Job Description
The NIHR are looking to recruit a dynamic and experiencedSenior Research Managerto manage the monitoring, evaluation and learning activities of a high profile 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 £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
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 policy initiatives likeBusting Bureaucracyand 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:
- £48,600 - £51,300 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.
NB: 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.
NB:Closing date for applications is 5pm 16th July, interviews to be scheduled from the 28th July to the 8th August.
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