Senior Programme Manager, Innovation Programmes

Company Description

ABOUT LGC GRANT MANAGEMENT GROUP

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We work in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR funds, enables, and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. We are also a major funder of applied health research in low- and middle-income countries.

DHSC contracts directly with a number of NHS Trusts, universities and life science organisations that together host our two coordinating centres:

• NIHR Coordinating Centre (NIHRCC), hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of Southampton, and LGC.

• Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre (CRNCC), hosted by a consortium of the University of Leeds and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

These two coordinating centres share operational responsibility for the NIHR.  Their work is directed by DHSC’s Chief Scientific Adviser and by the Director and Senior Management Team of DHSC's Science Research and Evidence Directorate.

Job Description

You will play a key role in the Innovation Programmes team, supporting the day-to-day delivery of a translational funding programme. The programmes we manage include, for example, the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme and SBRI Healthcare. This role will initially be focused on supporting the i4i programme and its various funding streams.

You will be involved in the commissioning of new competitions, and you will manage a portfolio of exciting projects, led by universities, NHS Trusts or small and medium-sized enterprises, making an impact on the NHS and the UK economy. You are expected to develop close relationships with innovators and entrepreneurs, drive the collection of outcomes, contribute to the generation of case studies and participate in the planning of workshops, webinars and events.

You will act as an ambassador for our funding programmes, representing and promoting them externally to a wide variety of stakeholders, including industry.

You have a good understanding of the UK health innovation ecosystem and an appreciation of current and evolving technology developments and commercial exploitation routes, and ideally you have some experience of working across academia, the NHS and industry.

You will be expected to manage and support other team members and contribute to the continuous improvement of operational processes and working practices.

You need to be comfortable with working to tight deadlines and competing priorities while maintaining a high quality of outputs.

Responsibilities

Programme operations and commissioning

• Supporting all aspects of translational funding, including scoping potential call themes, advising applicants, reviewing applications for funding and providing feedback to applicants
• Supporting Programme Leads and the Assistant Director with strategic proposals for new initiatives and the preparation of papers for Contract Management and /or Advisory Boards
• Leading on continuous improvement activities across the team and drafting work instructions as appropriate

Due diligence, contracting and portfolio management

• Undertaking due diligence of funding proposals, including reviewing the scientific, technical and clinical rationale, analysis of project budgets, evaluation of proposed intellectual property protection and freedom to operate positions and assessment of the proposed adoption and commercialisation strategies
• Negotiating funding agreements for projects recommended for funding, including the negotiation of milestones, financial arrangements and reporting requirements to enable successful project delivery
• Managing a portfolio of projects at various stages of development across different healthcare technology sectors
• Leading on portfolio analysis and collection of relevant metrics to support activities around programme promotion, business intelligence, impact and evaluation
• Contributing to the generation of case studies for programme promotion, customer reporting and shared learning

 Comms & engagement

• Supporting the delivery of communications and engagement activities or leading on elements thereof, including the promotion of competitions and launch events, newsletters and annual reports
• Supporting the engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises, other funders and charities, the investment community, and other relevant stakeholders
• Planning and/or contributing to the delivery of key events or initiatives, such as our annual portfolio showcase event
• Liaising regularly with internal and external stakeholders, including attending, organising and leading meetings, representing the funder’s perspective at project meetings to facilitate successful project development, and promoting and representing funding programmes at external events

 Staff management

• Direct line management of Programme Managers
• Assisting with recruitment and conducting the annual performance and development review process with direct reports
• Mentoring and training of new and existing staff
• Championing equality, diversity and inclusion within the team and the organisation

Please ensure that you upload a single document with your CV and your cover letter, clearly stating your motivation to apply and what experience you bring from previous roles which make you a good candidate for this role.

Qualifications

Essential Criteria:

• Educated to MSc/PhD level in biomedical or health sciences
• Experience of working in research management, technology transfer, healthcare technology accelerators, start-ups and/or organisations supporting innovation
• Experience of working within multiple areas of the health, social care and life sciences sector including academia, the NHS and industry
• Understanding of intellectual property and commercial aspects in relation to research commercialisation

Desired Criteria: 

• Experience of managing and developing people

Key Competencies: 

• Experience of managing diverse internal and external relationships
• Committed team player
• Excellent presentation and communications skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proven organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to manage own time to meet demanding deadlines and excellent attention to detail

Additional Information

Salary & Benefits 
£48,600 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

This is a Twickenham, office based, hybrid role, with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of one day a week, four days a month.

Application
If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Required Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with NIHR. 

NB: Closing date for applications is 5pm on the 10th July, interviews to be held remotely from the 15th July through to the 25th July. 

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity
LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, 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, colour, 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