QR code linking to this job posting Senior Development and Support Manager (XN07) in Leeds inLeeds PUBLISHED FRI 31 OCT 2025

Band 7: £47,810 to £54,710 a year  FIXEDTERM 
FAMILY MATERNITY NHS NIGHTS
Lead the national NIHR Mentorship Programme — a people-focused role that shapes careers and strengthens your leadership CV.
Band 7 salary (£47,810–£54,710) — competitive pay that helps with household and childcare costs.
12-month fixed-term covering maternity leave — a predictable contract length that helps plan family and childcare commitments.
Full-time with flexible working — designed to fit school runs, caring duties and life outside work.
Leeds city-centre LS1 base (21 Queen Street) — easy commute and local amenities, with occasional UK travel/overnights suited to someone with a car.
Work for NIHR hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals — national networks, senior-level exposure and high-profile opportunities to boost your career.
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 Date01/12/2025Planned Interview Date10/12/2025

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will lead on the delivery of a number 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 suppliersWorking with the the communications team to support NIHR Academy Members to promote the career development engagement activitiesWork with other Learning and Development (L&D) colleagues across NIHR to support L&D initiatives across the organisationSupporting the NIHR Academys Senior Leadership Team in ensuring strategy around development and support is implemented effectively and with the appropriate governance and reporting arrangementsWith their team, provide 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 our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, 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 do

Experience
a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Details

Date posted
31 October 2025

Pay scheme
Agenda for changeBandBand 7

Salary
£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract
Fixed termDuration12 months

Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number
C9298-MDI-Job location
sNIHR Academy Executive21 Queen StreetLeedsLS1 2TW

Job description

Job responsibilities
Development and Support Programme ManagementDesigning 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 interventionsWorking with the Communications Manager and the communications team to support Academy Members through a programme of career development engagement activitiesManaging the effective delivery of the NIHR Mentorship and NIHR Leadership programmes, including the procurement and

Contract
management of suppliers to provide associated workstreamsAdvise on content for webinars, online engagement activities and workshop provision for NIHR Academy MembersWork with the Business Manager and Academy Executive Board Team to implement learning and development support for NIHR Academy Executive staffWork with other Learning and Development (L&D) colleagues across NIHR to support L&D initiatives across the organisationSupporting the NIHR Academys Senior Leadership Team in ensuring strategy around development and support is implemented effectively and with the appropriate governance and reporting arrangements.Programme ManagementThe post holder will be required to manage change in response to external events and new policies; this may require the reformulation and adjustment of plans and strategies to ensure that the programmes in the post holders portfolio remain fit for purpose.Provide secretariat for panels, boards and implementation groups as requiredUndertaking specific project work around the future direction of the organisation as requiredHandle complex queries and complaints about application processes and decisions by telephone, email, and in personWork with the Academy Executive Board to plan and implement the process for administering the schemes in the post holders area of responsibilityPlay a key role in planning the cycle and timing of schemes in the post holders area of responsibilityWorking with the other Senior Programme Managers and Administrative Manager to monitor workload and co-ordination of administrative functions across the NIHR Academy ExecutiveWrite reports and working papers as requiredResearch and publicise outputs and impacts of the programmes in the post holder's portfolio.CommunicationsCommunicate verbally and in writing with staff and stakeholders at all levels in a confident and professional mannerPublicise the NIHR Academy activities through attendance and presentations at external meetings, seminars and conferencesDeal with a range of people nationally at all levels of seniority both internal and external to the NIHR Academy in line with DHSC policiesOrganise workshops and stakeholder meetings as requiredGenerate and maintain strong nationally-based networks and positive and collaborative working relationships within NIHR, HEIs, NHS Trusts and other health-related organisations, particularly at the level of senior research leaders/sponsors to benefit the NIHR Academy programmes.Contribute to briefings requested from Ministers offices and other government departments.Liaise with members of the Academy Executive Board and Senior Programme Managers in order to meet responsibilities and undertake duties effectively.GeneralKeeping up to date with relevant engagement and learning and development practices so as to be able to inform and advise colleagues as required;Undertaking any ad hoc initiatives as required by the NIHR Academy Executive Board members.

Job description

Person Specification
Additional RequirementsEssentialDrafting reports and papersGood keyboard skills and working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheetsAbility to extract and analyse dataAbility to manage time, both own and othersAbility to give clear information both verbally and in written communicationsAbility to plan, organise and prioritise a broad range of new and ongoing activitiesAbility to work accurately with attention to detailAbility to maintain confidentialityWillingness to travel in UK, including occasional overnight absence

Qualifications
EssentialMasters Degree or Equivalent

Experience
Management

Experience
in the delivery of learning and/or personal development programmesDesirablePostgraduate qualification in learning/personal development

Experience
Essential

Experience
of working with suppliers,

Contract
management, monitoring and evaluationUnderstanding of procurement and

Contract
management best practice

Experience
working with online learning and development platforms

Experience
developing and delivering online education and webinarsLine management

Experience
An understanding and expertise in leadership and professional developmentAn interest in health research

Experience
and a willingness of working across discipline boundariesSignificant

Experience
of programme and project management

Experience
of delivery of 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 workloadA proven track record in successfully planning and organising yourself, others and projectsDesirableAn 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
of working with or within a healthcare, research or education environment

Experience
of working at a national levelSkills & behavioursEssentialAbility to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a teamBuild and maintain good working relationshipsDeliver work on time, to anticipate fresh demands, and to delegate effectivelyEffective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, members of the public and various stakeholdersIdentify opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve resultsSet goals and standardsTake personal responsibilityStrong effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and developmentAbility to liaise with senior managers and stakeholders, offering guidance on and interpretation of complex informationAdvanced level oral and written communication skillsHighly developed presentation skills, able to convey complex information to large groups from diverse backgroundsConfident and comfortable talking and presenting to othersIdentify opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve resultsIdentify and solve problemsAbility to assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new problemsDesirableAbility to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement themUse of the Google Suite

Experience
Management

Experience
Essential

Experience
of working with suppliers,

Contract
management best practice

Experience
in a people-focused role

Experience
of working at a national levelSkills & behavioursEssentialAbility to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a teamBuild and maintain good working relationshipsDeliver work on time, to anticipate fresh demands, and to delegate effectivelyEffective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, members of the public and various stakeholdersIdentify opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve resultsSet goals and standardsTake personal responsibilityStrong effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and developmentAbility to liaise with senior managers and stakeholders, offering guidance on and interpretation of complex informationAdvanced level oral and written communication skillsHighly developed presentation skills, able to convey complex information to large groups from diverse backgroundsConfident and comfortable talking and presenting to othersIdentify opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve resultsIdentify and solve problemsAbility to assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new problemsDesirableAbility to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement themUse of the Google SuiteEmployer

Details
Lead the national NIHR Mentorship Programme — a people-focused role that shapes careers and strengthens your leadership CV.
Band 7 salary (£47,810–£54,710) — competitive pay that helps with household and childcare costs.
12-month fixed-term covering maternity leave — a predictable contract length that helps plan family and childcare commitments.
Full-time with flexible working — designed to fit school runs, caring duties and life outside work.
Leeds city-centre LS1 base (21 Queen Street) — easy commute and local amenities, with occasional UK travel/overnights suited to someone with a car.
Work for NIHR hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals — national networks, senior-level exposure and high-profile opportunities to boost your career.
 


Locations are approximate.