Salary:£58,225 to £61,759 with progression to £67,468 per annum Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you. Closing Date: 24 October 2025 The Role The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) provides expert guidance and input to applied health, public health and social care researchers on the design and delivery of research and the development of research funding applications. The NIHR RSS operates as a national service allowing researchers to access the most appropriate support, irrespective of location. The NIHR RSS is delivered through RSS Hubs and Specialist Centres (in Public Health and Social Care), each a partnership of research organisations and groups. The NIHR RSS offers a wide range of research support and methods expertise. This is an exciting opportunity to join the NIHR RSS as Strategic Lead for Capacity Development, working across a national footprint, hosted within the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University. The successful candidate will use their knowledge and experience of learning methods and approaches, coupled with their senior business management expertise, to create and then drive forward the aims and objectives of the RSS National Collaborative Capacity Development Work Package and RSS Workforce Development Business Plan and Strategy, promoting a culture of organisational learning. In alignment with Newcastle University's blended working policy, this position allows for working from home for half of your working week. The role is available up to 1 whole time equivalent (37 hours per week), fixed term until 30 September 2028. For informal enquiries, please contact rssSMT@newcastle.ac.uk. To apply, applicants should provide evidence of how they meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in the job description/person specification by uploading a letter of application of no more than 2 sides of A4, along with a Curriculum Vitae (CV). Key Accountabilities Strategy Development and ImplementationWork closely with the RSS Capacity Development National Work Package Lead, RSS Directors, RSS staff and the RSS Capacity Development Working Group in the creation and implementation of an RSS Workforce Development Business Plan and Strategy. This will increase capacity and capability through a range of workstreams and deliverables, and support opportunities for career progression for all RSS staffContinually refine and improve the RSS Workforce Development Strategy as learning from initiatives is captured and when new information is available.Work with Capacity Development Working Group leads to propose a national RSS Career Pathway Framework for methodologists and other roles, identifying and promoting different opportunities at different career stagesHorizon scan across the RSS landscape to ensure capacity development activities and needs from Hubs, Specialist Centres, other National Work Packages or groups are identified, and to ensure a strategy is in place to work with other National Work Packages where there is potential duplication Leadership and Governance
• Chair the National Capacity Development Working Group, reporting to the National RSS Leadership Group
• Influence and negotiate with RSS Directors across England to achieve buy-in, support and investment from RSS Hubs and Specialist Centres to deliver a national NIHR RSS Workforce Development Strategy
• Ensure that budget holders across RSS Hubs and Specialist Centres are appropriately consulted when proposing alterations or implementing new initiatives. This should include ensuring due consideration has been given to resource implications and respecting the budget holder responsibilities and governance arrangements across the NIHR RSS
• Promote equality and diversity in working practices Stakeholder Engagement
• Engage with key national stakeholders to ensure that the National RSS Capacity Development Work Package effectively scopes, develops and delivers capacity building programmes nationally for RSS staff, identifying training gaps and professional growth opportunities. This includes working in an agile manner to respond promptly to new national Department of Health and Social Care or NIHR priorities
• Represent the NIHR RSS at local, regional and national meetings, preparing and delivering presentations as appropriate
• Prepare reports and deliver proposals and presentations to the National NIHR RSS Leadership Group, ensuring Directors and Managers are briefed on developments, and resource implications are discussed and agreed
• Identify an appropriate technological solution to host national resources, share documentation and best practice Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
• Develop, implement and analyse results of surveys, training needs assessments and feedback from stakeholder interviews and groups
• Ensure effective quality assurance mechanisms are in place, in order that capacity development activities are developed using evidence-led practice, offer value for money and that any national policy requirements and good practices are embedded
• Develop and deploy appropriate processes to capture, report and retain evidence of delivery, to support NIHR and Department of Health and Social Care Annual Reporting requirements
• Manage, monitor and report budgets for the National Capacity Development Work Package, ensuring good value for taxpayers’ money and exploiting economies of scale by working with NIHR infrastructure and other partners The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Substantial knowledge and experience at a senior level of learning methods and approaches, developing staff and creating and implementing new resources and educational activities
• Understanding of internship models and apprenticeship levy
• Understanding of career pathways and accreditation models
• Experience delivering training needs analysis processes
• Experience developing workforce development frameworks and strategies
• Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills
• Exemplary communication and interpersonal skills including diplomacy, negotiating and influencing at a senior level
• Proven leadership skills in a multi-stakeholder environment, pre-empting requirements, identifying opportunities and facilitating change management
• Extensive experience of shaping strategic direction as a result of leading and working with teams across multiple departments or organisations
• Significant experience of programme and/or project management and demonstrable ability to deliver results on time and within budget
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate existing workstreams and identify themes, trends, strengths, opportunities and threats. Be able to respond appropriately based on the analysis
• Strong and sound professional judgement and decision-making skills, proactively resolving issues as they arise
• High level of attention to detail
• Line management experience and being responsible for the performance of teams across a large footprint, including influencing and motivating teams across a range of projects without directly line managing these teams
Desirable
• Experience of implementing measures to support accessibility in the workplace
• Experience of working in the research setting
• Understanding of Department of Health and Social Care and NIHR priorities Attributes and Behaviour
• Ability to work in an agile manner to be responsive to changes in political direction or new governmental / NIHR priorities or initiatives
• Politically astute
• Articulate, confident and politically adept communicator, ready and able to sell a vision, deal with difficult situations and to challenge where necessary
• Able to work creatively and consultatively to find solutions, including using thematic review and benchmarking exercises to analyse existing practices
• Demonstrates strong communication, interpersonal and negotiating skills
• Values equality, diversity, inclusion, differing levels of expertise and differing opinions
• Able to think strategically in complex situations, including where there are conflicting priorities
• Ability to analyse, interpret, apply and communicate highly complex or sensitive information
• Ability to plan, manage, adjust and deliver complex projects, involving multiple agencies
and individuals and a broad range of activities to tight deadlines Qualifications
• Educated to degree level or evidence of equivalent relevant experience (minimum of 8+ years’ experience)
Desirable
• Post-graduate degree in a relevant subject or professional qualification 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 silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident 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: 28631
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