Operations Manager

Newcastle University; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the UK is seeking a highly competent individual for the role of Operations Manager for the NIHR Innovation Observatory. This full-time position involves leading operational efforts to support health and care innovation research. Candidates should possess strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of the health research landscape, and experience in managing complex projects and budgets. The role emphasizes collaboration with various stakeholders to drive impactful research initiatives.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in leading complex research projects.
• Proven track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Ability to manage budgets and financial reporting effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate operations for the NIHR Innovation Observatory.
• Manage strategic delivery plans and resource allocation.
• Oversee the financial management of research grants.

Skills

Strong understanding of health and social care research

Research management expertise

Line management experience

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Leadership and coaching skills

Education

Relevant degree in a related field

Tools

Project management tools

CRMs

Job description

Overview

Salary: £47,389 - £50,253 with progression to £56,535 per annum

Closing Date: 01 March 2026

The Role

The NIHR Innovation Observatory (IO) is a world-leading health and care innovation horizon scanning research centre based at Newcastle University. Our work supports government agencies, industry, regulators, charities, and researchers by delivering timely, actionable insights that inform strategic decision-making, policy development, investment guidance, funding programs and improve alignment across agencies. We work across the health, life sciences and wider care ecosystem to identify innovation, gaps and unmet needs, follow trends and signal potentially game changing innovations. Our work fosters national and international collaboration supporting the growth of the UK health and life sciences sector, and is a beacon for cross-sector, interdisciplinary training and capacity building in horizon scanning and foresight. We are at the forefront of developing approaches and people to identify and analyse emerging health and care technologies, ensuring the UK is prepared to leverage scientific breakthroughs that improve patient outcomes and support system readiness.

This role is responsible for the development and delivery of the NIHR Innovation Observatory operations team, providing high quality professional services support to researchers, technical specialists, analysts and national health, life science and care stakeholders as required. The role reports into the Director of NIHR Innovation Observatory.

You will have responsibility for promoting the values of the NIHR Innovation Observatory through appropriate and visible leadership behaviours and actions, with particular responsibility to:

• Teamwork: Collaborate with kindness, value and respecting everyone, offering help and support. Actively promoting an open flow of information and seeking to partner with external interest holders/stakeholders in all our activities.
• Courage and Ambition: Operate at the top of your game, valuing and actively seeking out learning and development opportunities. Giving and receiving feedback with honesty and reflecting on your approaches.
• Curiosity and Open-mindedness: Embrace creativity and value originality, seizing opportunities to learn and innovate.
• Integrity and Quality: Walk the talk and be well-prepared and robust in your approach, delivering high quality timely outputs, and managing your time and resources effectively

This post is full time, fixed term until 31st March 2031.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dominic Lamb ( # ).

for this role, please submit a CV and covering letter with your application.

Key Accountabilities

• Support the Senior Leadership team in day-to-day management of the operations function that ensures the IO delivers against its strategic aims and objectives, delivery milestones and key performance measures, in such a way that promotes excellence and high performance
• Leading and project manage a dedicated portfolio and programme management of a complex range of innovative research and analytical programmes that support the pull through of health and care innovations. This will include ensuring the rigorous use of recognised programme and portfolio management methods and software across the team
• Identify, develop and improve processes, implementing systems and standards to drive improvement across teams and establishing mechanisms to track impact and performance of quality initiatives such that the IO continues to grow and develop its research base and commercial offer
• Development and management of all governance and data reporting arrangements, both within the University and across national stakeholders such as the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. This includes producing high quality documentation to support meetings and decision making by senior leadership team members as well as plans and reports as required and at the request of the Director and Senior Leadership Team, including annual delivery plans, quarterly/annual reports and performance evaluation reports
• Oversee the financial management, procurement and budgeting for a large research infrastructure grant award including expertise and knowledge of Higher Education finance systems ensuring budgets are appropriately and efficiently managed
• Providing senior leadership and management to a team of professional services, technical and research staff across the IO, across a matrixed structure where direct line management accountability may not always be in place
• Provide operational leadership and oversight of core transformational programmes such as improving Innovation Observatory’s CRM and knowledge management structures
• Working with the Director and the University/Faculty in pro-actively managing Intellectual Property, commercial opportunities and the leveraging of assets, ensuring that due process is applied at all stages of decision-making and full consideration has been given to all options
• Provide robust oversight, leadership and secretariat support for the IO governance structures including collation of membership, update reports and subsequent minutes

Strategic

• Lead the development and delivery of the Innovation Observatory’s strategy and annual delivery plan process in conjunction with the Director and Senior Leadership Team
• Lead the development of the annual People Plan and have clarity over succession and talent requirements. Ensure all people processes across the IO are delivered effectively and in alignment with the values of the University such as recruitment and selection, appraisal and workload allocation distribution
• To lead the management and support of grant applications, and bids for funding and consultancy proposals across the IO, supporting the team to build new income streams and identify new opportunities
• Establish and manage processes and reporting that ensure that the IO fulfils the requirements of the including the development and implementation of systems to manage performance and reporting that drives and supports the work of the IO in its key areas of activity
• Lead the development of a series of change programmes, in collaboration with the Director and Senior Leadership Team, underpinned by strong operational management processes
• To support the Director and Senior Leadership Team through a cycle of continuous improvement, enabling them to effectively drive the strategic direction of the Unit
• To develop and maintain effective and proactive working relationships with the agencies to which the IO reports, namely the Department of Health and Social care and the National Institute for Health and Care Research supporting the Director and Senior Leadership Team, in promoting the work, success and impact of the Unit to assure its long-term sustainability
• To build strong and collegiate relationships with our internal and external stakeholders, strategic delivery partners and collaborators; founded upon transparency, openness, mutual respect and trust, to ensure the IO achieves its aims and objectives

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Have a strong understanding of the of the complexities and challenges of the health, social care and public health research, and innovation landscape, within a Higher Education setting, including a good understanding of key stakeholders across government, funding agencies, regulators and charitable organisations. A robust working knowledge of NIHR infrastructure would be an advantage
• Have excellent research management expertise including leading the operationalisation of large complex infrastructure awards, or a large research institute, organisation or team for multiple high-profile stakeholders at a national level.
• Have a demonstrable track record of developing and refreshing knowledge and skills to ensure that their contribution remains informed and relevant
• Extensive experience of line management, with a proven track record for developing high-performing teams through effective coaching, mentoring and performance management. Building teams, who work collaboratively and flexibly and are accountable for delivering excellent service
• Proven track record of developing robust business intelligence and insights to support and inform the delivery of a large research institute, using qualitative and quantitative data where required
• Significant experience of developing and delivering operational and strategic plans, and associated resource planning and policies in line with internal and external requirements (e.g. business planning, legislative requirements and funder requirements)
• Significant experience of managing change and supporting people to make transitions
• Ability to use influence and informal levers to ensure delivery of programmes of work to time, and to budget across matrix structures
• Proven high level of decision making and problem-solving skills in pressure situations, and a demonstrable ability to undertake initiatives, prioritise and plan appropriately within a strategic framework
• Strong up-to-date knowledge of key management tools and software including project management tools, CRMs and knowledge management processes
• Outstanding organisational, interpersonal, leadership, time management, presentation and communication skills
• Proven ability to develop and manage budgets, forecast costs and monitor expenditure to ensure compliance. Experience of financial reporting, cost control and data analysis to support informed decision making and operational efficiency

Attributes and Behaviour

• Strong interpersonal leadership skills with the ability to coach, mentor and manage performance effectively
• Promotes and actively drives change within