This is a fixed term contract until 31 August 2025

The NIHR plays a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best health and social care researchers.

We are seeking a Senior Programme Managers with research management experience to manage programmes of funding and support designed to build research capacity in health and care research.

The Senior Programme Manager position will work as part of the Global Health team and be responsible for managing and delivering research schemes and capacity strengthening activities funded by the UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.

The NIHR Academy Executive (where this role sits) have adopted a hybrid working model whereby staff are able to split their working time between working in the office (Queen Street, Leeds) and at home.

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

Expected Shortlisting Date

02/09/2024

Planned Interview Date

09/09/2024

Main duties of the job

• Setting up of programmes of funding including review or development of guidance notes.
• Recruitment to and management of Selection Committees.
• Engaging and consulting with key professional groups and communities in areas of strategic need.
• Leading competitions from launch, through the review stages to the setting up of new contracts and ongoing management and monitoring of awards.
• Managing capacity building contracts and events, reviewing and providing feedback on reports on capacity building activity.
• Contributing to cross NIHR capacity strengthening initiatives, building on the investment that is being made in those individuals that NIHR funds.
• Working constructively and inclusively to find solutions to challenges as they arise.
• Working with NIHR communications staff, promoting programmes to key audiences including running of events, workshops, webinars and networks.
• Striving to improve our processes and awards, including ongoing review and evaluation of programmes.
• Being engaged in and aware of the wider work of NIHR and contributing to cross team and cross NIHR initiatives.
• Line and work management.

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

The post holder is required to work flexibly across the organisation the portfolio of programmes and schemes that they manage is likely to vary over time as will the balance of administrative and managerial duties.

Programme management

• 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
• As required for the schemes in the post holders area of responsibility: attend interviews of applicants to posts funded by the NIHR, visit awards holders and programme leads, hold pre-contracting meetings with fellowship award holders, their supervisors and finance office representatives and attend stakeholder meetings
• 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 Management Team 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 Senior Programme Managers and Business 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
• Responsibility for ensuring tracking and classification of applications
• Responsibility for production of updates, financial reports and papers about schemes/programmes in the post holders portfolio
• Maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail in compliance with Department of Health and Social Care contracting policy
• Negotiate mechanisms with other funding bodies for transferring funds across organisations, and
• Liaise with external stakeholders to monitor progress of schemes, and work closely with the Information and Evaluation Manager on monitoring and evaluation of schemes in the post holders area of responsibility.

Communication

• Publicise the NIHR Academy activities through attendance and presentations at external meetings, seminars and conferences
• Deal 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
• Generate and maintain strong nationally- based networks and positive working relationships within HEIs, PCTs 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 Senior Management Team and Senior Programme Managers in order to meet responsibilities and undertake duties effectively.

Person Specification

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

• 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
• Ability to work as part of a team, build and maintain good working relationships
• 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 stake holders
• Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
• Ability to plan and organise a broad range of new and ongoing activities
• 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

Desirable

• An understanding of health research capacity development
• Experience of drafting contracts
• Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
• Experience of drafting reports/papers

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of research and /or research management

Desirable

• Postgraduate research and/or research management experience

Qualifications

Essential

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

Desirable

• PhD

Other Criteria

Essential

• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Willingness to travel in UK, including occasional overnight absence

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-0126