Senior Research Manager

The NIHR is funded through the Department of Health and Social Care and was established with the aim of creating a health and care research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals, working in world-class facilities, conducting leading-edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public.

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 £606 million a year of infrastructure funding through a number of different five-year infrastructure funding schemes.

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/what-we-do/infrastructure

Job Description

Reporting to a Programme Lead, and working closely with the Assistant Director of Research Infrastructure, and the Department for Health and Social Care, the postholder will lead the planning and delivery of all activities for their portfolio of research infrastructure schemes. This will include the development of the strategic direction for future funding competitions; leading on the delivery of funding competitions and the management of awards; and working with internal and external stakeholders to capture impact, promote collaborative working and other priority areas relevant to your schemes portfolio.

We are looking for someone with a broad perspective of academia, funding, project management and health related policy. You will liaise with internal and external stakeholders, and provide our community of researchers with support and advice. You will be confident interacting with your peers and the external scientific community; able to demonstrate critical thinking, and an ability to influence and build productive relationships. Meticulous project management skills, with the ability to deliver multiple priorities simultaneously, is essential.

Key Accountabilities:

Developing the strategic direction for existing funding schemes: developing, project managing and delivering reviews of current schemes (scope, process, monitoring, impact) to develop recommendations for the next funding calls.

Lead the process of commissioning research: Lead the delivery of new funding competitions for existing schemes.This includes meticulous project planning, the development of application guidance notes, the organisation of international panel meetings, minute taking and writing feedback to applicants.

Development of new funding calls: Respond to ad hoc requests from DHSC/NIHR to develop and deliver new priority funding calls, developing an appropriate assessment mechanism and suitable monitoring processes through collaboration with relevant colleagues.

Stakeholder engagement: Provide the research community with support and advice on local management of their infrastructure award. Develop an outward facing strategy and plan to support schemes in order to raise the visibility of the awards within academic, clinical, public and government fora. Work with the award holders (Infrastructure Directors) to develop and support the implementation of collaborative working between individual awards within a given scheme.

Contract monitoring and annual reporting: manage any contractual requests/changes required during the lifetime of an award; requests for information (e.g. Parliamentary Questions or FOI requests), and the annual review of progress reports to assess progress and highlight concerns.

Flexible support to team: provide a high level of support across the team at peak work times. The schemes covered by team members will be reviewed periodically to support individual learning needs.

Line Management:

The post will be responsible for the line management of one Research Manager.

Qualifications & Experience

Required Criteria:

• A PhD degree (or equivalent) in biomedical or health sciences research (or significant equivalent sector experience).
• Substantial relevant work experience, preferably including the delivery of research funding allocation processes, in one of the following environments: research funding body (either government or charitable), research management within the NHS or HEIs, industry or academia.
• The ability to demonstrate an interest in the strategic issues in health and care research funding and policy.

Desired Criteria:

• Line management and staff development experience.

Salary & Benefits

£47,300 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

NB: This is an office based, hybrid role, with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices in Twickenham 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 the LGC Group.

NB: Closing date for applications is 5pm on the 28th May with interviews to be held from the 2nd June.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, color, 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, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.