Job summary
The
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Academy Executive are
recruiting an Assistant Director to lead and manage NIHRs Global Health
capacity strengthening programmes. The Assistant Director will lead a team of
7 people to successfully deliver a range of capacity strengthening activities
and initiatives of direct benefit to Low and Middle Income Countries
(LMICs). We are looking for a highly
capable and compassionate leader with significant experience in the field of
global health, research management and/or health and care research.
The
role will work closely with the NIHR Programme Director for the Global Health
Research Programme and the Global Health team within the Science, Research
and Evidence Directorate of DHSC.
Expected Shortlisting
Date
11/11/2025
Planned Interview
Date
21/11/2025
Main duties of the job
The
Assistant Director will provide strategic oversight of Global Health schemes
and activities within the NIHR Academy. They will lead the team to deliver a
programme of work to support training and capacity building in applied health
research and design future initiatives. This supports the NIHRs wider work
funding high quality research and training for the direct and primary benefit
of people in LMICs.
We
are looking for an individual to lead NIHRs activities to strengthen global
health research capacity within the UK and LMICs, utilising Official
Development Assistance (ODA). As an effective and compassionate leader, they
will support and coach the Global Health team and build effective working
relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Department of
Health and Social Care. The post holder will also be a member of NIHR
Academys Executive Board and play a key role in the leadership of the
organisation.
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
Specialist
Programme Expertise and Leadership
The
post holder will lead a team responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of
programmes and schemes run through NIHR Academy Executive and as part of this
will be expected to:
- Take
overall responsibility for a manage budgets for programme activities as
delegated within the organisations overall budget funding. Also defining the specification for items
and services to be purchased, and evaluating and approving quotes as
appropriate.
- Take
lead responsibility for translating national strategy as it relates to the
NIHR Academy and devising and managing implementation plans on a national
scale, including supporting the delivery of NIHRs Strategy, Best Research
for Best Health.
- Contribute
to the high level and strategic financial management of the NIHR Academy
Executive including financial management of programmes within their
portfolio.
- Analysis
and evaluation of programmes and overseeing the implementation of changes
agreed as a result of evaluation work.
- Oversee
a programme of outreach and engagement with key stakeholders and communities
relevant to the post holders portfolio, including the delivery of events,
workshops and meetings.
- Overseeing
the commissioning and contract procurement for programmes and schemes within
their portfolio
- Ensure
the delivery of NIHR Programmes in line with NIHR SOPs and DHSC requirements.
- Ensure
the NIHR Academy Executive meets its Key Performance Indicators and delivers
an annual programme of work in line with business plans.
- Take
a leading role on organisation wide initiatives of national strategic
importance to NIHR, working with colleagues and other senior leaders from
different NIHR locations.
Member
of the NIHR Academy Executive Board
The
post holder will be a member of the NIHR Academy Executive Board and in that
role will be expected to:
- Deputise
for the CEO and Director of Programmes and Impact at national meetings, as
required
- Implementing
and managing change, devising and communicating new policies where necessary
- Play
a key part in cross NIHR and national strategic initiatives and projects,
taking on a lead role where necessary.
- Oversee
the implementation and delivery of new initiatives and projects as they arise
- Contribute
to the overall leadership of the NIHR Academy Executive including playing a
key role in setting organisational culture, structure and governance
Provision
of leadership to the Programme Teams
The
post holder will be expected to lead and manage a programme team and work
with other NIHR Academy Executive teams to:
- To
offer leadership, advice and support to the Senior Programme Managers in
maintaining and developing current and new streams of work.
- Overall
responsibility for planning highly complex workloads with a broad range of
activities, some that are on-going and some which require formulation and
adjustment of plans or strategies. The workloads can be highly evolutionary
needing to adapt plans in a rapidly changing environment.
- Develop
and oversee team goals and objectives in order to deliver against key
milestones and KPIs
- Create
and maintain a culture of inclusivity
- Ensure
delivery of activities and projects in line with business plans and KPIs
- Ensure
effective team contribution to NIHR Academy wide initiatives such as
continuous improvement work, and culture and values.
- Provide
leadership on a team and individual basis including the direct supervision of
staff, objective setting, appraisals, recruitment and appropriate personal
and career development plans.
- Ensure
staff are aware of and adhere to NIHR Academy SOPs and DHSC requirements
Communication
and engagement
The
post holder will be expected to:
- Lead
of developing reports and papers for strategic and policy meetings and
publications
- Liaise
with other national programmes, wider NIHR Department of Health and Social
Care staff, other key funders of health and social care and the academic
community as necessary
- Deliver
presentations to national stakeholder groups and relevant conferences
- Take
lead responsibility in the development of briefings requested from various
sources including DHSC, NIHR Centres Exec Board, other government
departments, other stakeholders and partners and ministers offices (including
Parliamentary Questions, and Select Committees)
- Act
as a representative for NIHR Academy and NIHR more widely at national
meetings, workshops and conferences, often having to defend NIHRs position
in a public setting.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Specialist
Programme Expertise and Leadership
The
post holder will lead a team responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of
programmes and schemes run through NIHR Academy Executive and as part of this
will be expected to:
- Take
overall responsibility for a manage budgets for programme activities as
delegated within the organisations overall budget funding. Also defining the specification for items
and services to be purchased, and evaluating and approving quotes as
appropriate.
