Job summary
We
are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Senior Programme Officer to
assist with planning and implementing the management of our research training
programmes.
You
will play a key role in one of our programme teams, providing administrative
support to the team, and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders
nationally at all levels of seniority in Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs), NHS Trusts, local authorities, and other health and care related
organisations.
The
role also provides an opportunity to enter the field of research management,
with previous post holders showing good career progression.
Expected Shortlisting
Date
25/06/2025
Planned Interview
Date
03/07/2025
Main duties of the job
The
Senior Programme Officer is required to:
- Assist
the Senior Programme Managers and Programme Managers with managing awards and
programmes that form part of the NIHR research career development funding
programmes;
- Manage
enquiries from stakeholders and applicants to our research funding
programmes.
- Work
alongside other Senior Programme Officers, Senior Programme Managers and
Programme Managers, and coordinate administration where appropriate, to
ensure the delivery of various funding schemes, programmes, workshops,
events, interviews and conferences;
- Support
other diverse areas of work as required in order to deliver the NIHR Academy
programmes and awards.
About us
The
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission to
improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR plays
a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchers
and complements the additional NIHR investment in world-class research
facilities and a skilled research workforce.
This
role is hosted by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and delivers the
work of the NIHR, leading on policy, strategy and delivery in respect of
academic training in England and working closely with other NIHR centres and
the Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate at the Department of
Health and Social Care (DHSC).
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
Programme
Support Calls for Fellowships and other Award Schemes
The
post holder will be responsible for the delivery of identified projects or
clearly defined areas of responsibility. If required he / she / they may be
required to highlight changes in workload and adjust work plans in response
to external events and new policies.
The
post holder will:
- Support
the Senior Programme Managers and Programme Managers to plan and implement
the management of NIHR research training schemes over an annual cycle, by
being responsible for developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure that robust and effective
administrative processes are used to manage applications (both electronic and
as hard copies) in accordance with
agreed project plans, this process typically takes 6 -9 months
- Manage
the advertising of schemes to a range of publishing and professional
organisations, negotiating cost effective spending, and reporting to the
Programme Manager as required
- In
liaison with Senior Programme Managers and Programme Managers, draft and
revise application forms and guidance notes for new and existing schemes
- To
act as the first point of contact for enquires related to the various schemes
the post holder is supporting. Aiming
to manage at least 75% of all queries whilst recognising which queries are
best answered by other members of staff
- Edit
and prepare interview and peer review feedback to applicants to NIHR Academy
programmes
- Advise
on the appropriateness of each scheme, including eligibility and general
remit, purpose of call and guidance
Programme
Support - Responsibility for meetings
The
post holder will plan and coordinate a number of different events, all of
which involve external stakeholders, in Leeds, London, and other locations.
These include:
- Review
Panel short listing and interview meetings
- Advisory
Board meetings
- Implementation
Group meetings
- Workshops
- Stakeholder
meetings
- Specifically
the post holder will assist the Senior Programme Managers and Programme
Managers to:
- Coordinate
invitations to join panels/boards
- Drafting
panel/board terms of reference and guidance
- To
be responsible for managing and organising panel meetings; This may also
involve liaising with hotel / event management staff, negotiating suitable
costs and managing and authorising the budget associated with these events
- To
provide secretariat for groups and meetings as required, including
contributing to the production of Chairs Briefing notes, minutes and reports
Programme
Support General Support
The
post holder will:
- Contribute
to planning the annual cycle and timing of schemes in the post holders area
of responsibility
- Support
the Senior Programme Managers and Programme Managers in researching and
publicising outputs and impacts of the programmes in the Programme Managers
portfolio
- To
provide day to day line management of more junior administrative staff.
