HDR UK Black Internship Programme Manager, Delivery and Growth

Health Data Research UK (HDR UK); Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR UK is recruiting a proactive Programme Manager to lead the Black Internship Programme, ensuring end-to-end delivery, strong governance and inclusive talent development across host organisations, interns, alumni and mentors. You will coordinate recruitment, onboarding, training, events and evaluation, build trusted partnerships, and continuously improve the programme to scale impact and sustainability.

This role offers a unique opportunity to influence career pathways in health data research

Job description

This is a pivotal role for someone who combines outstanding programme management and operational delivery with a strong commitment to inclusive talent development. You will take ownership of the day-to-day running of the Black Internship Programme, ensuring that every stage of the intern and host journey is well planned, coordinated and delivered to a consistently high standard. You will build trusted, long-term relationships with host organisations, interns, alumni, mentors and wider stakeholders, ensuring that participants and partners feel supported, engaged and motivated to remain involved.

Alongside delivering an excellent core programme, you will identify opportunities to grow and enrich BIP: strengthening the host network, improving the intern experience, developing alumni engagement, introducing new activities and partnerships, and making the programme more efficient, impactful and sustainable.

You will be organised, proactive and solutions-focused, with the judgement to manage competing priorities, resolve challenges and translate strategic ambitions into effective delivery. You will be comfortable working collaboratively across a diverse stakeholder network and motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible difference to career pathways and representation in health data research.

This is an exceptional opportunity to influence the next chapter of a national programme which has had proven success but seeking the opportunity to scale. Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset who combines operational discipline with the initiative to spot opportunities, engage partners and drive growth? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Main responsibilities

Programme delivery and operational excellence

• Lead end-to-end delivery of the annual programme, including recruitment, matching, onboarding, training, mentoring, events, evaluation and alumni transition.
• Maintain effective plans, timelines, systems, documentation and communications so interns and hosts are well supported.
• Manage budgets, procurement, records, information governance, confidentiality and safeguarding in line with HDR UK policies.
• Anticipate and resolve operational issues, escalating risks appropriately.
• Continuously improve efficiency, quality and scalability through streamlined processes, technology and standardised resources.

Host organisation engagement and growth

• Build and retain strong relationships with host organisations, ensuring they are supported and motivated to participate again.
• Grow and onboard a diverse host network across academia, industry, healthcare, government and the wider health data sector.
• Work with hosts to create meaningful, inclusive placements with clear expectations and high-quality development opportunities.
• Develop host engagement, recognition and referral approaches, and opportunities to contribute through mentoring, skills development and alumni activity.
• Support partnership development and contributions that strengthen the programme’s long-term sustainability.

Intern experience, support and development

• Deliver an inclusive, engaging experience from application through placement and beyond.
• Coordinate accessible recruitment, selection, matching, onboarding and induction processes.
• Build trusted relationships with interns, providing responsive support and monitoring progress and wellbeing with hosts and colleagues.
• Coordinate mentoring, workshops, networking, careers activities and opportunities to build technical, professional and transferable skills.
• Use intern feedback to improve the programme and develop alumni, peer-support and career pathways.

Programme enrichment, innovation and continuous improvement

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve the programme’s quality, reach, impact and participant experience.
• Develop activities, resources and partnerships that respond to intern needs, host feedback and sector opportunities.
• Strengthen career pathways by connecting interns and alumni with employers, mentors, networks and further learning.
• Build an engaged community of interns, alumni, hosts, mentors and supporters.
• Use evidence, stakeholder insight and relevant benchmarks to shape a scalable, sustainable programme model.

Monitoring, evaluation and impact

• Maintain systems to monitor delivery, participation, satisfaction, placement quality, outcomes, milestones and risks.
• Collect and analyse feedback and outcomes data from interns, hosts, mentors and alumni.
• Produce clear reports, dashboards, case studies and impact stories for stakeholders, funders and partners.
• Track longer-term progression where feasible, including employment, further study and careers in relevant fields.
• Use evidence to improve decisions, demonstrate value and support investment, growth and effective communication of impact.

Stakeholder collaboration and team contribution

• Collaborate across HDR UK to align delivery with wider Talent and Training and organisational priorities.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, advisory groups, funders, delivery partners and external advisers.
• Prepare clear updates, briefings and recommendations to support decisions and programme development.
• Contribute to planning, risk management, partnerships and portfolio sustainability.
• Represent BIP and HDR UK professionally at meetings, events and external engagements.