, and to encourage the involvement of BGS members in the research process.
Responsibilities
- To develop and implement a three-year BGS Research Strategy;
- To chair the Research and Academic Development Committee (which meets four times a year), to develop annual workplans linked to the BGS Research Strategy and the overall BGS Strategic Plan, and to motivate committee members to deliver them;
- To attend and contribute to BGS Trustee Board meetings (four times a year) and advise on matters relating to research and academic affairs;
- To oversee policy relating to BGS research grants and awards with partners such as the Vivensa Foundation;
- To work with the Vice President for Education and Training to ensure BGS conferences include sessions of interest to academics and researchers, and to ensure that the evidence base is communicated as part of CPD programmes;
- To seek to influence research funders about the value and importance of funding academic research into ageing and older people’s care, and to support to the research community;
- To nurture good relationships with funders, research and academic stakeholders, and users of research to encourage generation, dissemination and uptake of evidence to enhance clinical practice;
- To encourage the development of careers in research or academe related to older people’s care, and help to foster research capacity;
- To represent the BGS, where appropriate, at meetings with other organisations such as the NIHR, RCP, AAEM, BSRA etc;
- To collaborate with the editorial team of the BGS’s international clinical journal, Age and Ageing, optimising synergies;
- To work with the VP Clinical Quality to ensure the BGS system of abstracts is efficient and effective, as part of building research capacity;
- To contribute to the process by which the BGS awards prizes and fellowships.
Qualifications, experience and desired characteristics
- Member of the BGS
- Research-active geriatrician or other senior clinical/academic healthcare professional
- Committee team leadership and chairing skills: the ability to achieve results by working with and through committee members
- A track record of success in research; able to win and keep the respect of BGS’s research-active community
- With the time and ‘bandwidth’ to make a success of this crucial, senior role.
This is a voluntary, unpaid role, though travel costs and other expenses will be covered.
The anticipated time commitment is up to half a day a week, but this may vary according to the demands of the role. The VP is supported by a Deputy VP and committee, and by the BGS’s Quality and Research Manager.
The term of office is three years.
Those interested in discussing the purpose and activities in more detail are invited to contact the current VP, Professor Miles Witham or the Chief Executive, Sarah Mistry via S.Mistry@bgs.org.uk
The closing date for the receipt of applications in the form of a short expression of interest and covering CV is Tuesday 30 June 2026 sent to Mark Stewart via M.Stewart@bgs.org.uk. Interviews will be held online in early July.