Senior Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager

NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research); Twickenham; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health research institute is seeking a Senior MEL Manager to drive innovative insights that shape national research strategies. The role requires a postgraduate degree in health or social sciences, along with strong analytical and project management skills. Responsibilities include chairing the NIHR Indicators Group, managing data collection, and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance research impact. This hybrid position offers a salary between £48,600 and £51,300 and includes a wide range of employee benefits.

Benefits

Annual bonus, subject to performance

Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme

Life Insurance Cover

Healthcare Membership

Training and Development Opportunities

Season Ticket Loan

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in health related or social sciences, or equivalent experience.
• Proven ability to apply monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience developing innovative methodologies for collating data.
• Experience in UK health and life sciences R&D sector, understanding research impact.

Responsibilities

• Chair the NIHR Indicators Delivery Group and integrate evidence into outputs.
• Manage a team of indicator leads and oversee data collection.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support MEL development.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

Postgraduate degree in health or social sciences

Tools

Digital tools for data improvement

Job description

Overview

Join LGC’s dynamic Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning team as a Senior MEL Manager, driving innovative, high-impact insights that shape NIHR’s national research strategy. Lead the development of NIHR Indicators, elevate evidence quality and collaborate across sectors to influence real-world health and economic outcomes.

The Role

This role offers an exciting opportunity to join the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team, supporting NIHR in generating high quality evidence that demonstrates and strengthens research impact. Reporting to the NIHR Lead Economist, the post encompasses organisational and programme level MEL activities, with a core focus on developing, managing and reporting NIHR Indicators across the four I’s: Impact, Inclusion, Innovation, and Investment.

Key responsibilities include chairing the NIHR Indicators Delivery Group, integrating indicator evidence into outputs, producing and reviewing quantitative and qualitative data, advising on data quality and methods and enhancing impact visualisation.

The role involves liaising with other delivery groups, maintaining process documentation, managing a team of indicator leads and overseeing data collection, analysis and report preparation, including integration into a comprehensive dashboard. You will collaborate across NIHR and external stakeholders to promote consistent processes, support continuous improvement and contribute to wider MEL development. Success requires strategic problem solving, strong project leadership and excellent relationship building skills to operate effectively across a complex research ecosystem.

About you

Required Criteria

• Postgraduate degree in health related or social sciences, or equivalent experience
• Proven ability to apply monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches to deliver insight and encourage sustained refinement of programme / scheme processes
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical and problem solving abilities with the capacity to create, test and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges
• Experience developing innovative methodologies that collate different types of data from across systems
• Proficiency in methodologies to evaluate and assess impact
• Experience of using digital tools and systems to drive improvements
• In depth experience and understanding of UK health and life sciences R&D sector, including dissemination and adoption, and the importance of research impact

Desired Criteria

• Education and / or equivalent experience in economics / population health
• Experience working for a research funding organisation

Competencies and Behaviors

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills to build effective internal and external relationships
• Highly organised with proven project management experience and ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and oral communication, including reporting and data visualisation, with ability to simplify complex information
• Motivated, adaptable and able to manage diverse responsibilities independently or within a team

Compensation, Benefits & Working Arrangements

Salary: £48,600 to £51,300 per year

Location: Twickenham, London / hybrid working model

Contract Type: Permanent, full time

Working Hours: 37.5 per week, 7.5 hours per day

Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidays

Employee Benefits Include:

Annual bonus, subject to company performance

Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme

Life Insurance Cover

Benenden Healthcare Membership

Training and Development Opportunities

Season Ticket Loan

We offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, flexible working arrangements. This is an office based, hybrid role with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices 1 day each week, this may increase, subject to team requirements.

Application

If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Required and Desired Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with the NIHR.

Deadline for applications is 5pm on the 8th December, with interviews to commence from the 15th December.

Inclusion and Diversity

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.