Job summary
- Main area
- Research Delivery
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 358-7722710-COR
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Paget House Leicester or Queens Medical Centre Nottingham
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Agile Research Delivery Team (ARDT) Senior Manager
NHS AfC: Band 8a
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Job overview
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.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main 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 criteria
- 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 criteria
- NMC Registered Nurse, Midwife or a HCPC Registered Allied Health Professional
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studies.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- 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 criteria
- 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
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Michele Eve
- Job title
- Head of Research Delivery and Support for WCS
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
Informal visits welcomed
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