University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Agile Research Delivery Team (ARDT) Senior Manager

The closing date is 11 February 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Agile Research Delivery Team (ARDT) Senior Manager to lead our newly formed ARDT. This high profile role will be instrumental in developing the service and be a key member of the RRDNs Senior Management Team, shaping the delivery of clinical research across the East Midlands, with a particular focus on wider health and care settings.

The role will have overall management and accountability for the ARDT in the East Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) region. The post holder will provide senior leadership, representing the regional Agile Research Delivery Team as required. This role will contribute to and where required, lead on strategic programmes associated with the ARDT both regionally and nationally. The post holder will have oversight of the regional ARDT establishment and maintain budgetary oversight. As Senior Manager, the post holder will be responsible for providing a consistent Agile Research Delivery Service, with a focus on the health and care issues of the population within the region.

The post holder can be based at the RRDN offices in Leicester or Nottingham.

Main duties of the job

  • Strategic development and leadership of the Agile Research Delivery Service alongside senior leadership post holders in the RRDN.
  • Contributor to and leader of national initiatives underpinning the continued development of the RDN and specifically the Agile Research Delivery Service.
  • Seek and lead on new and innovative ways to increase research capacity and capability via the Agile Research Delivery Service.
  • The growth of research delivery as well as increase research capacity and capability across Wider Care Settings, including developing areas of strength and expanding into new areas
  • Ensure effective and efficient deployment and management of Agile Research Delivery Team staff.
  • The post holder will be responsible for the recruitment and establishment of the regional Agile Research Delivery Team.
  • The post holder will be expected to lead on and contribute to local and national policy development in relation to the Agile Research Delivery Service. They will be the senior leader responsible for consistent implementation of relevant policy.
  • Contribute to Annual Financial Planning and allocation for the regional Agile Research Delivery Team. This will include budget setting for the regional team.

About us

From October 2024, the NIHR Clinical Research Network became the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN). The RDN continues to support the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England.

The whole of England is supported through 12 NIHR Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs). These work with the national Coordinating Centre 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. The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) is the Host Organisation for the East Midlands RRDN region.

Working for UHL

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years.

We have four primary goals:

  • high-quality care for all,
  • being a great place to work,
  • partnerships for impact, and
  • research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values

  • we are compassionate,
  • we are proud,
  • we are inclusive, and
  • we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-7722710-COR

Job locations

Paget House Leicester or Queens Medical Centre Nottingham

2 West Street

Leicester

LE1 6XP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description provided which provides further details about the role and the main responsibilities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description provided which provides further details about the role and the main responsibilities.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Postgraduate qualification (MSc or equivalent) in a science or health related discipline or in another field with experience of research trials or equivalent relevant experience/training.
  • Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Desirable

  • NMC Registered Nurse, Midwife or a HCPC Registered Allied Health Professional

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Exceptional Leadership skills and significant experience of line management of staff, including appraisals, in a health or care setting.
  • Experience of setting and managing budgets.
  • Experience of change management and supporting staff through organisational transformation
  • Significant knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research studies
  • Significant knowledge and experience of the clinical trial and health and care research lifecycle including experience of the set up of clinical research studies in a health and care setting.
  • Specialist knowledge of RDN portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR) across wider care settings

Desirable

  • Experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studies.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Good IT skills, particularly in the use of Web applications, MS Office and/or Google Hub applications.
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills.
  • Understanding of personal accountability.
  • Ability to travel for work and current driving license

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Good IT skills, particularly in the use of Web applications, MS Office and/or Google Hub applications.
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Understanding of personal accountability.
  • Ability to travel for work
  • Current driving licence

Value and Personal Qualities

Essential

  • A confident and experienced leader and manager in a health care setting.
  • An excellent communicator with the ability to deal with and communicate complex information.
  • Team player
  • Adaptable/flexible approach to work
  • Organised with good attention to detail
  • Ability to work calmly, effectively and independently under pressure
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Postgraduate qualification (MSc or equivalent) in a science or health related discipline or in another field with experience of research trials or equivalent relevant experience/training.
  • Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Desirable

  • NMC Registered Nurse, Midwife or a HCPC Registered Allied Health Professional

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Exceptional Leadership skills and significant experience of line management of staff, including appraisals, in a health or care setting.
  • Experience of setting and managing budgets.
  • Experience of change management and supporting staff through organisational transformation
  • Significant knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research studies
  • Significant knowledge and experience of the clinical trial and health and care research lifecycle including experience of the set up of clinical research studies in a health and care setting.
  • Specialist knowledge of RDN portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR) across wider care settings

Desirable

  • Experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studies.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Good IT skills, particularly in the use of Web applications, MS Office and/or Google Hub applications.
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills.
  • Understanding of personal accountability.
  • Ability to travel for work and current driving license

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Good IT skills, particularly in the use of Web applications, MS Office and/or Google Hub applications.
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Understanding of personal accountability.
  • Ability to travel for work
  • Current driving licence

Value and Personal Qualities

Essential

  • A confident and experienced leader and manager in a health care setting.
  • An excellent communicator with the ability to deal with and communicate complex information.
  • Team player
  • Adaptable/flexible approach to work
  • Organised with good attention to detail
  • Ability to work calmly, effectively and independently under pressure

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

Paget House Leicester or Queens Medical Centre Nottingham

2 West Street

Leicester

LE1 6XP


Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

Paget House Leicester or Queens Medical Centre Nottingham

2 West Street

Leicester

LE1 6XP


Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Research Delivery and Support for WCS

Michele Eve

michele.eve@nihr.ac.uk

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-7722710-COR

Job locations

Paget House Leicester or Queens Medical Centre Nottingham

2 West Street

Leicester

LE1 6XP


Supporting documents

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