About this role
Job summary
Join the NIHR North West Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) to play an integral role in supporting the effective and efficient delivery of health and care research across the North West. As a visible leader and ambassador for the RDN, you will directly enable the strategic development of new research delivery capability, including extending research access to under-served regions and communities.
The Agile Research Delivery Team Manager leads a regionally based, flexible, multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) Portfolio studies across various health and care settings. This role has a particular focus on research in wider care settings, specifically within community and residential settings, e.g. schools, care homes, prisons, local authorities, and community trusts, to name a few.
This is an opportunity to work for the UK's biggest funder of health and care research, and contribute to making the UK a global leader in high quality, inclusive, and accessible research, that improves the health and wealth of the nation.
NIHR North West Regional Research Delivery Network is hosted by Manchester Foundation Trust.
Main duties of the job
This role is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of the NIHR RDN portfolio, ensuring it reflects the health and social care needs of the regional population. The postholder will work across organisational boundaries, encouraging collaboration between stakeholders and customers, and supporting a range of research naive to experienced wider care settings sites. The postholder will work closely with researchers, the life sciences industry, local delivery organisations, and other regional research infrastructure to ensure the successful delivery of studies in our area.
As such, extensive experience of managing and delivering health and care research is essential, as are effective relationship management and leadership skills. Working in innovative ways to increase research capacity and capability across the region, excellent planning, organisational, interpersonal and communication skills are necessary. Candidates must have the ability to work autonomously, coordinate their own workload, and motivate their team to achieve the NIHR's strategic aims.
In return, the postholder will work in an organisation that fosters continuous improvement and wellbeing, with opportunities for ongoing professional development.
About us
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - what better place to shape and develop your leadership career.
We deliver care to over 1 million patients & users each year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. Our 30,000 plus strong workforce is central to our success and innovation.
You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You'll work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust.
MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You'll have access to professional development, digital tools and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery.
We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation's success.Join us and help shape the future of our Trust--make a real difference to our teams, our services, and our communities, and fundamentally, our patients.
Job description Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
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To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications Essential
Educated to or working towards postgraduate degree level in a science or health-related discipline or in another field with experience of research trials or equivalent experience/training Evidence of ongoing professional development Qualification (or working towards) in leadership and management
Knowledge and Experience Essential
Effective leadership skills with experience of line management of staff, including appraisals, in a health or care setting Significant knowledge of the governance and legislative frameworks for conducting clinical research studies, including UK Policy Framework for Health and Care Research, UK Clinical Trials Regulations and Good Clinical Practice 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 Understanding of personal accountability Knowledge and experience of data interpretation, verification and reporting to local and national centres
Skills and Abilities Essential
Good IT skills, particularly in use of web applications, Google Workspace applications and MS Office applications Excellent planning and organisational skills Excellent relationship management, interpersonal and communication skills Ability to work autonomously and to motivate self and others Ability to plan and coordinate multidisciplinary activities associated with the management of research studies including, where relevant, work allocation, deployment, and supervision of staff to ensure smooth running of the research studies Excellent attention to detail Ability to travel for work Current driving licence
Values and Personal Qualities Essential
A confident and experienced leader and manager in a health care setting Team player Adaptable/flexible approach to work Integrity Organised with excellent attention to detail Ability to work calmly, effectively and independently under pressure Desire to maintain competence level through continuous learning
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 Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Address NIHR North West Regional Research Delivery Network
Citylabs 1.0, Nelson Street
Manchester
M13 9NQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)