Be at the forefront of vaccine innovation.
Imagine a role where your work directly shapes how vaccines are developed, tested and delivered impacting health across the UK and beyond. Our programme builds on NIHR supported efforts that, for example, helped the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID‑19 vaccine reach an estimated 6.3 million lives saved worldwide.
Join us in driving the next chapter of vaccine innovation and making a real‑world difference.
About the Programme
The UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway (UK VIP) is reimagining the way clinical trials are designed, set up, and delivered, from infectious disease vaccines to the next generation of cancer therapeutics.
Building on the lessons from the pandemic, UK VIP brings together the NHS, academia and industry to accelerate vaccine research, improve patient access, and strengthen national readiness for future health challenges.
This is not just another programme, it’s a movement shaping the future of public health.
Your Impact
As our Senior Programme Manager, you’ll sit at the heart of this transformation. You’ll coordinate across multiple partners, from leading pharmaceutical companies to cutting edge research centres, to make vaccine trials faster, smarter, and more effective.
Your work will:
* Redefine how vaccine studies are delivered across the UK
* Enable collaboration between the NHS, NIHR, and industry to streamline research and accelerate breakthroughs
* Empower research teams to bring innovative vaccines to patients faster
* Strengthen the UK’s global leadership in vaccine science and clinical excellence
Every project you lead will help bring life changing vaccines closer to the people who need them most.
What You’ll Do
* Lead and coordinate key UK VIP workstreams, ensuring seamless delivery across national partners
* Shape and optimise processes that speed up trial setup, improve recruitment, and enhance efficiency
* Oversee governance, reporting, and performance across UK Vaccine Delivery Groups
* Build powerful collaborations through the Vaccines Research Fora and Vaccine Innovation Fund
* Turn insights into action, continuously improving how the UK delivers research
Required Criteria
* Education: PhD or Master’s in biomedical science, life sciences, or related field
* Experience: 5+ years in clinical research programme/project management, including multi site trial setup and delivery within the UK NHS or academic research environment
* Knowledge: In depth understanding of UK health and care research landscape (NIHR networks, governance, regulatory processes)
* Leadership: Proven ability to lead complex, multi partner programmes with measurable outcomes in system/process improvement
* Stakeholder Management: Strong engagement skills with pharmaceutical companies, NHS Trusts, and academic partners at senior levels
* Governance & Oversight: Ability to design, implement, and monitor programme governance (reporting, risk management, performance dashboards)
* Project Management: Advanced skills with recognised qualifications (PRINCE2, Agile, Lean) able to coordinate multiple interdependent workstreams
* Strategic & Analytical: Capable of interpreting complex information, identifying interdependencies and driving operational improvements in research delivery
Desired Criteria
* Experience managing multi partner, cross sector clinical research collaborations
* Ability to redesign research processes or implement system wide improvements (trial setup, recruitment, delivery optimisation)
* Strategic portfolio planning experience (aligning studies with NHS capacity and population needs)
* Line management and team development skills to drive performance and accountability
* Expertise in stakeholder engagement and public involvement initiatives (advisory fora, community strategies, consent-to-contact registries)
* Strong IT proficiency for digital tools, dashboards, project management software and programme planning support
If you want to be part of something bigger, to help make the UK a global powerhouse in vaccine development, this is your opportunity.
Compensation, Benefits & Working Arrangements:
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Location: Victoria, London / hybrid working model
Contract Type: Fixed-Term (15 months: January 2026 – March 2027)
Working Hours: 37.5 per week, 7.5 hours per day
Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidays
Employee Benefits Include:
Annual bonus
Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme
Life Insurance Cover
Benenden Healthcare Membership
Training and Development Opportunities
Season Ticket Loan
NB: This is a hybrid role based at our office in Victoria, London, with a minimum requirement of one in office day per week. This requirement may increase based on team needs or operational demands.
How to Apply
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 & Desired Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with the NIHR.
NB: Closing date for applications is 5pm on 03rd November with the interviews to be held from the W/C the 10th November. SECONDMENTS welcome.