Applications invited for Scottish Healthcare Built Environment (SHBEN) Associate Directors

The Scottish Healthcare Built Environment Network (SHBEN) is a collaborative initiative between NHSScotland Assure and academic partners, established to improve healthcare environments across Scotland.

Following the establishment of SHBEN, and as part of its initial leadership appointments, SHBEN is now inviting applications from prospective candidates to take on the role of Associate Director for the following thematic areas (“Themes”):   

Infection Prevention & Control in Healthcare Facilities 

This theme includes key areas such as decontamination, outbreak management, screening, antimicrobial resistance, the microbiome, and lessons from COVID-19. It also connects strongly with technical domains such as ventilation and water quality management, which are critical to reducing healthcare-associated infections.   

Design of Healthcare Facilities 

This theme covers areas such as hospital configuration and size (including single room provision), human factors and ergonomics, governance and decision-making in healthcare construction, climate change resilience and unintended consequences, and patient-centred design and engagement in the built environment. 

More about SHBEN

SHBEN is a collaborative initiative between NHSScotland Assure and academic partners, established to improve healthcare environments across Scotland. NHS Scotland Assure was launched in 2021 as part of National Services Scotland (NSS) to deliver a coordinated approach to the improvement of risk management and quality in the healthcare environment across NHS Scotland. 

SHBEN brings together researchers, clinicians, estates professionals, designers, and policymakers to support high-quality research, knowledge exchange, and innovation in the healthcare-built environment. The network facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and aims to influence policy, guidance, practice, and infrastructure through evidence-informed approaches. 

About the roles

Associate Directors play a central role in the delivery and direction of SHBEN. Each Associate Director leads on one of the themes above and acts as a representative for the professionals and researchers working within that field. They support the Leadership Team and Governance Board in shaping priorities and serve as key connectors between them and the broader membership.

Their primary responsibility is to drive the delivery of network activity within their theme, ensuring that SHBEN’s strategy is translated into meaningful engagement, outputs, and impact. A key aspect of the role is to ensure that network activity within the theme contributes to external research opportunities, policy development, and practical impact for healthcare environments in Scotland. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Strategic leadership and communication – Supporting the Governance Board in developing network priorities and planning; representing theme members in strategic discussions; contributing to the future direction of SHBEN. 
• Activity delivery – Leading and coordinating workshops, conferences, sandpits, and collaborative funding proposals; ensuring alignment with network goals. 
• Member engagement – Actively engaging with academics, practitioners, policy stakeholders, and industry partners; facilitating collaboration; encouraging member-led initiatives. 
• Liaison and representation – Representing SHBEN at relevant meetings and events; building links with other networks and funding bodies; supporting cross-sector knowledge exchange. 

Associate Directors will be supported by the SHBEN Leadership Team and project staff, including administrative support for events and coordination. 

Term and commitment

The roles will require an estimated time commitment of approximately 4 to 4.5 days per month during SHBEN’s initial setup and delivery phase, though this may vary depending on network activity, events, and funding cycles. This will include preparation, coordination of theme activities, engagement with members, and participation in meetings and events.

The initial tenure will run for one year from appointment, with the aim to run for a total of five years. Further tenures will to be reviewed in the context of the network’s development, requirements and funding allocation. Flexibility is appreciated, and the time commitment will be reviewed as the network matures. 

A £5,000 support grant per annum will be awarded to the successful applicant’s host institution. This is intended to provide flexibility and support for the Associate Director in fulfilling the role. In agreement with the host institution, it may be used, for example, to buy in cover or to enable the Associate Director to dedicate time more productively to SHBEN activities. 

Who we are looking for

Applicants must be well-embedded and respected in a field relevant to healthcare environments (e.g. infection prevention and control (IPC), design, engineering, estates, building services, or policy). They should have demonstrable experience in interdisciplinary projects, strong communication skills, and the ability to engage a diverse membership base. Experience in organising or delivering professional or academic events is highly desirable. 

We recognise that each theme is broad. Applicants are not expected to be experts in every sub-area, but should be well placed to provide leadership, advocate for the theme, and engage members across the spectrum of relevant expertise. The role is about convening and connecting, as much as providing specialist knowledge. 

In addition to the institutional support grant, the role offers significant professional benefits. Associate Directors will have the opportunity to influence national strategy on healthcare environments, develop their leadership profile, expand their networks across academia, healthcare, estates, design, industry, and policy, and participate in collaborative funding proposals and high-profile events. The position provides a unique platform to shape practice and policy while enhancing the visibility and impact of the successful applicant’s own institution and professional field. 
 

How to apply

We welcome applications from individuals across academia, healthcare, estates, design, and related sectors who share SHBEN’s vision of safer, more effective, and more human-centred healthcare environments.  

For informal enquiries about the roles, please contact Interim SHBEN Director, Dr Graham Wright (G.Wright2@napier.ac.uk). 

To apply for the position, please submit: 

• A full academic CV 
• A cover letter outlining your suitability for the role and indicating your preferred theme
• A letter of support from your host institution 

Applications should be sent to SHBEN Project Manager Linda Johnston (SHBEN@napier.ac.uk) by 31 January 2026. 

We anticipate that interviews will take place during February 2026.