About this role
Job summary
Join the NIHR in a pivotal senior leadership role designed to be the primary conduit for commercial partners. As a Life Science Key Account Manager, you will act as a single point of access for industry leaders, helping them explore their pipelines, plan effectively, and facilitate the delivery of high-impact clinical research across the UK. Hosted by the NIHR Research Delivery Network, you will bridge the gap between life sciences companies and the wider clinical research ecosystem, ensuring the UK remains a premier destination for commercial trial delivery.
We are looking for a visionary leader with deep specialist knowledge of the NHS and R&D systems. You should have a proven track record of managing senior stakeholder relationships and the ability to navigate complex matrix management structures. Success in this role requires a blend of strategic thinking, robust analytical skills, and the ability to inspire a national research delivery workforce to perform to the highest standards.
Interview Date Thursday 15 October 2026 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
As a Life Science Key Account Manager, you will serve as the primary strategic lead for our commercial partners, acting as their single gateway to the NIHR's extensive research infrastructure. Your day-to-day will involve translating complex pipeline needs into actionable research plans, leveraging business intelligence to drive commercial growth, and troubleshooting performance across the national portfolio. Success in this role demands a unique combination of commercial acumen, expert negotiation skills, and strategic stakeholder management. We are looking for an adaptive, visionary leader who can navigate complex matrix structures while championing an inclusive, "One NIHR" culture to ensure we deliver high-impact research for the benefit of the UK.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Freeman Hospital Newcastle Dental Hospital Cramlington Manor Walks Urgent treatment centres Newcastle Fertility Centre Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria Northern Genetics Service These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description Job responsibilities
At the NIHR, your work directly contributes to the health of the nation and the strength of the economy. You will be part of a collaborative culture that values equality, diversity, and continuous improvement. This role offers the unique opportunity to represent the UK on an international stage, involving national and international travel, while forming part of a national portfolio management function that shapes the future of healthcare. Join us to be at the forefront of clinical research innovation and make a tangible impact on patient care.
We would encourage all applicants to contact us by phone or email to discuss any queries they have about the role, job description, the application, flexible working options and shortlisting process or any other queries they have related to the role or working for the NIHR RDN.
The NIHR and DHSC vision is for this role being a single conduit for key commercial partners to explore their pipeline, plan, place and facilitate effective delivery of their studies.
The Life Science Key Account Manager, as a senior manager in the NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), will work as part of a national NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) Industry facing team to develop and manage relationships with Life Sciences companies, and the NIHR wider stakeholders within the clinical research environment including non-commercial funders and other parts of the research ecosystem to attract and grow clinical research delivery in the UK. The Life Sciences Key Account Manager will work as part of a national portfolio management function coordinated by the NIHR Life Sciences Director through the NIHR Industry Hub.
Hosted by RDN, this role will work closely with Industry facing teams across the NIHR to ensure equality and consistency of service for all customers, nationally and regionally. Using horizon scanning data, business intelligence and NIHR expertise and relationships, the postholder will provide a tailored service to key accounts as a single conduit, representing the NIHR nationally. The post holder will promote NIHR services, ensuring that key themes and opportunities are communicated into the NIHR. The postholder will work closely with other key industry facing teams , External Affairs and Strategic Partnerships and the Department of Business and Trade to explore opportunities and enable access to NIHR infrastructure.
The postholder will support the marketing of NIHR services to Industry and contribute to the shaping of new projects and services that meet the needs of Life Sciences customers. The postholder will proactively develop a profile across the research infrastructure and work collaboratively with individuals and groups both internally, and with external stakeholders in a host of settings. The postholder will contribute to the positioning of the UK within the global programmes.
The post holder will be line managed by the RRDN Strategic Development Director but will operate within a dual reporting structure supported by a matrix management framework, with the NIHR Life Sciences Industry Director as Matrix Manager to ensure alignment of the role to the work of the NIHR Industry Hub. As part of the same matrix management framework, the postholder will provide line management of the Industry Manager in partnership with the NIHR Industry Hub Director of Operations as Matrix Manager. Together this team will support a culture of one NIHR to deliver the life science strategy as a whole.
This role requires national travel and international travel.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications Essential
Masters level qualification or equivalent experience Significant experience or knowledge in research and development (R&D), science or healthcare Significant specialist knowledge of the NHS, R&D systems and the context of the importance of the life sciences in this context
Knowledge and Experience Essential
Experience of owning and writing complex business cases Broad knowledge and experience of utilising information technology to provide management information reports, particularly financial and activity reporting Experience at dealing with very senior people both internally and externally e.g operational management Proven experience of working successfully as part of diffused leadership teams Proven staff management experience with the ability to gain their support, motivate and develop them Experience of managing a customer-focused service Experience of working in healthcare in an operational management or business management or development capacity Experience of working with the life sciences sector or working within R&D within the NHS/academic sector Ability to negotiate commercial contracts and non-commercial agreements with the commercial sector, the public sector, universities and charities Professional leadership at an operational level Experience at project management, with a good understanding of the complexities involved An understanding of business and marketing principles
Desirable
Research management and administration including governance, sponsorship, costings, contracts, finance and clinical trial agreements Appreciation of clinical research methodologies and trials organisation Advanced experience of using R&D databases Experience of working in the private healthcare sector and International business experience Senior level experience of managing R&D activity in the health and social care/university sector Demonstration of strategic thinking and strategy development Experience of design management and delivery of completed research projects in the health, social care or university sector
Skills and Abilities Essential
Robust leadership skills Ability to exercise initiative Excellent organisational skills Team building and staff training skill Excellent verbal and written communication skills Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation Evidence of strong analytical skills and high level of numeracy Ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties Good IT skills, particularly in use of Web applications, Google Workspace applications and MS Office applications and with respect to research databases Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines Ability to manage challenging and stressful situations Strong problem-solving skills
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 The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Regent Point
317 Regent Point
NE3 3HD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)