Job summary
Expected Shortlisting
Date:
10/02/2025
Planned Interview
Date:
20/02/2025
The
Life Science Key Account Manager, will work as part of a national Research
Delivery Network (RDN) Industry facing team to develop and manage
relationships with Life Sciences companies, and the NIHR wider stakeholders
within the clinical research environment to attract and grow clinical
research delivery in the UK.
Using
horizon scanning data, business intelligence, NIHR expertise and
relationships, the postholder will provide a tailored service to key accounts
as a single conduit, representing the RDN nationally.
The
post holder will promote the RDN services and will work closely with other
key industry facing teams to explore opportunities and enable access to NIHR
infrastructure.
The
postholder will support the marketing of NIHR services to Industry and
contribute to the shaping of new projects and services that meet the needs of
Life Sciences customers. The postholder will proactively develop a profile
across the RDN and work collaboratively with internal and external
stakeholders.
Main duties of the job
Develop
relationships with Life Sciences companies and NIHR stakeholders to enhance
clinical research delivery in the UK.
Provide
clear leadership to empower teams, drive innovation, and contribute to the
development of RDN Life Science strategy.
Act as an ambassador for RDN, lead projects to improve research delivery, and
advocate for key accounts.
Use business intelligence to identify opportunities for key accounts, support
operational and strategic planning, and address barriers to study site setup
and recruitment.
Lead staff performance and development through PDRs.
Oversee service delivery to meet quality, financial, and performance targets.
Develop and implement business plans, ensuring consistent service delivery
Monitor resource efficiency, KPIs, and troubleshoot performance issues with
research sites to improve delivery across the RDN.
Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
Present data on research capacity and performance to internal and external
teams.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement
Provide expert knowledge in commercial research delivery across health and
social care, contributing to strategic decisions
and
service improvements.
About us
The
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). NIHR works 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.
NIHR
is a major funder of applied health research in low and middle-income
countries. The whole of England will be supported through 12
NIHR
Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs). The RRDNs will work with the
national Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) to provide a
joint RDN leadership function so that the NIHR RDN as a whole functions as a
single organisation with a shared vision and purpose across England.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
RDN and DHSC have a vision for this role being a single conduit for key
commercial partners to explore their pipeline, plan, place and facilitate
effective delivery of their studies.
The
Life Science Key Account Manager, as a senior manager in the Regional
Research Delivery Network (RRDN), will work as part of a national
Research Delivery Network (RDN) Industry facing team to develop and manage
relationships with Life Sciences companies, and the NIHR
wider stakeholders within the clinical research environment including
non-commercial funders and other parts of the research ecosystem
to attract and grow clinical research delivery in the UK.
This
role will work closely with RDN Industry facing teams across the RDN to
ensure equality and consistency of service for all customers, nationally and
regionally. Using horizon scanning data, business intelligence and NIHR
expertise and relationships, the postholder will provide a tailored service
to key accounts as a single conduit, representing the RDN nationally.
The
post holder will promote the RDN services, ensuring that key themes and
opportunities are communicated into the RDN. The postholder
will work closely with other key industry facing teams, External Affairs and
Strategic Partnerships and the Department of Business and Trade to explore
opportunities and enable access to NIHR infrastructure.
The
postholder will support the marketing of NIHR services to Industry and
contribute to the shaping of new projects and services that meet the needs of
Life Sciences customers.
The
postholder will proactively develop a profile across the RDN and work
collaboratively with individuals and groups both internally, and with
external stakeholders in a host of settings.
The
post holder will be managed by the RRDN Strategic Development Director but
will have a key relationship with the national RDNCC Life Science
Director. The postholder will provide line management and oversee the work
and personal development of the Industry Manager.
Together
this team will support a culture of one network to deliver the life science
strategy as a whole.
This
role requires national travel and international travel.
The
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has 12 Regional Research
Delivery Networks across the U.K. These work with the national Coordinating
Centre (RDNCC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to provide a
joint RDN leadership function via the RDN Board, so that the NIHR RDN
operates as a single, transparent organisation with a shared vision and purpose.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is Host Organisation for the Yorkshire RRDN
region.
The
RDN supports the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded
research across the health and care system in England for the benefit
of patients, the health and care system and the economy.
The
RDN supports:
Clinical trials and other well-designed health and social care research
studies (including studies that are delivered outside of an NHS
setting); Public health studies that require the recruitment of individuals within an
NHS setting (that is, acute, ambulance, mental health, community
or primary care) or an episode of care which involves contact with the NHS.
The
RRDNs have three key roles:
Providing support to research sites to enable the effective and efficient
initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and
care system in England.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
RDN and DHSC have a vision for this role being a single conduit for key
commercial partners to explore their pipeline, plan, place and facilitate
effective delivery of their studies.
The
Life Science Key Account Manager, as a senior manager in the Regional
Research Delivery Network (RRDN), will work as part of a national
Research Delivery Network (RDN) Industry facing team to develop and manage
relationships with Life Sciences companies, and the NIHR
wider stakeholders within the clinical research environment including
non-commercial funders and other parts of the research ecosystem
to attract and grow clinical research delivery in the UK.
This
role will work closely with RDN Industry facing teams across the RDN to
ensure equality and consistency of service for all customers, nationally and
regionally. Using horizon scanning data, business intelligence and NIHR
expertise and relationships, the postholder will provide a tailored service
to key accounts as a single conduit, representing the RDN nationally.
