Senior Development and Support Manager (XN07)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking a Senior Development and Support Manager to lead the NIHR Mentorship Programme. This role involves effective management of development strategies, supporting NIHR Academy Members, and collaborating across teams to enhance training initiatives. Ideal candidates should possess strong mentorship skills and significant experience in programme management. The contract runs for up to 12 months, starting March 2026.

Qualifications

• Understanding of procurement and contract management best practice.
• Significant experience of programme and project management.
• Experience in delivering executive coaching and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the delivery of the NIHR Mentorship programme.
• Communicate with staff and stakeholders at all levels.
• Manage the effective delivery of the NIHR Leadership programmes.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Project management

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

Masters Degree or Equivalent Experience

Tools

Word processing software

Databases

Spreadsheets

Job description

Senior Development and Support Manager (XN07)

Thisis a fixed term contract role as a result of the current incumbent commencingmaternity leave. The contract will be for a period of up to 12 monthscommencing March 2026.

TheNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is seeking a highlymotivated and adaptable individual as a Senior Development and SupportManager.

TheSenior Development and Support Manager will lead a high performing team andis accountable for the development and delivery of the NIHR MentoringProgramme and associated provisions for NIHR Academy Members.

Thesuccessful candidate will have an understanding and expertise in Mentorshipand professional development.

Whilstthe job description refers to a portfolio of work, this temporary role willfocus on the NIHR Mentorship Programme and associated provisions for NIHRAcademy Members.

Expected ShortlistingDate

01/12/2025

Planned InterviewDate

10/12/2025

Main duties of the job

Thesuccessful candidate will lead on the delivery of a number programmes of workto support the leadership development agenda for NIHR Academy Membersincluding:

Managingthe effective delivery of the NIHR Mentorship programme, including theeffective contract management of suppliers

Workingwith the the communications team to support NIHR Academy Members to promotethe career development engagement activities

Workwith other Learning and Development (L&D) colleagues across NIHR tosupport L&D initiatives across the organisation

Supportingthe NIHR Academys Senior Leadership Team in ensuring strategy arounddevelopment and support is implemented effectively and with the appropriategovernance and reporting arrangements

Withtheir team, provide secretariat for panels, boards and implementation groupsas required.

About us

TheNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission toimprove the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR playsa pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchersand complements the additional NIHR investment in world-class researchfacilities and a skilled research workforce.

Thisrole is hosted by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and delivers thework of the NIHR, leading on policy, strategy and delivery in respect ofacademic training in England and working closely with other NIHR centres andthe Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate at the Department ofHealth and Social Care (DHSC).

LeedsTeaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job advertsare subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or removeadverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in theshortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while thisprocess is completed, and contact the named contact if you have anyquestions.

Job responsibilities

Developmentand Support Programme Management

• Designingand managing the Development and Support Programme for NIHR Academy Membersincluding leadership, mentorship, patient and public involvement training andadditional career and personal development interventions
• Workingwith the Communications Manager and the communications team to supportAcademy Members through a programme of career development engagementactivities
• Managingthe effective delivery of the NIHR Mentorship and NIHR Leadership programmes,including the procurement and contract management of suppliers to provideassociated workstreams
• Adviseon content for webinars, online engagement activities and workshop provisionfor NIHR Academy Members
• Workwith the Business Manager and Academy Executive Board Team to implementlearning and development support for NIHR Academy Executive staff
• Workwith other Learning and Development (L&D) colleagues across NIHR tosupport L&D initiatives across the organisation
• Supportingthe NIHR Academys Senior Leadership Team in ensuring strategy arounddevelopment and support is implemented effectively and with the appropriategovernance and reporting arrangements.

ProgrammeManagement

• Thepost holder will be required to manage change in response to external eventsand new policies; this may require the reformulation and adjustment of plansand strategies to ensure that the programmes in the post holders portfolioremain fit for purpose.
• Providesecretariat for panels, boards and implementation groups as required
• Undertakingspecific project work around the future direction of the organisation asrequired
• Handlecomplex queries and complaints about application processes and decisions bytelephone, email, and in person
• Workwith the Academy Executive Board to plan and implement the process foradministering the schemes in the post holders area of responsibility
• Playa key role in planning the cycle and timing of schemes in the post holdersarea of responsibility
• Workingwith the other Senior Programme Managers and Administrative Manager tomonitor workload and co-ordination of administrative functions across theNIHR Academy Executive
• Writereports and working papers as required
• Researchand publicise outputs and impacts of the programmes in the post holder'sportfolio.

Communications

• Communicateverbally and in writing with staff and stakeholders at all levels in aconfident and professional manner
• Publicisethe NIHR Academy activities through attendance and presentations at externalmeetings, seminars and conferences
• Dealwith a range of people nationally at all levels of seniority both internaland external to the NIHR Academy in line with DHSC policies
• Organiseworkshops and stakeholder meetings as required
• Generateand maintain strong nationally-based networks and positive and collaborativeworking relationships within NIHR, HEIs, NHS Trusts and other health-relatedorganisations, particularly at the level of senior research leaders/sponsorsto benefit the NIHR Academy programmes.
• Contributeto briefings requested from Ministers offices and other governmentdepartments.
• Liaisewith members of the Academy Executive Board and Senior Programme Managers inorder to meet responsibilities and undertake duties effectively.

General

• Keepingup to date with relevant engagement and learning and development practices soas to be able to inform and advise colleagues as required;
• Undertakingany ad hoc initiatives as required by the NIHR Academy Executive Boardmembers.

Person Specification

Additional Requirements

• Drafting reports and papers
• Good keyboard skills and working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets
• Ability to extract and analyse data
• Ability to manage time, both own and others
• Ability to give clear information both verbally and in written communications
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise a broad range of new and ongoing activities
• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Willingness to travel in UK, including occasional overnight absence

Qualifications

• Masters Degree or Equivalent Experience
• Management experience in the delivery of learning and/or personal development programmes

Experience

• Experience of working with suppliers, contract management, monitoring and evaluation
• Understanding of procurement and contract management best practice
• Experience working with online learning and development platforms
• Experience developing and delivering online education and webinars
• An understanding and expertise in leadership and professional development
• Experience and a willingness of working across discipline boundaries
• Significant experience of programme and project management
• Experience of delivery of learning/personal development programmes or relevant experience in a people-focused role
• Experience prioritising, scheduling and managing delivery of a complex, wide-ranging, time-critical and unpredictable workload
• A proven track record in successfully planning and organising yourself, others and projects
• An understanding of health research capacity development and competency frameworks for researchers
• Experience of facilitation of groups and meetings
• Experience in delivering executive coaching and mentoring
• Experience of working with or within a healthcare, research or education environment
• Experience of working at a national level

Skills & behaviours

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team
• Build and maintain good working relationships
• Deliver work on time, to anticipate fresh demands, and to delegate effectively
• Effective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, members of the public and various stakeholders
• Identify opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
• Set goals and standards
• Take personal responsibility
• Strong effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and development
• Ability to liaise with senior managers and stakeholders, offering guidance on and interpretation of complex information
• Advanced level oral and written communication skills
• Highly developed presentation skills, able to convey complex information to large groups from diverse backgrounds
• Confident and comfortable talking and presenting to others
• Identify opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
• Identify and solve problems
• Ability to assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new problems
• Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them