Lead, Project Management

The NIHR is funded through the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) 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. We are looking to recruit an experienced, inquisitive and motivating manager to provide leadership to a team managing a portfolio of high profile National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) experimental medicine research infrastructure funding schemes.

The Programme Lead will provide leadership for the end-to-end grants and research management of NIHR’s experimental medicine research infrastructure portfolio, which includes the flagship Biomedical Research Centres, the Clinical Research Facilities, the Commercial Research Delivery Centres, the HealthTech Research Centres and others. The postholder will lead work to drive the evolution of the experimental medicine portfolio and shape its future direction. In addition, they will play a key role in NIHR’s interaction with the experimental medicine community and will work closely with senior colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care .

The Programme Lead will report to the Assistant Director of Research Infrastructure, will have responsibility for the activities of a team of Senior Research Managers and Research Managers, and will work closely with the broader Infrastructure team.

Lead the delivery and strategic development of the experimental medicine research infrastructure portfolio:
Working across the health and care research landscape: Contribute to activities to raise the visibility of the awards within academic, clinical, public and government fora.
Commissioning of research: Provide management oversight of the delivery of new funding competitions, development of application guidance notes, the organisation of international panel meetings, the production of minutes and provision of feedback to applicants.
Respond to ad hoc requests from DHSC/NIHR to develop and deliver new priority funding calls, mobilising resources to develop an appropriate assessment mechanism and suitable monitoring processes.
Contract management and annual reporting: Monitor award progress through an annual reporting process and together with the Assistant Director, sign off on award holder feedback and monitor risk management.
Team Management and Support: Co-ordinate and delegate activities within your team and work together with the Assistant Director and Programme Lead for Applied Health Infrastructure to share learning and ensure consistency across the broader infrastructure team. Work with the Directors to develop and support the implementation of collaborative working between individual awards and schemes. Oversee the co-production of strategically relevant agenda for Infrastructure Centre Directors’ meetings and other fora to keep NIHR researchers abreast of the latest initiatives and policies.
Flexible support to team: provide a high level of support across the infrastructure team and NIHR, engaging on projects and working groups as required.
Line Management: This post will be responsible for a team of six, with direct line management of three team members.

A PhD degree (or equivalent) in biomedical or health sciences research (or significant equivalent sector experience)
Significant relevant experience of managing research funding in a clinical, academic, industrial, funding agency or charity setting
Experience of line management, staff development and planning and monitoring of workloads
Excellent project planning and management skills; The ability to demonstrate an understanding in the strategic issues in health and care research funding and policy, especially within experimental medicine
The ability to employ creative approaches to effectively communicate complex information to individuals and groups from a range of different backgrounds and different seniority levels
Understanding of research impact and how monitor and measure it


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.

Compensation, Benefits & Working Arrangements:
Twickenham, London / Hybrid working model
Contract Type: Full Time,12 months fixed term contract
Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidays

Annual bonus, subject to company performance
Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme
Life Insurance Cover
Training and Development Opportunities
Season Ticket Loan

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 a minimum of 4 days a month, usually worked as 1 day per week, and may increase, subject to team requirements.

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.