Programme Lead Experimental Medicine, Research Infrastructure

Programme Lead for Experimental Medicine, Research Infrastructure NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)
• Twickenham, England, United Kingdom

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. The NIHR invests more than £606 million a year of infrastructure funding through a number of different five-year infrastructure funding schemes.

We are looking to recruit an experienced, inquisitive and motivating Programme Lead 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 Health Tech 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 and develop the experimental medicine research infrastructure portfolio, identifying gaps, opportunities and impact
• Review and evaluate funding schemes, providing strategic recommendations for future calls
• Represent schemes across the health and care research landscape, enhancing collaboration and visibility with DHSC, NIHR and partners
• Manage research commissioning
  , including competitions, guidance, panel organization and applicant feedback
• Deliver new priority funding calls
  , establishing assessment and monitoring processes
• Oversee contracts, reporting, and risk
  , including FOI and ministerial requests
• Lead and develop a team of six, promoting efficiency and collaboration
• Build stakeholder relationships and support cross infrastructure collaboration
• Provide flexible support across NIHR projects and working groups

• PhD (or equivalent) in biomedical or health sciences, or significant relevant sector experience
• Proven experience managing research funding in academic, clinical, industrial, funding body or charity settings
• Experience in line management, staff development and workload planning
• Strong project planning and prioritisation skills, able to manage multiple deadlines
• Understanding of strategic health and care research funding, particularly experimental medicine

• Understanding of research impact and how monitor and measure it

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Contract Type: Full Time,
12 months fixed term contract

Annual bonus, subject to company performance

Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme

Life Insurance Cover

Benenden Healthcare Membership

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,…