Senior Development and Support Manager (XN07)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a Senior Development and Support Manager to oversee the NIHR Mentorship Programme. This fixed-term role will focus on leadership development and career support initiatives for NIHR Academy Members. The ideal candidate should possess a master's degree, with substantial experience in mentorship and programme management. Located in Leeds, the position offers a full-time, flexible working pattern with a competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering learning and personal development programmes.
• Experience working with suppliers and contract management.
• Understanding of health research and related practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of leadership development agendas for NIHR Academy Members.
• Manage the NIHR Mentorship programme and procurement processes.
• Provide support for the NIHR Academy Senior Leadership Team.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Project management

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Online learning platforms

Job description

Job summary

This is a fixed-term contract role as a result of the current incumbent commencing maternity leave. The contract will be for a period of up to 12 months commencing March 2026.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is seeking a highly motivated and adaptable individual as a Senior Development and Support Manager.

The Senior Development and Support Manager will lead a high-performing team and is accountable for the development and delivery of the NIHR Mentoring Programme and associated provisions for NIHR Academy Members.

The successful candidate will have an understanding and expertise in mentorship and professional development.

Whilst the job description refers to a portfolio of work, this temporary role will focus on the NIHR Mentorship Programme and associated provisions for NIHR Academy Members.

Expected Shortlisting Date

01/12/2025

Planned Interview Date

10/12/2025

Main duties of the job

Lead on the delivery of a number of programmes of work to support the leadership development agenda for NIHR Academy Members including:

• Managing the effective delivery of the NIHR Mentorship programme, including the effective contract management of suppliers
• Working with the communications team to support NIHR Academy Members in promoting career development engagement activities
• Collaborating with other Learning and Development (L&D) colleagues across NIHR to support L&D initiatives organization-wide
• Supporting the NIHR Academy Senior Leadership Team in ensuring development strategy is implemented effectively with appropriate governance and reporting arrangements
• Providing secretariat for panels, boards and implementation groups as required

About us

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR plays a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchers and complements the additional NIHR investment in world‑class research facilities and a skilled research workforce.

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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to redeploying ‘at risk’ members of our existing workforce to new roles. All our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you experience a delay in the shortlisting stage, please bear with us and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job details

Reference number: C9298-MDI-0160

Location: NIHR Academy Executive, 21 Queen Street, Leeds, LS1 2TW

Date posted: 31 October 2025

Contract: Fixed term – 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working

Pay scheme: Band 7 – £47,810 to £54,710 a year

Job responsibilities

• Designing and managing the Development and Support Programme for NIHR Academy Members including leadership, mentorship, patient and public involvement training and additional career and personal development interventions.
• Working with the Communications Manager and the communications team to support Academy Members through a programme of career development engagement activities.
• Managing the effective delivery of the NIHR Mentorship and NIHR Leadership programmes, including the procurement and contract management of suppliers to provide associated workstreams.
• Advising on content for webinars, online engagement activities and workshop provision for NIHR Academy Members.
• Working with the Business Manager and Academy Executive Board Team to implement learning and development support for NIHR Academy Executive staff.
• Supporting the NIHR Academy Senior Leadership Team in ensuring strategy around development and support is implemented effectively with appropriate governance and reporting arrangements.
• Providing secretariat for panels, boards and implementation groups as required.

Programme management

• Managing change in response to external events and new policies; reformulating and adjusting plans and strategies to keep programmes fit for purpose.
• Handling complex queries and complaints about application processes and decisions by telephone, email and in person.
• Planning and implementing the process for administering the schemes in the area of responsibility.
• Coordinating workload and administrative functions across the NIHR Academy Executive with senior programme managers and administrative managers.
• Writing reports and working papers as required.
• Researching and publicising outputs and impacts of the programmes.

Communications

• Communicating verbally and in writing with staff and stakeholders at all levels in a confident and professional manner.
• Publicising the NIHR Academy activities through attendance and presentations at external meetings, seminars and conferences.
• Organising workshops and stakeholder meetings as required.
• Generating and maintaining strong national networks and positive collaborative relationships within NIHR, HEIs, NHS Trusts and other health-related organisations.
• Contributing to briefings requested from ministries, offices and other government departments.
• Liaising with Academy Executive Board members and senior programme managers to meet responsibilities and undertake duties effectively.

General responsibilities

• Keeping up to date with relevant engagement and learning and development practices to inform and advise colleagues.
• Undertaking any ad hoc initiatives as required by the NIHR Academy Executive Board members.

Person specification

• Additional requirements (Essential)
  • 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 – for 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 (Essential)
  • Master’s degree or equivalent experience.
  • Management experience in the delivery of learning and/or personal development programmes.
• Experience (Essential)
  • 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.
  • Line management experience.
  • Understanding and expertise in leadership and professional development.
  • Interest in health research.
  • Experience and willingness of working across discipline boundaries.
  • Significant experience of programme and project management.
  • Experience delivering 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.
• Desirable
  • Postgraduate qualification in learning/personal development.
  • 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 working with or within a healthcare, research or education environment.
  • Experience working at a national level.
  • Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them.
  • Use of the Google Suite.
• Skills & behaviour (Essential)
  • Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team.
  • Build and maintain good working relationships.
  • Deliver work on time, anticipate fresh demands and 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 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 speaking and presenting to others.
  • Ability to assimilate information quickly and apply knowledge effectively to new problems.

Employer details

Leeds Teaching Hospitals
NIHR Academy Executive
21 Queen Street
Leeds, LS1 2TW

Employer website: https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/