Verified Skilled Worker sponsor

Senior Research Dietitian or Developmental Band 6 Research Dietitian

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Leicester, LE5 4PW £49,387 – £56,515 a year Permanent Posted 28 August 2026 Apply by 10 September 2026

Home Office register entry: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester

Visa sponsorship

This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

Closest occupation match: SOC 2161, Research and development managers. Home Office going rate for this occupation: £54,400 a year.

NHS roles fall under the Health and Care Worker route. Public reference figures for that route: the general salary minimum is £25,000 a year, and salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement. Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

The LDC is the largest diabetes research group in the UK with a local, national and global reputation for excellence in clinical research. It has a multimillion pound annual budget, over 160 staff employed through the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) and the University of Leicester (UofL) and a portfolio of over 40 active commercial and academic trials. The LDC is co-Directed by 2 NIHR Senior Investigators who have a proactive and innovative approach to the on-going growth and development of both the Centre and its staff with a clear vision and strategy for the future.

The LDC hosts the Lifestyle Theme within the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a collaboration between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and the University of Leicester, the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC)-East Midlands, and the Centre for Ethnic Health Research. It is located at Leicester General Hospital and encompasses a floor space of ~ 5000m2 which includes a state-of-the-art exercise and metabolic assessment lab, metabolic kitchen, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner for the gold standard assessment of body composition, clinical assessment rooms, patient education facilities, large and small meeting rooms, and a 4/5 space day ward.

Please see the accompanying job summary form for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Main duties of the job

LDC are renowned for research harnessing the power of lifestyle behaviours within the prevention and management of obesity and diabetes, including ongoing work investigating how lifestyle therapies can be used in synergy with pharmaceutical therapies to optimise whole body health. Funders include the NIHR, various research councils (including MRC), charities and industry, and its senior investigators hold and/or lead the largest research funding awards within UHL and the University of Leicester.

The Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) are looking for a talented, motivated Senior Clinical Research Dietitian (Band 7) to join the team and contribute to a diverse portfolio of work exploring the impact of lifestyle behaviours, including diet and nutrition, on whole-body health in people living with obesity, diabetes, and other related long term conditions. A developmental role would also be considered, starting at Band 6 Clinical Research Dietitian initially with a tailored development plan linked to progression to the advertised Band 7 role.

The post is permanent, ideally full-time although part-time/job share will be considered.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

high-quality care for all,
being a great place to work,
partnerships for impact, and
research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

we are compassionate,
we are proud,
we are inclusive, and
we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk

Date posted

28 August 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-8234516-COR

Job locations

Leicester General Hospital

Gwendolen Road

Leicester

LE5 4PW

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

For appointment into either a Band 7 or development Band 6 role, the post holder will be a self-motivated, accessible, and responsive dietitian with UK HCPC registration and an active professional portfolio.

At Band 7, the post holder will have demonstrable experience of clinical practice and research delivery in populations with obesity, diabetes and associated long-term conditions. In support of senior researchers and management, and working closely with a friendly and experienced team of nurses, clinicians, clinical academics and administrative supporting teams, the post holder will take a lead role in the oversight and management of dietetic and nutrition research delivery across both academic and commercial research portfolios led by and/or conducted within the LDC. This will include studies involving the measurement of habitual diet and eating behaviour, and those containing various dietetic or nutritional interventions. In doing so, the post holder will work closely within the clinical research infrastructure located within the LDC, including the BRC Lifestyle Theme and CRDC. The post holder will oversee the provision of specialist dietetic and nutrition support and measurement to patients and/or their families and carers whilst taking part in research, contributing both directly and through the management, guidance and supervision of other research dietitians or nutritionists. They will also oversee the related research spaces, processes and procedures to ensure the safe, effective and efficient delivery of this activity, as well as contributing to the design/development of new study protocols and funding applications.

For appointment into a developmental Band 6 role, the post holder would be expected to have demonstrable experience of clinical practice or research delivery in populations with obesity, diabetes and associated long-terms conditions, and working knowledge of the other. They would also be expected to have at least some leadership experience (supervision essential, line management desirable). They would support research delivery in a Band 6 capacity, whilst working closely to with senior researchers and operational leads to contribute to the responsibilities of the role as outlined above and undertaking a personalised development plan to reach the required competencies for progression into the Band 7 role.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

Undergraduate degree or postgraduate degree in Dietetics
Active professional portfolio
Recognised professional registration to practice in the UK (i.e. HCPC)

Desirable

Have or working towards a masters or higher degree

Experience

Essential

Professional experience working within the field of long-term conditions including obesity and/or diabetes
Clinical dietetic practice experience (primary, secondary and/or specialist care)
Experience of establishing positive working relationships with other disciplines
Experience of working in an academic/research environment

Desirable

Experience of working in specialist weight management services
Active member of national/international forums
Evidence of contribution to publication or other research outputs

Communication and Relationship Skills

Essential

Excellent communications skills
Leadership and management skills
Able to negotiate and lead others
Able to work constructively in a multi-disciplinary team
Excellent presentation skills
Good written and verbal English skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.