Strategic Delivery Manager (NIHR CRDC:Bradford & West Yorkshire)

Applicants must have significant experience operating at a senior strategic level within the NHS, research delivery, R&D or a similarly complex healthcare system, together with a proven track record of leading large-scale change across organisational or system boundaries. You will need experience of improving performance against challenging delivery targets and of working successfully with senior clinicians, managers, external partners and commercial or life sciences sponsors.

You will be a highly developed strategic thinker and problem solver, able to analyse complex information, identify emerging risks and translate evidence into clear strategy and action. Exceptional communication, influencing and negotiation skills are essential, alongside the confidence to lead autonomously, manage competing priorities and represent the CRDC credibly in complex and sensitive discussions.

Applicants should have a postgraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification, or equivalent senior-level experience in healthcare management, research, public health or a related field, with evidence of ongoing professional development. An in-depth understanding of clinical research delivery pathways, NIHR structures and performance metrics, research governance and regulatory requirements, and commercial clinical trial delivery models is essential.

The Bradford & West Yorkshire CRDC is focused on strengthening commercial research delivery across the region through partnership, innovation and sustained performance improvement. This role provides the opportunity to influence how commercial research is delivered across organisations, shape future investment and delivery models, and build stronger relationships with sponsors and national partners.

You will join a senior team working to increase research capacity, improve study set-up and recruitment performance, and widen access to high-quality commercial research. The post offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to contribute at local, regional and national level while helping strengthen Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC as a trusted research delivery partner.

Our People Charter outlines the behaviours we can expect from one another and what you can expect from Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust:

• We value people
• We are one team
• We care

We're keen to meet people who share these values and are passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.

Essential: - Significant experience working at a senior strategic level within the NHS, research delivery, R&D, or a complex healthcare system.; - Proven track record of leading and delivering large-scale change across organisational or system boundaries.; - Experience of improving performance against challenging delivery targets.; - Experience of working with multiple stakeholders, including senior clinicians, managers, and external partners.; - Experience of analysing complex information and translating it into actionable strategy.; - Experience of working across multiple Trusts, ICSs, or regional systems.; - Experience of engagement with commercial sponsors and/or life sciences partners.; - Experience of holding accountability for highly complex programmes with material impact on organisational performance, income, reputation or external assurance; - Experience of contributing to regional or national working groups, programmes, or policy development.; - Evidence of operating successfully at senior strategic level with accountability for organisation-wide or system-wide performance

Essential: - Highly developed strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.; - Ability to influence, negotiate, and lead with autonomy.; - Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to brief senior leaders and external stakeholders where there may be hostile or sometimes emotive atmosphere.; - Ability to manage complex, competing priorities in a high-pressure environment.; - Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret performance data and identify emerging risks.; - Ability to work autonomously and make sound judgements in ambiguous situations.

Desirable: - Experience of designing or implementing innovative recruitment or research delivery models.; - Ability to represent an organisation credibly at regional or national level.

Essential: - In-depth understanding of Clinical research delivery pathways.; - Understanding of system-level barriers to recruitment, feasibility, and study set-up.; - Demonstrable understanding of the commercial drivers, financial risks and reputational considerations associated with commercial clinical research delivery; - Understanding of commercial clinical trial delivery models.; - Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality

Desirable: - Knowledge of data-driven performance management and improvement methodologies.

Essential: - Postgraduate degree qualification or equivalent professional qualification, or equivalent level of experience at a senior level in healthcare management, research, public health or a related field; - Evidence of ongoing professional development.; - Knowledge of NHS research governance, NIHR infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks (e.g. GCP, UK Policy Framework).

Desirable: - Formal leadership or management training.