Job summary
11 month fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity
We are looking to appoint a Strategy Project Facilitator to support the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) and the Regional RDN (RRDN) in the delivery of strategic projects. These projects will optimise engagement and inclusion opportunities by engaging participants and communities as well as research Delivery Organisations. Projects will be varied and ultimately feed into the RDN's aim of creating capacity and capability in research delivery, value for money and effective and sustainable improvements for both research participants and the research delivery workforce.
The postholder will work with the Corporate Services Manager on performance improvement, project delivery, implementing plans and various other duties to as well as working with other relevant members of the RRDN, RDN and the national Coordinating Centre.
The NIHR RDN will build on the successes of the NIHR Clinical Research Network supporting funded research across the health and care system for the benefit of patients and the health and care system. The NIHR RDN is a new organisation with new structures and ways of working. The East of England RRDN is hosted by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and covers the East of England footprint.
Interview date: 12th November 2025
If you are considering applying for this post on a secondment basis, please discuss with your Line Manager prior to applying to ascertain whether this could be supported.
Main duties of the job
Business Planning: Coordinating annual plans and reports, managing complex projects with tight deadlines, supporting regional and national strategies, and fostering inclusion and research capacity.
Information & Administration: Supporting stakeholder mapping, overseeing project delivery and performance, and detailed project planning (task identification, duration, resources, critical path).
Operational Management: Planning and reporting on various programs and projects, ensuring deliverables meet quality and budget requirements, diagnosing complex issues, identifying and managing risks, and developing and monitoring plans.
Service Improvement & Development: Prioritising and delivering projects that contribute to service improvement for project management and the wider organisation.
Performance Management: Supporting systems to ensure data on RRDN performance and impact against national indicators is available.
Life Sciences Industry: Supporting projects to build relationships with the Life Sciences Industry to increase research capacity and capability.
Continuous Improvement: Actively contributing to continuous improvement activities and knowledge sharing.
Communication & Stakeholder Management: Communicating with partners and stakeholders regarding RRDN plans and reports.
Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
- oordinate RRDN annual plans and reports
- Plan, manage, adjust and deliver a broad range of complex and challenging objectives within allocated projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals, and a broad range of activities, to tight deadlines
- Support regional implementation plans for the delivery of national strategies
- Support the embedding of a consistent approach to inclusion throughout the RDN services
- Support new and innovative ways to increase research capacity and capability
- Support the gathering of intelligence feeding into the national system via the Strategic Development Director
- Contribute effectively to the development and implementation of strategies and systems for quality assurance, providing feedback, development and support as necessary, including supporting the delivery of RDN strategies for PPIE and NIHR Inclusion
- Provide support for the design and maintenance of stakeholder mapping intelligence
- Oversee the planning and organisation of the delivery and performance of the projects to agreed (tight) timescales
- Planning that includes task identification, duration, resource requirement and determination of critical path to determine the projects
Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- oordinate RRDN annual plans and reports
- Plan, manage, adjust and deliver a broad range of complex and challenging objectives within allocated projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals, and a broad range of activities, to tight deadlines
- Support regional implementation plans for the delivery of national strategies
- Support the embedding of a consistent approach to inclusion throughout the RDN services
- Support new and innovative ways to increase research capacity and capability
- Support the gathering of intelligence feeding into the national system via the Strategic Development Director
- Contribute effectively to the development and implementation of strategies and systems for quality assurance, providing feedback, development and support as necessary, including supporting the delivery of RDN strategies for PPIE and NIHR Inclusion
- Provide support for the design and maintenance of stakeholder mapping intelligence
- Oversee the planning and organisation of the delivery and performance of the projects to agreed (tight) timescales
- Planning that includes task identification, duration, resource requirement and determination of critical path to determine the projects
Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level education and/or equivalent level of project management qualification or relevant experience
Desirable
- Project management qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties
Skills
Essential
- Ability to interpret and present complex information
- Excellent organisational skills
- Strong problem solving skills
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Understanding of change and adaptable
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- oDemonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level education and/or equivalent level of project management qualification or relevant experience
Desirable
- Project management qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties
Skills
Essential
- Ability to interpret and present complex information
- Excellent organisational skills
- Strong problem solving skills
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Understanding of change and adaptable
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- oDemonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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).
