Study Support Service Senior Manager

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital; Cambridge, Norwich; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in the UK is seeking an experienced Senior Manager to oversee the Study Support Service. This role focuses on providing strategic direction, managing a multi-disciplinary team, and ensuring high-quality research delivery across the NHS. Candidates should demonstrate strong leadership and project management skills, a comprehensive understanding of the NHS landscape, and a commitment to collaboration and quality improvement. The position offers excellent development opportunities and the chance to influence research standards.

Benefits

Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service

Discounted gym memberships

Excellent pension scheme

Free Park & Ride service

On-site Nursery

Flexible staff bank

Qualifications

• Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and health systems.
• Experience in managing teams and delivering objectives.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to meet tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead local operations of the Study Support Service.
• Work with stakeholders to align activities with strategic objectives.
• Contribute to national business planning for research delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Problem solving

Communication

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and motivated senior leader to manage the Study Support Service at the East of England Regional RDN. This is a key leadership role, offering the opportunity to lead a diverse team and shape how research is delivered across the NHS and wider health and care system. You will be responsible for providing clear direction, inspiring your team, and ensuring services are delivered consistently to a high standard, while contributing to the strategic aims of the national Research Delivery Network.

As part of a highly collaborative national leadership community, you will work with colleagues across regions to strengthen the consistency, quality, and efficiency of research delivery. Locally, you will lead a supportive and ambitious team that values collaboration, creativity, and problem solving. We are committed to building strong partnerships with health and care organisations and making a tangible difference to research delivery.

Our culture is open, respectful, and based on shared leadership—your expertise will be valued, and your ideas will be heard. In return, we offer flexible working, excellent development opportunities, and the chance to influence and lead at the heart of the NHS and NIHR research system. If you are motivated by making an impact, thrive on leading people, and want to shape the future of research delivery, this is the role for you.

Main duties of the job

As Senior Manager, you will lead all local operational aspects of the Study Support Service, ensuring delivery of both pre-approval services (e.g. planning and placement, and national cost attribution tools) and post-approval services (portfolio oversight and on-request support). You will manage a multi-disciplinary team of 12, including 5 Study Support Service Managers, providing strong leadership, clear direction, and support for professional development, while also contributing to national business planning and strategic priorities.

The role requires a confident and innovative leader who can work autonomously, make sound judgements, and drive improvements in how services are delivered. You will work closely with health and care organisations across the whole of the East of England, collaborating with delivery leaders to troubleshoot challenges and build capacity and capability to deliver research. You will also act as the primary escalation point for complex issues requiring regional or national resolution.

Examples of decisions you will make include:

• Determining the most effective allocation of team resources to meet service priorities.
• Deciding on the appropriate handling and escalation of complex study issues.
• Approving site delivery plans and making judgements on performance monitoring outcomes.

This is a role for a proactive leader who can balance operational delivery with strategic influence, fostering innovation while ensuring high-quality, consistent services.

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
• Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
• On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
• On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Job responsibilities

• Act as a senior leader within the RDN, providing strategic direction and guidance
• Work as part of a community of senior leaders across the national network, exercising shared leadership and promoting the consistency of experience across a nationally harmonised Study Support Service
• Collaborate with Local Specialty and Settings Leadership to align operational activities with strategic objectives
• Provide strategic support to research delivery sites, drawing on and contributing to national network intelligence
• Manage the Implementation and cascade of national strategic Study Support direction within the region and the local RRDN
• Support the contribution to collective national business planning for the Study Support and Partner Liaison services
• Contribute to reviewing, evaluating and approving research site delivery plans, and have delegated responsibility for periodically performance monitoring against those plans to ensure that RDN funding is being used appropriately and effectively
• Contribute to business planning for the Study Support Service and Partner Liaison functions, ensuring effective implementation and reporting

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Experience

• Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients
• Experience of direct line management and managing teams to deliver clear objectives and performance targets, including through organisational change.

Skills

• Highly developed leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills
• Ability to plan, manage, adjust and deliver complex projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals and a broad range of activities, to tight deadlines
• Committed to ongoing learning and development, proactively seeking opportunities for personal and team growth
• Takes a professional approach to all interactions, remaining diplomatic under pressure and fostering a solution-focused environment
• Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.