The
post holder will promote the RDN services, ensuring that key themes and
opportunities are communicated into the RDN. The postholder
will work closely with other key industry facing teams, External Affairs and
Strategic Partnerships and the Department of Business and Trade to explore
opportunities and enable access to NIHR infrastructure.
The
postholder will support the marketing of NIHR services to Industry and
contribute to the shaping of new projects and services that meet the needs of
Life Sciences customers.
The
postholder will proactively develop a profile across the RDN and work
collaboratively with individuals and groups both internally, and with
external stakeholders in a host of settings.
The
post holder will be managed by the RRDN Strategic Development Director but
will have a key relationship with the national RDNCC Life Science
Director. The postholder will provide line management and oversee the work
and personal development of the Industry Manager.
Together
this team will support a culture of one network to deliver the life science
strategy as a whole.
This
role requires national travel and international travel.
The
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has 12 Regional Research
Delivery Networks across the U.K. These work with the national Coordinating
Centre (RDNCC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to provide a
joint RDN leadership function via the RDN Board, so that the NIHR RDN
operates as a single, transparent organisation with a shared vision and purpose.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is Host Organisation for the Yorkshire RRDN
region.
The
RDN supports the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded
research across the health and care system in England for the benefit
of patients, the health and care system and the economy.
The
RDN supports:
Clinical trials and other well-designed health and social care research
studies (including studies that are delivered outside of an NHS
setting); Public health studies that require the recruitment of individuals within an
NHS setting (that is, acute, ambulance, mental health, community
or primary care) or an episode of care which involves contact with the NHS.
The
RRDNs have three key roles:
Providing support to research sites to enable the effective and efficient
initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and
care system in England.
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Robust leadership skills
- Ability to exercise initiative
- Excellent organisational skills
- Team building and staff training skill
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
- Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation
- Evidence of strong analytical skills and high level of numeracy
- Ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure
- Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties
- Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard
- Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines
- Ability to manage challenging and stressful situations
- Strong problem-solving skills
Other Criteria
Essential
- Good IT skills, particularly in use of Web applications, Google Workspace applications and MS Office applications and with respect to research databases
- Able to lead, motivate, and delegate
- Compassionate
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
- Significant experience or knowledge in research and development (R&D), science or healthcare
- Significant specialist knowledge of the NHS, R&D systems and the context of the importance of the life sciences in this context
Experience
Essential
- Experience of owning and writing complex business cases
- Broad knowledge and experience of utilising information technology to provide management information reports, particularly financial and activity reporting
- Experience at dealing with very senior people both internally and externally e.g. operational management
- Proven experience of working successfully as part of diffused leadership teams
- Proven staff management experience with the ability to gain their support, motivate and develop them
- Experience of managing a customer-focused service
- Experience of working in healthcare in an operational management or business management or development capacity
- Experience of working with the life sciences sector or working within R&D within the NHS/academic sector
- Ability to negotiate commercial contracts and non-commercial agreements with the commercial sector, the public sector, universities and charities
- Professional leadership at an operational level
- Experience at project management, with a good understanding of the complexities involved
- An understanding of business and marketing principles
Desirable
- Research management and administration including governance, sponsorship, costings, contracts, finance and clinical trial agreements
- Appreciation of clinical research methodologies and trials organisation
- Advanced experience of using R&D databases
- Experience of working in the private healthcare sector and international business experience
- Senior level experience of managing R&D activity in the health and social care/university sector
- Demonstration of strategic thinking and strategy development
- Experience of design management and delivery of completed research projects in the health, social care or university sector
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Robust leadership skills
- Ability to exercise initiative
- Excellent organisational skills
- Team building and staff training skill
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
- Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation
- Evidence of strong analytical skills and high level of numeracy
- Ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure
- Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties
- Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard
- Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines
- Ability to manage challenging and stressful situations
- Strong problem-solving skills
Other Criteria
Essential
- Good IT skills, particularly in use of Web applications, Google Workspace applications and MS Office applications and with respect to research databases
- Able to lead, motivate, and delegate
- Compassionate
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
- Significant experience or knowledge in research and development (R&D), science or healthcare
- Significant specialist knowledge of the NHS, R&D systems and the context of the importance of the life sciences in this context
Experience
Essential
- Experience of owning and writing complex business cases
- Broad knowledge and experience of utilising information technology to provide management information reports, particularly financial and activity reporting
- Experience at dealing with very senior people both internally and externally e.g. operational management
- Proven experience of working successfully as part of diffused leadership teams
- Proven staff management experience with the ability to gain their support, motivate and develop them
- Experience of managing a customer-focused service
- Experience of working in healthcare in an operational management or business management or development capacity
- Experience of working with the life sciences sector or working within R&D within the NHS/academic sector
- Ability to negotiate commercial contracts and non-commercial agreements with the commercial sector, the public sector, universities and charities
- Professional leadership at an operational level
- Experience at project management, with a good understanding of the complexities involved
- An understanding of business and marketing principles
Desirable
- Research management and administration including governance, sponsorship, costings, contracts, finance and clinical trial agreements
- Appreciation of clinical research methodologies and trials organisation
- Advanced experience of using R&D databases
- Experience of working in the private healthcare sector and international business experience
- Senior level experience of managing R&D activity in the health and social care/university sector
- Demonstration of strategic thinking and strategy development
- Experience of design management and delivery of completed research projects in the health, social care or university sector
