Programme Manager

Company Description

LGC Ltd (www.lgcgroup.com) is a global life sciences company serving government, academia, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food, environment, security, and sports sectors. Its Grant Management Group (GMG) works closely with the NIHR and other UK government bodies to support medical and health research, managing funding calls, contracts and intellectual property to deliver projects efficiently and in line with strategic priorities, while collaborating across the NHS, academia, government and industry to advance health innovation.

The NIHR, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, is the UK’s largest funder of health and social care research, delivering world‑leading studies that improve health, wellbeing and economic growth. GMG provides critical operational and management support to its funding programmes.

Job Description

We are looking for a Programme Manager to join the Research Programmes team responsible for the management of the NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR), Programme Development Grants (PDG), Mental Health Research Groups (MHRG) funding schemes, and the Blood and Transplant Research Units (BTRUs). The role reports to a Senior Programme Manager and covers the full end‑to‑end process of research management, from launching new calls for applications through to active monitoring of funded projects, requiring collaboration with team members and external liaison with UK government, academia, industry and the clinical community.

Key Responsibilities

• Support all aspects of research funding, including researching potential call themes, advising applicants, revising application forms and guidance documents, reviewing and short‑listing applications, managing and attending the funding committee.
• Undertake due diligence of proposals based on critical assessment of healthcare‑related projects, reviewing scientific, technical and clinical rationale, evaluating intellectual property protection and freedom to operate, and assessing dissemination, adoption and commercialisation strategy.
• Negotiate funding agreements, including milestones, financial arrangements and reporting requirements to enable successful project progression.
• Manage a portfolio of funded projects, monitoring scientific and clinical performance, reviewing IP and dissemination plans, and managing contractual changes to ensure appropriate strategies for impact.
• Liaise regularly with internal and external stakeholders, attending, organising and leading meetings, representing the funder\’s perspective at project meetings, and promoting and representing funding programmes at external meetings.
• Contribute to strategic programme initiatives.
• Draft work instructions and template documents, issuing guidelines, and assist with quality control of minutes, outcome letters and other documentation.
• Assist in the preparation of regular and ad‑hoc programme reports, papers and minutes.
• Identify enhancements to working practices and implement processes to deliver operational excellence.
• Support responses to Parliamentary Questions or briefing requests from DHSC, often at very short notice.
• Develop and maintain excellent professional relationships with other GMG teams, applicants, award holders and colleagues within NIHR and the DHSC, acting as a role model to colleagues at all levels.
• Provide support and ownership of key tasks relating to delivery of BTRUs and MHRG scheme establishment, commissioning and monitoring.

Core Competencies and Experience Required

• A degree in biomedical, health or social sciences.
• Experience of working in a research environment.
• Excellent and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, able to prioritise and manage multiple tasks, working to challenging targets and deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, from liaising with internal and external stakeholders and communities.
• Committed team player with an ability to build effective working relationships.
• Well‑developed analytical and complex problem‑solving skills, with a solution‑based approach.
• Good financial awareness.
• Strong IT skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with government departments and the NHS.
• A higher degree in biomedical, health or social sciences.
• Experience in research management.
• Knowledge of the UK’s health and care research landscape.

Compensation, Benefits & Working Arrangements

Salary: £40,300 per year

Location: Twickenham, London – Hybrid working model (expectation to attend the office for 1 day per week, may increase as required).

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract, 12 months

Working Hours: 37.5 per week, 7.5 hours per day

Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidays

Employee Benefits

• Annual bonus, subject to company performance
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Life insurance cover
• Benenden Healthcare membership
• Training and development opportunitiesSeason ticket loan

Application

If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a ‘Statement of Suitability’ that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the ‘Required Criteria’ outlined above, and share your enthusiasm for working with the NIHR.

Deadline for applications is 5 pm on 24th November, with interviews to commence from the 1st December.

Inclusion and Diversity

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short‑listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.