Please note, we have:

1 x permanent role

1 x fixed term contract role with an end date of 30 April 2025

Are you passionate about health and care research? The NIHR is looking for two Programme Managers with experience of research management or working in a research environment to join our teams managing programmes of NIHR funding.

A successful applicant will be flexible, proactive, responsible, have great communication skills and be able to work as part of a team to ensure delivery of the relevant portfolio of work.

We encourage individuals who are considering applying to contact the office and have a conversation with the hiring manager.

Please note, a hybrid-working arrangement is in place and the post holder will be welcome to work the larger percentage of their time from home. There are also other flexible working arrangements available on request.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the management of programmes of NIHR funding, and engagement with external stakeholders, including researchers and their host organisations, to promote and develop research careers.

You will need significant experience of working within an office environment, a high level of interpersonal and communications skills and an ability to develop good working relationships within and across teams.

You must have excellent organisational skills for example project management skills. You will be required to prioritise, schedule and manage the delivery of a complex, wide ranging, time-critical and unpredictable workload. You will also need advanced computer skills, in particular in Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Experience of Google applications would be an advantage.

About us

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR plays a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchers and complements the additional NIHR investment in world-class research facilities and a skilled research workforce.

This role is hosted by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and delivers the work of the NIHR, leading on policy, strategy and delivery in respect of academic training in England and working closely with other NIHR centres and the Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Programme Management

• Working with Senior Programme Managers the post holder will be required to manage change in response to external events and new policies this may require the reformulation and adjustment of plans and strategies to ensure that the programmes in the post holders portfolio remain fit for purpose
• Management of peer review panels and advisory boards including: identifying prospective panel members, invitations to join panels/boards, drafting panel/board terms of reference and guidance, management and organisation of panel meetings
• Provide secretariat for panels, boards and implementation groups as required
• Drafting and revision of application forms and guidance for new and existing schemes
• Provide written feedback to applicants to programmes/scheme applicants in the post holders portfolio
• Handle complex queries and complaints about the application process and funding decisions by telephone, email, and in person
• Work with the Senior Programme Managers to plan and implement the process for administering the schemes in the post holders area of responsibility
• Play a key role in planning the annual cycle and timing of schemes in the post holders area of responsibility
• Working with the other Programme Managers, Senior Programme Managers and Administration Manager to monitor workload and co-ordination of administrative functions across the portfolio
• Writing reports and working papers as required, and
• Research and publicise out puts and impacts of the programmes in the post holder's portfolio.

Awards management

• Prepare and check announcement letters, contracts, and payment schedules for new awards
• Deal with and track requests for changes, including variations to awards and contracts
• Maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail in compliance with Department of Health and Social Care contracting policy
• Liaise with external stakeholders to monitor progress of schemes, and work closely with Senior Programme Managers on monitoring and evaluation of schemes in the post holders area of responsibility.
• Monitoring of individual trainee progress through the reading of annual reports and subsequent liaison with trainees where necessary.

Communication and Engagement

• Publicise the NIHR Academy activities through attendance and presentations at external meetings, seminars and conferences
• Assist Senior Programme Managers in dealing with a range of people nationally at all levels of seniority both internal and external to the NIHR Academy in line with DHSC policies
• Organisation of workshops and stakeholder meetings as required
• Assist the Senior Programme Managers in generating and maintaining strong nationally- based networks and positive working relationships within HEIs, other areas of NIHR, relevant parts of the NHS and other health-related organisations, particularly at the level of senior research leaders/sponsors to benefit the NIHR Academy programmes.
• Contributing to briefings requested from Ministers offices and other government departments.
• Liaise with members of the NIHR Academy Executive Senior Management Team and Senior Programme Managers in order to meet responsibilities and undertake duties effectively.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of research and /or research management Experience of project management
• An understanding of public sector health research and its management
• Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and development
• Assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new problems.
• An interest in many areas of health research and a willingness to work across discipline boundaries

Desirable

• Postgraduate research and/or research management experience
• An understanding of health research capacity development

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Ability to work as part of a team, build and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally to the organisation
• Deliver work on time, to anticipate fresh demands, and to delegate effectively
• Effective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, members of the public and various stakeholders
• Advanced level oral and written communication skills.
• Confident and comfortable talking and presenting to others
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex scientific and policy information.
• Good working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets
• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Desirable

• Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
• Experience of drafting reports/papers

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in a health or life-science discipline or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Masters Degree in a health or life-science discipline or equivalent experience

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

NIHR Academy Executive

21 Queen Street

Leeds

LS1 2TW

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9298-MDI-0119