Leadership and Governance Manager

University of Plymouth; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A higher education institution in the UK is seeking a Leadership and Governance Manager to oversee governance and operational management for a large mental health project funded by NIHR. This role involves developing internal structures, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. The ideal candidate will have experience in project management, governance frameworks, and strategic oversight. The position offers generous annual leave and development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Development opportunities

Enhanced family leave

Flexible working

Retailer discounts

On-site nursery

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic oversight of project planning, delivery, and evaluation.
• Track record in leading multi-organisation research projects.
• Strong understanding of governance frameworks and ethical issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage governance and operational processes for the mental health award.
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with NIHR and University policies.

Skills

Strategic oversight

Project management

Governance frameworks

People management

Data protection (GDPR)

Team collaboration

Job description

About the role

As the Leadership and Governance Manager, you will provide leadership on governance and operational management for the programme and will contribute to strategic direction to ensure the effective delivery of project objectives across multiple partner organisations.

The key purpose of this post is to develop, coordinate, and manage a large NIHR-funded mental health award at the University of Plymouth along with lead investigators.

You will play a pivotal part in building research capacity, strengthening research governance processes, managing specific projects and facilitating collaboration across universities, NHS organisations, and community partners.

An essential aspect of the role will be to develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including NIHR, research partners, healthcare providers, and community representatives. You will also contribute to knowledge mobilisation, supporting dissemination of research findings and ensuring that outputs lead to measurable impact across the health and care system.

Key responsibilities

• Developing, coordinating, and managing internal administrative and governance structures, ensuring compliance with NIHR and University policies.
• Leading on governance processes including the management of advisory boards, steering groups, and executive committees.
• Providing high-level guidance and oversight on matters of research ethics, data protection, and regulatory compliance.
• Representing the project and University of Plymouth at local, regional, and national meetings, ensuring visibility and alignment with NIHR strategy.
• Providing expert advice and interpretation of governance and regulatory frameworks to colleagues and partners.
• Ensuring effective communication and collaboration across all project partner sites.

The project is due to start 1 April 2026 with an expected end date of 31 March 2031 due to the nature of the project and funding.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role please contact Laura Gill via email at [e-mail]

What we’re looking for

You will have experience of strategic oversight of project planning, delivery, and evaluation, including leadership of governance structures, financial monitoring, reporting, and performance management.

You will also have the following:

• Experience of managing collaborative, multi-organisation projects, with a proven track record in project and programme management within research and/or healthcare settings.
• Experience of people management and team leadership and of managing complex budgets, contracts, and performance monitoring processes.
• Experience of developing and implementing governance frameworks and administrative systems and hold a strong understanding of data protection (GDPR) and ethical issues in research.
• Experience of working both independently and as part of a cross-functional team as well as being able to provide skilled analysis, interpretation, and reporting of complex data.
• Experience of working with researchers at different stages in their career and hold a proven track record demonstrating experience of leadership development in a health, care, and/or research setting.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

Application Process

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Anticipated Interview Date: Wednesday 14 January 2026 (in person)

Our Offer

A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by the University of Plymouth Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Plymouth. Employees of the University of Plymouth Services Limited work alongside the University of Plymouth colleagues in delivery of Plymouth’s strategic vision, and will adopt the University of Plymouth’s HR policies and procedures in full unless otherwise stated.

When joining us, you will receive:

• Generous annual leave: 35 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays & Closure Days
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.

Additional Information

The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter, please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.