- Take
lead responsibility for translating national strategy as it relates to the
NIHR Academy and devising and managing implementation plans on a national
scale, including supporting the delivery of NIHRs Strategy, Best Research
for Best Health.
- Contribute
to the high level and strategic financial management of the NIHR Academy
Executive including financial management of programmes within their
portfolio.
- Analysis
and evaluation of programmes and overseeing the implementation of changes
agreed as a result of evaluation work.
- Oversee
a programme of outreach and engagement with key stakeholders and communities
relevant to the post holders portfolio, including the delivery of events,
workshops and meetings.
- Overseeing
the commissioning and contract procurement for programmes and schemes within
their portfolio
- Ensure
the delivery of NIHR Programmes in line with NIHR SOPs and DHSC requirements.
- Ensure
the NIHR Academy Executive meets its Key Performance Indicators and delivers
an annual programme of work in line with business plans.
- Take
a leading role on organisation wide initiatives of national strategic
importance to NIHR, working with colleagues and other senior leaders from
different NIHR locations.
Member
of the NIHR Academy Executive Board
The
post holder will be a member of the NIHR Academy Executive Board and in that
role will be expected to:
- Deputise
for the CEO and Director of Programmes and Impact at national meetings, as
required
- Implementing
and managing change, devising and communicating new policies where necessary
- Play
a key part in cross NIHR and national strategic initiatives and projects,
taking on a lead role where necessary.
- Oversee
the implementation and delivery of new initiatives and projects as they arise
- Contribute
to the overall leadership of the NIHR Academy Executive including playing a
key role in setting organisational culture, structure and governance
Provision
of leadership to the Programme Teams
The
post holder will be expected to lead and manage a programme team and work
with other NIHR Academy Executive teams to:
- To
offer leadership, advice and support to the Senior Programme Managers in
maintaining and developing current and new streams of work.
- Overall
responsibility for planning highly complex workloads with a broad range of
activities, some that are on-going and some which require formulation and
adjustment of plans or strategies. The workloads can be highly evolutionary
needing to adapt plans in a rapidly changing environment.
- Develop
and oversee team goals and objectives in order to deliver against key
milestones and KPIs
- Create
and maintain a culture of inclusivity
- Ensure
delivery of activities and projects in line with business plans and KPIs
- Ensure
effective team contribution to NIHR Academy wide initiatives such as
continuous improvement work, and culture and values.
- Provide
leadership on a team and individual basis including the direct supervision of
staff, objective setting, appraisals, recruitment and appropriate personal
and career development plans.
- Ensure
staff are aware of and adhere to NIHR Academy SOPs and DHSC requirements
Communication
and engagement
The
post holder will be expected to:
- Lead
of developing reports and papers for strategic and policy meetings and
publications
- Liaise
with other national programmes, wider NIHR Department of Health and Social
Care staff, other key funders of health and social care and the academic
community as necessary
- Deliver
presentations to national stakeholder groups and relevant conferences
- Take
lead responsibility in the development of briefings requested from various
sources including DHSC, NIHR Centres Exec Board, other government
departments, other stakeholders and partners and ministers offices (including
Parliamentary Questions, and Select Committees)
- Act
as a representative for NIHR Academy and NIHR more widely at national
meetings, workshops and conferences, often having to defend NIHRs position
in a public setting.
Person Specification
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Standard keyboard skills
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office
- There may be a requirement to work occasional evenings
- Able to travel around the county
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of public sector health and care research and its management
- An understanding of NIHRs strategy for health and care research and its implementation
- Postgraduate research and/or research management experience post higher degree and at a senior level
- Managing staff including direct line-management responsibility
Desirable
- An understanding of health and care research capacity development
- An understanding of global health research and its management
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree
- Higher degree or postgraduate management qualification or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- PhD in a health or life-science discipline
Skills & Behaviours
Essential
- Effective leadership skills and ability to lead by example
- Thinking strategically
- Giving purpose and direction which includes involving people in deciding what needs to be done
- Getting the best from others
- Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
- Leading inclusively
- Excellent communication skills and ability to defend NIHR position in challenging situations
- Confident presentation skills
- High level interpersonal skills including ability to lead and manage change
Desirable
- Familiarity with the Google platform
Person Specification
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Standard keyboard skills
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office
- There may be a requirement to work occasional evenings
- Able to travel around the county
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of public sector health and care research and its management
- An understanding of NIHRs strategy for health and care research and its implementation
- Postgraduate research and/or research management experience post higher degree and at a senior level
- Managing staff including direct line-management responsibility
Desirable
- An understanding of health and care research capacity development
- An understanding of global health research and its management
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree
- Higher degree or postgraduate management qualification or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- PhD in a health or life-science discipline
Skills & Behaviours
Essential
- Effective leadership skills and ability to lead by example
- Thinking strategically
- Giving purpose and direction which includes involving people in deciding what needs to be done
- Getting the best from others
- Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
- Leading inclusively
- Excellent communication skills and ability to defend NIHR position in challenging situations
- Confident presentation skills
- High level interpersonal skills including ability to lead and manage change
Desirable
- Familiarity with the Google platform