Supervise and delegate tasks to temporary administrative support during
periods of high activity
- Undertake
defined research and evaluation into NIHR Academy supported programmes as
required
Contracting
and Awards Management
The
post holder will:
- Prepare
and check announcement letters, contracts, and payment schedules for new
awards
- Be
responsible for the development of SOPs to support the various administrative
procedures used to support the production and monitoring of contracts
- Act
as the first point of contact for award holders, duties include negotiating
and on occasions persuading award holders and their employing organisations
to accept agreements and contracts
- Liaise
with DHSC and other relevant Organisations about payment schedules and
financial enquiries from awardees
- Deal
with and track requests for changes, including variations to awards documents
and contracts
- Manage
annual and final financial reconciliations for all award holders within their
portfolio of work, escalating problems and issues to managers as required
- Assist
the Manager in the production of updates, financial reports and papers about
schemes/programmes in the post holders portfolio
- Maintain
a clear and comprehensive audit trail in compliance DHSC contracting policy
- Liaise
with external stakeholders to monitor progress of schemes, and work closely
with the Information and Evaluation team on monitoring and evaluation of
schemes in the post holders area of responsibility
Communication
The
post holder will:
- Liaise
with queries and occasional complaints about the application process and
funding decisions by telephone, email, and in person, escalating unresolved
queries to the programme manager and senior manager as necessary
- Provide
feedback to successful and unsuccessful applicants. This may include delivering bad news and
discussion of future options
- Publicise
NIHR Academy activities through attendance at some external meetings,
seminars and conferences
- Communicate
and work with a range of people nationally at all levels of seniority both
internal and external to the NIHR Academy, in line with DHSC policies
- Develop
and maintain strong and positive working relationships within Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs), NHS Trusts and other health-related
organisations
- Contribute
to briefings requested from Ministers offices and other government
departments. This involves researching and reporting on research outputs
- Liaise
with members of the NIHR Academy Executive Senior Management Team and Awards
Managers, and University Hospital of Leeds NHS Trust staff, in order to meet
responsibilities and undertake duties effectively
Job description
Job responsibilities
Programme
Support Calls for Fellowships and other Award Schemes
The
post holder will be responsible for the delivery of identified projects or
clearly defined areas of responsibility. If required he / she / they may be
required to highlight changes in workload and adjust work plans in response
to external events and new policies.
The
post holder will:
- Support
the Senior Programme Managers and Programme Managers to plan and implement
the management of NIHR research training schemes over an annual cycle, by
being responsible for developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure that robust and effective
administrative processes are used to manage applications (both electronic and
as hard copies) in accordance with
agreed project plans, this process typically takes 6 -9 months
- Manage
the advertising of schemes to a range of publishing and professional
organisations, negotiating cost effective spending, and reporting to the
Programme Manager as required
- In
liaison with Senior Programme Managers and Programme Managers, draft and
revise application forms and guidance notes for new and existing schemes
- To
act as the first point of contact for enquires related to the various schemes
the post holder is supporting. Aiming
to manage at least 75% of all queries whilst recognising which queries are
best answered by other members of staff
- Edit
and prepare interview and peer review feedback to applicants to NIHR Academy
programmes
- Advise
on the appropriateness of each scheme, including eligibility and general
remit, purpose of call and guidance
Programme
Support - Responsibility for meetings
The
post holder will plan and coordinate a number of different events, all of
which involve external stakeholders, in Leeds, London, and other locations.
These include:
- Review
Panel short listing and interview meetings
- Advisory
Board meetings
- Implementation
Group meetings
- Workshops
- Stakeholder
meetings
- Specifically
the post holder will assist the Senior Programme Managers and Programme
Managers to:
- Coordinate
invitations to join panels/boards
- Drafting
panel/board terms of reference and guidance
- To
be responsible for managing and organising panel meetings; This may also
involve liaising with hotel / event management staff, negotiating suitable
costs and managing and authorising the budget associated with these events
- To
provide secretariat for groups and meetings as required, including
contributing to the production of Chairs Briefing notes, minutes and reports
Programme
Support General Support
The
post holder will:
- Contribute
to planning the annual cycle and timing of schemes in the post holders area
of responsibility
- Support
the Senior Programme Managers and Programme Managers in researching and
publicising outputs and impacts of the programmes in the Programme Managers
portfolio
- To
provide day to day line management of more junior administrative staff.
