Research Manager

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.

Further information on the NIHR can be found at: www.nihr.ac.uk.

The NIHR RfPB programme provides funding for high quality health and social care research in the NHS in England, and allocates funding on a regional basis, for project grants of up to £500,000 and 36 months in duration. The team currently manages a portfolio of over 1,400 projects and delivers at least three funding competition cycles per year.

Reporting to a Senior Research Manager, this role will involve managing a portfolio of funded projects, supporting team members and the improvement of operational processes and working practices, and supporting the funding processes. 

The Research Manager will also be involved in the capture of key outputs and their impact on delivering patient benefit.

Key accountabilities

• Undertaking due diligence of proposals based on critical assessment of healthcare-related projects, including reviewing the scientific, technical and clinical rationale, and, supported by senior members of the team, analysis of value for money, evaluation of proposed IP protection and freedom to operate positions and assessment of the proposed dissemination, adoption and/or commercialisation strategy
• Negotiating funding agreements for projects recommended for funding, including the negotiation of milestones, financial arrangements and reporting requirements to enable successful project progression
• Managing a portfolio of funded projects, including monitoring of scientific, clinical and financial performance, reviewing IP and dissemination plans and managing contractual changes to ensure appropriate strategies are in place leading to patient benefit and/or commercial realisation
• Supporting all aspects of research funding, including researching potential call themes, advising potential applicants, revising application forms and guidance documents, reviewing and short-listing of applications for funding, supporting funding committees, coordinating and attending funding committee meetings, preparing and providing feedback to successful and unsuccessful applicants
• Liaising regularly with internal and external stakeholders, including attending, organising and leading meetings, representing the funder’s perspective at project meetings to facilitate successful project development, and promoting and representing funding programmes at external meetings
• Contributing to strategic programme initiatives

Experience Required

• A degree in biomedical, health or social sciences
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Experience of working in a research environment
• Excellent writing skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, able to prioritise and manage multiple tasks, working to challenging targets and deadlines
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to critically analyse complex scientific, technical and/or clinical subjects across all healthcare sectors
• Experience of managing diverse internal and external relationships
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision
• Committed team player with an ability to build effective working relationships
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills
• Good financial awareness
• Good IT skills

Desirable

• Experience of working with government departments and the NHS
• A higher degree in biomedical, health or social sciences
• Experience in research management
• Knowledge of the UK’s health and care research landscape

To Apply
Please apply directly through Smart Recruiter with your CV along with a cover letter indicating your suitability for the role and your motivation to apply.

The submission of a cover letter is essential for your application to be considered.

If you are interested to discuss this role in more details, please contact Jennie Hejdenberg, Assistant Director, RfPB, [email protected].

Why work for us?
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 funder of health and care research.

Salary & Benefits

• £39,200 per year (prorate)
• 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: We offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, flexible working arrangements. This is an office based, home working (hybrid) role with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of 4 days a month, which might increase, subject to team requirements.

This is a 12 month fixed term contract for 0.6 FTE. (22.5 hours per week)