Senior Programme Manager – UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway

Be part of the next chapter in vaccine innovation.

What if your next role helped transform how vaccines are developed and delivered across the UK and beyond?

At the
NIHR
, we're driving a bold mission to make the UK the world's best place to conduct vaccine research. And we're looking for a
Senior Programme Manager
with vision, precision and purpose to help make that happen.

About the Programme

The
UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway (UK VIP)
is reimagining the way clinical trials are designed, set up, and delivered, from infectious disease vaccines to the next generation of cancer therapeutics.

Building on the lessons from the pandemic, UK VIP brings together the NHS, academia and industry to accelerate vaccine research, improve patient access, and strengthen national readiness for future health challenges.

This is not just another programme, it's a movement shaping the future of public health.

Your Impact

As our
Senior Programme Manager
, you'll sit at the heart of this transformation. You'll coordinate across multiple partners, from leading pharmaceutical companies to cutting edge research centres, to make vaccine trials faster, smarter, and more effective.

Your work will:

• Redefine how vaccine studies are delivered across the UK
• Enable collaboration between the NHS, NIHR, and industry to streamline research and accelerate breakthroughs
• Empower research teams to bring innovative vaccines to patients faster
• Strengthen the UK's global leadership in vaccine science and clinical excellence

Every project you lead will help bring life changing vaccines closer to the people who need them most.

What You'll Do

• Lead and coordinate key UK VIP workstreams, ensuring seamless delivery across national partners
• Shape and optimise processes that speed up trial setup, improve recruitment, and enhance efficiency
• Oversee governance, reporting, and performance across UK Vaccine Delivery Groups
• Build powerful collaborations through the Vaccines Research Fora and Vaccine Innovation Fund
• Turn insights into action, continuously improving how the UK delivers research

Required Criteria

• Education:
  PhD or Master's in biomedical science, life sciences, or related field
• Experience:
  5+ years in clinical research programme/project management, including multi site trial setup and delivery within the UK NHS or academic research environment
• Knowledge:
  In depth understanding of UK health and care research landscape (NIHR networks, governance, regulatory processes)
• Leadership:
  Proven ability to lead complex, multi partner programmes with measurable outcomes in system/process improvement
• Stakeholder Management:
  Strong engagement skills with pharmaceutical companies, NHS Trusts, and academic partners at senior levels
• Governance & Oversight:
  Ability to design, implement, and monitor programme governance (reporting, risk management, performance dashboards)
• Project Management:
  Advanced skills with recognised qualifications (PRINCE2, Agile, Lean) able to coordinate multiple interdependent workstreams
• Strategic & Analytical:
  Capable of interpreting complex information, identifying interdependencies and driving operational improvements in research delivery

Desired Criteria

• Experience managing multi partner, cross sector clinical research collaborations
• Ability to redesign research processes or implement system wide improvements (trial setup, recruitment, delivery optimisation)
• Strategic portfolio planning experience (aligning studies with NHS capacity and population needs)
• Line management and team development skills to drive performance and accountability
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement and public involvement initiatives (advisory fora, community strategies, consent-to-contact registries)
• Strong IT proficiency for digital tools, dashboards, project management software and programme planning support

Why Join NIHR

At NIHR, your work doesn't just support research, it shapes the nation's health future. You'll join a passionate team working at the intersection of science, innovation, and policy with the opportunity to make a lasting national impact.

If you want to be part of something bigger, to help make the UK a global powerhouse in vaccine development, this is your opportunity.

Compensation, Benefits & Working Arrangements:

• Salary
  :
  £48,600 to £51,300 (higher for exceptional candidates)
• Location: Victoria, London / hybrid working model
• Contract Type: Fixed-Term (15 months: January 2026 – March 2027)
• Working Hours: 37.5 per week, 7.5 hours per day
• Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidays

Employee Benefits Include:

• Annual bonus
• Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme
• Life Insurance Cover
• Benenden Healthcare Membership
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Season Ticket Loan

NB:
This is a hybrid role based at our office in Victoria, London, with a minimum requirement of one in office day per week. This requirement may increase based on team needs or operational demands.

How to Apply

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 & Desired Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with the NIHR.

NB: Closing date for applications is 5pm on 27th October with the interviews to be held from the W/C the 3rd November.

Inclusion and Diversity

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. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.