Job summary
A unique opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Project Manager to join the NIHR HealthTech Research Centres (HRC) Network, playing a pivotal role in both strategic operations and industry engagement across the UK's leading health technology research initiative. This role combines high-level operational management with specific focus on developing and maintaining crucial industry partnerships.
The Senior Project Manager serves as deputy to the Chief Operating Officer, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across all Network functions while ensuring continuity of day-to-day activities. They will work with the industry workstream leads to deliver on the Network's industry engagement initiatives by cultivating relationships with key industry bodies and coordinating engagement programs, including events, mentoring sessions, and a placement scheme.
Success in this role requires maintaining knowledge of the HealthTech landscape while supporting professional development across the Network. The position demands excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to represent the Network at high-level industry meetings and events.
Main duties of the job
You will play a dual role in providing operational leadership while driving forward our industry engagement strategy. Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer, you'll deputise across Network operations while taking specific responsibility for developing and maintaining crucial industry partnerships that accelerate healthcare technology innovation.
The position will also provide direct line management to the Network Core Team (grades 4-7), handling staff development, appraisals, and recruitment in collaboration with Trust HR.
In their operational capacity, they maintain effective working relationships with all 14 HRCs, facilitating cross-network collaboration and supporting regulatory and early device development activities. The role encompasses monitoring performance metrics, managing quality assurance processes, and contributing to annual reporting and strategic planning.
About us
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
Working with our Industry workstream leads, you will coordinate complex stakeholder relationships across our 14 research centres, building strong connections with industry bodies such as ABHI and BIVDA while overseeing the development of industry guidance, mentoring programs and strategic events. Your role involves managing both high-level strategic initiatives and ensuring effective day-to-day operations, requiring excellent diplomatic skills and the ability to navigate the complexities of healthcare innovation.
As part of the network, you'll help shape the future of HealthTech in the UK by facilitating collaboration between industry, healthcare providers and regulatory bodies. The ideal candidate brings significant project management experience from healthcare or life sciences, with a proven track record in stakeholder management and operational leadership. Strong communication skills and strategic thinking are essential, as is the ability to work effectively in a complex, matrix environment. Knowledge of medical device regulations and NHS procurement processes would be advantageous.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for a period of 4 years due to the post being externally funded. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts taking into consideration the ongoing source of the external funding and the requirement for the post to be maintained.
Please also note any secondment must first be agreed with your current line manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for a period of 4 years due to the post being externally funded. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts taking into consideration the ongoing source of the external funding and the requirement for the post to be maintained.
Please also note any secondment must first be agreed with your current line manager.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to master's level
Desirable
- Experience of managing successful programmes in a research-related setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing successful programmes in a research-related setting
- Project Management experience in a healthcare setting, coordinating complex multidisciplinary projects
- Experience of NHS research environment
- Experience of working with health technologies and industry.
- Experience of effective working in research environments
- Proven ability to learn new information effectively
- Proficiency with computer systems including Excel.
- Demonstrated skills in multidisciplinary project management
Desirable
- Extensive project management experience with a history of delivering significant activities
- Demonstrated good team leadership
- In-depth knowledge of the research and development process
- People management Experience
- Experience of working alongside industry for patient and NHS benefit
Further Training
Desirable
- Project Management Training
Special Skills/Aptitudes
Essential
- Delivery focus with an ability to oversee and control multiple project deliverables.
- Team/meeting skills with an ability to set an appropriate climate and keep meetings focused and productive.
- Interpersonal skills with an ability to deploy a range of influencing styles
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Effective communication skills
- Good problem-solving skills and attention to detail o Ability to work as both as a team o member and independently as needed
- Excellent organisation and time management skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to contribute to dissemination of results of research programme by coordinating and preparing presentations and papers.
- Proactive problem solver
- Ability to work to strict deadlines despite unpredictable work pattern
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to master's level
Desirable
- Experience of managing successful programmes in a research-related setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing successful programmes in a research-related setting
- Project Management experience in a healthcare setting, coordinating complex multidisciplinary projects
- Experience of NHS research environment
- Experience of working with health technologies and industry.
- Experience of effective working in research environments
- Proven ability to learn new information effectively
- Proficiency with computer systems including Excel.
- Demonstrated skills in multidisciplinary project management
Desirable
- Extensive project management experience with a history of delivering significant activities
- Demonstrated good team leadership
- In-depth knowledge of the research and development process
- People management Experience
- Experience of working alongside industry for patient and NHS benefit
Further Training
Desirable
- Project Management Training
Special Skills/Aptitudes
Essential
- Delivery focus with an ability to oversee and control multiple project deliverables.
- Team/meeting skills with an ability to set an appropriate climate and keep meetings focused and productive.
- Interpersonal skills with an ability to deploy a range of influencing styles
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Effective communication skills
- Good problem-solving skills and attention to detail o Ability to work as both as a team o member and independently as needed
- Excellent organisation and time management skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to contribute to dissemination of results of research programme by coordinating and preparing presentations and papers.
- Proactive problem solver
- Ability to work to strict deadlines despite unpredictable work pattern
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
