The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR – www.nihr.ac.uk) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research and is the major funder of health and social care research in the UK. 

The Senior Research Collaboration Manager will have a leading role in supporting existing collaborations and the development and scoping of new collaborations or strategic initiatives. The post holder will work with existing and new partners across the NIHR Infrastructure, life sciences industry, medical research charities and the broader clinical research landscape to support collaborations across multiple disease areas, primarily consisting of the Translational Research Collaborations (TRCs).

The successful candidate for this role will be a highly proactive, outgoing and engaging individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a strategic and critical thinker and a natural, confident leader. A flexible and adaptive working style is needed, constantly horizon scanning and ready to seize new challenges and opportunities as they emerge, building strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders and colleagues across NIHR and the Department of Health and Social Care. The post-holder will be an integral member of the Collaborations Team supporting the delivery of NIHR’s mission of improving the health and wealth of the nation through research. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight and support of established NIHR collaborations including the ongoing management, monitoring and support for each NIHR TRC or other Collaboration.
• Work with the Managers of the TRCs, offering practical support, advice and guidance.
• Support the development of TRC/collaboration strategies and advise on the strategic goals, objectives and planning of existing collaborations, and review new and refreshed strategies of NIHR TRCs, advising on improvements as necessary.
• Oversee the review of annual reports of NIHR TRCs and other Collaborations and provide feedback and recommendations as appropriate.
• Facilitate engagement with medical research charities, other parts of the NIHR infrastructure, funders, the life sciences industry and the wider research landscape to identify opportunities for strategic alignment, leveraging funding and development of collaborative activities
• Participate in collaboration Steering Committee Meetings and facilitate cross-learning across collaborations. 
• Horizon scan and stay abreast of national developments, priorities and strategic goals, actively seeking out new opportunities as new and future priorities emerge 
• Lead on scoping and establishing new Collaborations and other initiatives as required
• Oversee and maintain standard and structured processes for scoping and supporting the development of new TRCs and other Collaborations
• Lead on identifying areas of unmet need (patient, industry or researcher), strategic relevance, and/or areas of significant expertise within the NIHR infrastructure where benefits could be gained from the development of a Collaboration.
• Work closely with the Portfolio Analyst to lead and oversee the provision of analyses, intelligence and information on NIHR research portfolios to facilitate collaborations, meetings, briefing requests, and other requests for information.
• Provide intelligence reports and analyses to support meetings with prospective partner organisations and lead new initiatives and activities on behalf of NIHR.
• Develop, facilitate and deliver workshops, events and other stakeholder engagement activities both online and face to face to support the development of a new initiative or collaboration.
• Line manage and provide day to day support and mentoring for the Research Collaboration Officer.
• Work closely with the Communications Manager to ensure that the work of the TRCs and the team are effectively communicated and promoted internally and externally, identifying and developing relevant case studies and success stories
• Develop close links with other teams and departments across the NIHR to ensure support for Collaboration aims and objectives and identify areas of mutual interest. 

Key Competencies/qualifications essential for this role:

• A good biomedical science degree with experience gained through previous employment in the life sciences research sector, with a strong understanding of clinical research and research funding processes.
• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail, including minute-taking, meetings and diary management and record keeping.

• An outgoing and engaging personality with excellent interpersonal, liaison and communication skills – written and verbal.

• A proactive and supportive team player who can work independently and provide leadership, mentoring and peer support to a team, role-modelling a positive, can-do culture.

• Experience of stakeholder management across a variety of organisations with an ability to easily build and maintain favourable working relationships with experts in their field, with a natural gravitas
• A track record of successful management and delivery of complex projects involving multiple organisations and stakeholders with a range of different needs
• Experience of planning and delivering meetings and events, both online and face to face
• Ability to understand the complex NIHR infrastructure and funding system, identify relevant funding opportunities, analyse and map the expertise within a specific field or disease area

• An understanding of how clinical research in the NHS is carried out, and the role of the NIHR

• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines; competent to balance a combination of desk-based research and analysis with line management, peer support, stakeholder engagement and meeting coordination

• An understanding of how to apply Research Inclusion principles in research and research management, and a commitment to ensure this is effectively implemented
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• An understanding of the broader clinical and social research environment in the UK, including the role of the third sector and industry

The following qualifications/experience and competencies are desirable

• A postgraduate degree in biomedical science
• An understanding of the complex NIHR infrastructure and funding system and/or previous experience of working with the NIHR
• Previous experience of working in clinical research, with an understanding of grant funding and grant management processes
• An understanding of what makes good patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in research and a commitment to ensure this is effectively implemented 

Why work for us?
Join our team and you’ll be working with an exceptional organisation who manage high quality health and care research for the benefit of patients and the public on behalf of NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care.

Salary & Benefits

• £45,700+ PA
• Bonus - subject to company performance
• 25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Life Insurance
• Benenden Healthcare
• Season Ticket Loan
• Laptop, IT equipment and remote IT support 

This is a fixed term maternity cover role, for 12 months. 

NB: This role will be based in London at either our Twickenham or Victoria office with frequent travel within the UK. This is an office-based, hybrid role with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of 4 days a month, usually worked as one day per week and may increase, subject to team requirements. 

To Apply 
If you are interested in working with us and feel you have the appropriate background and skills, please apply with your CV, with the cover letter attached in the same document, explaining what you feel you could bring to the company, outlining your suitability for the role. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis from March 2024, so early application is strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment. Please quote REF838T on all correspondence. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 
LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.

For more information about LGC, please visit our website www.lgcgroup.com