Supervise and delegate tasks to temporary administrative support during
periods of high activity
- Undertake
defined research and evaluation into NIHR Academy supported programmes as
required
Contracting
and Awards Management
The
post holder will:
- Prepare
and check announcement letters, contracts, and payment schedules for new
awards
- Be
responsible for the development of SOPs to support the various administrative
procedures used to support the production and monitoring of contracts
- Act
as the first point of contact for award holders, duties include negotiating
and on occasions persuading award holders and their employing organisations
to accept agreements and contracts
- Liaise
with DHSC and other relevant Organisations about payment schedules and
financial enquiries from awardees
- Deal
with and track requests for changes, including variations to awards documents
and contracts
- Manage
annual and final financial reconciliations for all award holders within their
portfolio of work, escalating problems and issues to managers as required
- Assist
the Manager in the production of updates, financial reports and papers about
schemes/programmes in the post holders portfolio
- Maintain
a clear and comprehensive audit trail in compliance DHSC contracting policy
- Liaise
with external stakeholders to monitor progress of schemes, and work closely
with the Information and Evaluation team on monitoring and evaluation of
schemes in the post holders area of responsibility
Communication
The
post holder will:
- Liaise
with queries and occasional complaints about the application process and
funding decisions by telephone, email, and in person, escalating unresolved
queries to the programme manager and senior manager as necessary
- Provide
feedback to successful and unsuccessful applicants. This may include delivering bad news and
discussion of future options
- Publicise
NIHR Academy activities through attendance at some external meetings,
seminars and conferences
- Communicate
and work with a range of people nationally at all levels of seniority both
internal and external to the NIHR Academy, in line with DHSC policies
- Develop
and maintain strong and positive working relationships within Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs), NHS Trusts and other health-related
organisations
- Contribute
to briefings requested from Ministers offices and other government
departments. This involves researching and reporting on research outputs
- Liaise
with members of the NIHR Academy Executive Senior Management Team and Awards
Managers, and University Hospital of Leeds NHS Trust staff, in order to meet
responsibilities and undertake duties effectively
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of research and/or research management or demonstrable experience within a senior administrative post
- An understanding of public sector health research and its management
- Experience of financial management
- Understanding of data protection, FOI and information management
Desirable
- Experience of working in an ODA (Official Development Assistance) compliant or global health environment
- Experience of organising complex meetings, workshops and/or conferences
- An understanding of health research capacity development
- Experience of drafting contracts
- An interest in health research
Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and development
- Assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new problems
- A willingness to work across discipline boundaries
- Ability to work flexibly as part of a team, building and maintaining good working relationships
- Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
- Deliver work on time, to anticipate fresh demands
- Effective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, members of the public and various stake holders
- Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
- Ability to plan and organise a broad range of new and ongoing activities
- Advanced working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets
- Advanced level oral and written communication skills
- Confident and comfortable when communicating to others and dealing with sensitive issues
- Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information
- Ability to negotiate
- Ability to work accurately with attention to detail
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to reports/papers
Other Criteria
Essential
- Willingness to travel in UK, including occasional overnight absence
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in a health or life-science discipline or equivalent experience
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of research and/or research management or demonstrable experience within a senior administrative post
- An understanding of public sector health research and its management
- Experience of financial management
- Understanding of data protection, FOI and information management
Desirable
- Experience of working in an ODA (Official Development Assistance) compliant or global health environment
- Experience of organising complex meetings, workshops and/or conferences
- An understanding of health research capacity development
- Experience of drafting contracts
- An interest in health research
Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and development
- Assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new problems
- A willingness to work across discipline boundaries
- Ability to work flexibly as part of a team, building and maintaining good working relationships
- Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
- Deliver work on time, to anticipate fresh demands
- Effective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, members of the public and various stake holders
- Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
- Ability to plan and organise a broad range of new and ongoing activities
- Advanced working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets
- Advanced level oral and written communication skills
- Confident and comfortable when communicating to others and dealing with sensitive issues
- Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information
- Ability to negotiate
- Ability to work accurately with attention to detail
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to reports/papers
Other Criteria
Essential
- Willingness to travel in UK, including occasional overnight absence
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in a health or life-science discipline or equivalent experience
Additional information
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).
