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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead monitoring and evaluation for health research funding, shaping performance insights.
- Company: Join NIHR, a leader in health research funding, investing over ÂŁ606 million annually.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, 25 days annual leave, and a competitive salary with bonuses.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in health research while collaborating with diverse stakeholders in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: PhD in biomedical or health sciences required; experience in monitoring and evaluation preferred.
- Other info: This is a permanent, full-time role based in Twickenham with opportunities for professional development.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 51000 ÂŁ per year.
The NIHR are looking to recruit a dynamic and experienced Senior Research Manager to manage the monitoring, evaluation and learning activities of a high profile National Institute for Health and Care Research portfolio of translational, clinical and applied health research infrastructure funding schemes.
About Us
The NIHR Research Infrastructure provides a platform to enable research by creating an environment where early stage and applied research can thrive. Our Research Infrastructure consists of research expertise, specialist facilities, a research delivery workforce and support services. The NIHR invests more than ÂŁ606 million a year of infrastructure funding through a number of different five-year infrastructure funding schemes.
About the Role
Reporting to the Assistant Director, you’ll play a key role in managing infrastructure reporting and evaluation across NIHR. Working closely with Programme Leads, Senior Research Managers, and Data Analytics colleagues, you’ll help shape how we monitor performance, measure impact, and learn from what we do.
- At the award level, you’ll refine and maintain reporting processes; at the scheme level, you’ll lead the implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks, including commissioning impact evaluations.
- You’ll also contribute to wider work on strategic data use, supporting links to national policy initiatives like Busting Bureaucracy and the evolving NIHR digital strategy.
- You’ll bring experience managing complex projects and interpreting diverse data types, from metrics to narrative and financial reports.
- With a solid understanding of research impact and the UK’s research and policy landscape, you’ll help generate insights that drive continuous improvement.
- A strong collaborator and strategic thinker, you’re confident navigating complex systems and aligning diverse stakeholder needs to the bigger picture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead on Infrastructure Reporting: Manage and improve infrastructure monitoring processes, including supporting users, reviewing reports, and driving continuous improvement of reporting systems for new and existing awards.
- Data and Insight Development: Interrogate quantitative and qualitative data to generate insights, support strategic reviews, and contribute to impact case studies, dashboards, and organisational learning, highlighting NIHR infrastructure’s value to the health and social care system.
- Support Scheme Reviews: Collaborate with Senior Research Managers and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team to plan and deliver scheme evaluations and mid-term reviews.
- Engage Stakeholders: Work closely with stakeholders to understand their data needs, reduce reporting burdens, and ensure outputs are meaningful for both accountability and learning.
- Team Collaboration: Offer flexible support across the team during peak times, sharing insights and contributing to a positive, solutions-focused working culture.
- People Management: Line manage one Research Manager and provide matrix management to others, fostering professional development and high performance.
About You
Required Criteria:
- A PhD degree in biomedical or health sciences research (or significant equivalent sector experience).
- Experience of implementation or management of monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches including impact assessment and reporting, ideally within health and care research.
- Data collection, collation and analysis skills using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
- Current knowledge of the UK’s health and care research and policy landscape.
- Strategic thinker able to interpret complex information while having a clear view of the “big picture”.
- Solutions orientated with evidence of delivering projects, requiring evidence synthesis, report writing and developing implementable recommendations.
Desired Criteria:
- Specialist training/knowledge in monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches and methods.
- Experience of authoring high quality impact reports and case study reports for a variety of technical and general audiences.
- Experience of developing electronic dashboards using visualisation tools such as Qlik Sense, Looker Studio or equivalents.
- Line management and staff development experience.
Key Competencies
- Committed team player with an ability to build effective working relationships.
Job Summary:
- Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent.
- Working Hours: 7.5 hours per day.
- Location: Twickenham / Hybrid working model.
- Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidays.
- Employee Salary & Benefits Include: ÂŁ48,600 - ÂŁ51,300 per annum, annual bonus, subject to company performance, enhanced contributory pension scheme, life insurance cover, Benenden healthcare membership, training and development opportunities, season ticket loan.
This is a permanent, full time position. We offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, flexible working arrangements. This is an office-based, hybrid role with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices in Twickenham, London a minimum of 4 days a month, usually worked as 1 day per week, and may increase, subject to team requirements.
Application Process
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.
Closing date for applications is 5pm 16th July, interviews to be scheduled from the 28th July to the 8th August.
Senior Research Manager - Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation employer: NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)
Contact Detail:
NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Research Manager - Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the NIHR's current projects and initiatives. Understanding their ongoing work will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your genuine interest in their mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the health and care research sector. Attend relevant conferences or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into the latest trends and challenges in monitoring and evaluation.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed complex projects and interpreted diverse data types. Highlighting your experience in these areas will showcase your suitability for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your understanding of the UK’s health and care policy landscape by staying updated on recent developments. This knowledge will be crucial in showing how you can contribute to the NIHR's strategic goals.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Research Manager - Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the key responsibilities and required criteria. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the specific needs of the Senior Research Manager position.
Craft a Strong Statement of Suitability: Your 'Statement of Suitability' should clearly demonstrate how your skills and experiences meet the required criteria. Use specific examples from your past work to illustrate your expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasise your experience in managing complex projects and interpreting diverse data types. Mention any previous roles where you successfully implemented monitoring and evaluation frameworks, particularly in health and care research.
Show Enthusiasm for NIHR: In your application, express your genuine interest in working with NIHR. Discuss why you are passionate about health and care research and how you can contribute to their mission of improving health outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Make sure you thoroughly read the job description and understand the key responsibilities. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with managing infrastructure reporting and evaluation, as well as your familiarity with monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since the role involves data collection and analysis, be ready to provide examples of how you've used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in past projects. Highlight any specific tools or software you've used for data visualisation, like Qlik Sense or Looker Studio.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Engagement
Prepare to discuss your experience working with diverse stakeholders. Share examples of how you've understood their data needs and reduced reporting burdens, ensuring that outputs were meaningful for accountability and learning.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration and Leadership
As this position involves line management and team collaboration, be ready to talk about your leadership style and how you've fostered professional development within your teams. Provide examples of how you've contributed to a positive, solutions-focused working culture.
