Programme Manager

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We work in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR funds, enables, and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.

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). Reporting to a Senior Programme Manager, the role will cover the full end-to-end process of research management, from launching new calls for applications through to the active monitoring of funded projects, and will require an ability to work collaboratively with other team members. The post provides the opportunity for exciting external liaison, with interfaces to UK government, academia, industry and the clinical community.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting all aspects of research funding, including researching potential call themes, advising potential applicants, revising application forms and guidance documents, reviewing and short-listing of applications for funding, managing and attending the funding committee, etc.
• Undertaking due diligence of proposals based on critical assessment of healthcare-related projects, including reviewing the scientific, technical and clinical rationale of projects.
• Evaluating proposed intellectual property (IP) protection and freedom to operate positions and assessment of the proposed dissemination, adoption and/or commercialisation strategy.
• Negotiating funding agreements for projects recommended for funding, including the negotiation of milestones, financial arrangements and reporting requirements to enable successful project progression.
• Managing a portfolio of funded projects, including monitoring of scientific, clinical performance, reviewing IP and dissemination plans and managing contractual changes to ensure appropriate strategies are in place to achieve impact.
• Liaising regularly with internal and external stakeholders, including attending, organising and leading meetings, representing the funder’s perspective at project meetings to facilitate successful project development, and promoting and representing funding programmes at external meetings.
• Contributing to strategic programme initiatives.
• Drafting work instructions and template documents and issuing guidelines.
• Assisting with the quality control of minutes, outcome letters and other external documentation.
• Assisting in the preparation of regular and ad hoc programme reports, papers and minutes.
• Identifying enhancements to working practices and defining, implementing and supporting the processes to deliver operational excellence.
• Supporting responses to Parliamentary Questions or briefing requests from DHSC, often at very short notice.
• Developing and maintaining excellent professional relationships with other GMG teams, applicants, award holders, colleagues within NIHR and at the DHSC, and act as a role model to colleagues at all levels.
• Providing support and ownership of key tasks relating to delivery of BTRUs and MHRG scheme establishment, commissioning and monitoring.

Qualifications 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.

Why work for us

Join our team and you’ll be working with an exceptional organisation who manage high quality health and care research for the benefit of patients and the public. NIHR is one of the UK’s largest funders of health and care research.

Salary & Benefits

• £39,200 to £41,400 per year
• Bonus - subject to company performance
• 25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Life Insurance
• Benenden Healthcare
• Season Ticket Loan
• Laptop, IT equipment and remote IT support

This is an office based, hybrid role, with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices one day a week a minimum of four days a month, which might increase, subject to team requirements.

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 in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with NIHR.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

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.

Seniority level Mid-Senior level

Employment type Full-time

Job function Project Management and Information Technology

Industries Research