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:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Curiosity and Open-mindedness: Embrace creativity and value originality, seizing opportunities to learn and innovate.
4. 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 ().
To apply for this role, please submit a CV and covering letter with your application.
Key Accountabilities
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. Provide operational leadership and oversight of core transformational programmes such as improving Innovation Observatory’s CRM and knowledge management structures
12. 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
13. Provide robust oversight, leadership and secretariat support for the IO governance structures including collation of membership, update reports and subsequent minutes
Strategic
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. Lead the development of a series of change programmes, in collaboration with the Director and Senior Leadership Team, underpinned by strong operational management processes
19. 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
20. 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
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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.
24. Have a demonstrable track record of developing and refreshing knowledge and skills to ensure that their contribution remains informed and relevant
25. 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
26. 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
27. 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)
28. Significant experience of managing change and supporting people to make transitions
29. Ability to use influence and informal levers to ensure delivery of programmes of work to time, and to budget across matrix structures
30. 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
31. Strong up-to-date knowledge of key management tools and software including project management tools, CRMs and knowledge management processes
32. Outstanding organisational, interpersonal, leadership, time management, presentation and communication skills
33. 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
34. Strong interpersonal leadership skills with the ability to coach, mentor and manage performance effectively
35. Promotes and actively drives change within own area and across the organisation
36. High drive and initiative, able to demonstrate professional resilience thriving in a fast paced, dynamic environment with resilience to adapt to change and address challenges with confidence
37. Exceptional interpersonal, communication and influencing skills able to operate and influence at the highest levels of industrial management
38. Politically astute and sensitive to the priorities and dynamics of an academically led organisation
39. Strong track record and desire to work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels across the organisation
40. Is inspirational and provides clear direction, particularly in times of uncertainty
41. Role model of the University values and guiding principles
42. People orientated, is approachable and has the ability to motivate and engage others to promote a culture of mutual respect
43. Able to act objectively in dealing with complex problems, issues and decision making with conflicting priorities
44. Thinks creatively, an effective problem solver
45. Able to handle conflict in a timely and effective way, bringing situations to speedy resolution
Qualifications
46. Qualified to Degree level and/or with significant relevant management and leadership experience, and proven success in a strategically important area
47. Formal Project/Programme Management qualification or equivalent knowledge and expertise of applying programme and project management approaches in a fast-paced research environment
48. Higher degree or professional qualification in relevant topic areas e.g., awarded by Institute of Leadership and Management Chartered Management Institute (Desirable)
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a Gold award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 28866