Senior Research Manager

Shape the Future of Global Health Research with the NIHR

Are you ready to lead and make a lasting impact in global health? The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is seeking a Senior Research Manager to join our dynamic Global Health team.

About us

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 also a major funder of applied health research in low- and middle-income countries. The NIHR Global Health Research (GHR) portfolio, funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA), was established in 2016 and builds on NIHR’s operating principles of impact, excellence, effectiveness, inclusion and collaboration. We fund high-quality global health research for the direct and primary benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and build research and development (R&D) capacity and capability in both the UK and in LMICs through mutual learning and knowledge exchange.

Working closely with the global health research community, we commission and invest in applied health research and training that responds to the diverse needs of LMIC communities, anticipates the evolving global burden of disease and addresses health system priorities.

Job Description

Reporting to the Assistant Director for Global Health Research (GHR), the post holder will be primarily responsible for delivery of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activities for the GHR “Research on Interventions for Global Health Transformation” (RIGHT) programme. The post involves refining and implementing a comprehensive process of research management that supports the programmes ambitions for high quality applied health research in LMICs leading to transformational change.

You will be a strategic thinker, capable of seeing the issues and solutions from a number of different stakeholder perspectives to see the bigger picture. You will be comfortable dealing with complexity and developing an approach to balance the needs of different stakeholders. You will be a strong team player and excellent communicator. You will have a solid understanding of research impact, an understanding of the routes to achieving it, and how to apply monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches to generate insight that can evidence impact and support continuous improvement of scheme funding and support processes.

This is a pivotal role that will provide linkage across the NIHR, representing GHR RIGHT funding scheme at internal and external forums. You will work closely with award holders, teams at NIHR and the DHSC.

Key Accountabilities:

• Leading work to implement and refine the approach to Monitoring Evaluation and Learning that underpins the RIGHT funding scheme
• Produce RIGHT scheme Annual Reviews: Manage the processes for collection, collation and analysis of award level data for the RIGHT funding scheme. Interrogating data to generate high quality insightful Annual award and portfolio level strategic reviews for publication
• Developing and delivering proportionate and effective monitoring approaches for the GHR RIGHT programme, implementing the transition of established and emerging processes into an online / digital research management system, and working across NIHR teams and wider stakeholders to ensure appropriate alignment with other NIHR programmes, initiatives, processes, concepts, and systems as appropriate
• Management of a portfolio of funded GHR projects: monitoring of progress against agreed milestones, financial performance, reviewing IP and dissemination plans and managing contractual changes to ensure appropriate strategies are in place leading to LMIC benefit and/or commercial realisation
• Represent the team in cross-NIHR GHR MEL focussed activities: support and drive organisational level learning and process improvement through the cross NIHR GHR working groups and NIHR Outcomes Framework indicator analysis and reporting
• Stakeholder engagement: Developing and maintaining excellent professional relationships with other colleagues within NIHR and at the DHSC, and with the wider GHR stakeholder community. Act as a role model and trusted source of expertise to colleagues at all levels, ensuring that learning outcomes for the RIGHT programme are collected and shared with stakeholders
• Flexible support to the team: flexible approach to work tasks with ability to ‘muck in’ and provide support on additional tasks across the team during busy times

Line Management:

• The post holder will be potentially responsible for the line management of one fixed-term Research Manager, and will matrix manage other team members, where appropriate

Qualifications, Experience and technical skills:

Required Criteria

• Post-graduate qualifications in biomedical or health sciences research (or significant equivalent sector experience)
• Experience of implementing Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation activities and generating high quality written outputs (ideally in the context of management of research funding programmes)
• Experience of producing high quality evidence based written reports (and other outputs) to customer specifications

Desired Criteria

• Experience of managing and monitoring ODA funded research activities or collaborations in international and fragile contexts
• Specific experience of RESEARCH programme management in biomedical, healthcare, social sciences, and /or international development disciplines
• Experience of working with UK Government and/or international policy makers and senior decision makers
• Experienced line manager; able to develop and guide junior staff within matrix management environments

Competencies and Behaviours:

• Interpersonal skills: Committed team player with an ability to build effective working relationships. Act as role model for colleagues at all levels
• Excellent communicator: Able to guide, inform and develop MEL capabilities for the NIHR CC teams and external stakeholders as appropriate, and with the ability to employ diverse approaches to effectively communicate complex information to individuals and groups from a range of different backgrounds and different seniority levels
• Stakeholder engagement: Developing and maintaining excellent professional relationships across a range of external stakeholders, as well as colleagues within NIHR and at the DHSC
• Strategic thinker: able to interpret complex information and make clear practical decisions a clear view of the “big picture”
• Creativity, Flexibility and Adaptability: Solutions orientated with evidence of developing and implementing adaptable, practical and effective quality-controlled processes, and implementable recommendations. Able to balance delivery of BAU and drive continuous improvement
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, able to prioritise and manage multiple tasks, working to challenging targets and deadlines
• Ability to maintain a high level of accuracy with great attention to detail
• Cultural awareness/sensitivity, and evidence of a commitment to diversity and equality of opportunity
• A continuous improvement mentality, with a desire to provide an effective and efficient research management service for all stakeholders.

Salary & Benefits

£47,300 to £49,900

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

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.

NB: This is a 12 month full time 'Fixed Term Contract' position.

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 the LGC Group.

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.