Job summary
Closing Date: 29.10.26
Shortlisting to take place w/c commencing 30.10.26
Interview expected to take place w/c commencing 09.11.26

We are seeking an experienced and influential Strategic Delivery Manager to provide senior strategic leadership across the NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre: Bradford and West Yorkshire. This is a key system leadership role, responsible for developing and delivering long-term programmes that strengthen commercial clinical research performance, capacity and sustainable growth across partner organisations.

Working across organisational boundaries and with a high degree of autonomy, you will lead strategies to improve feasibility, study set-up and participant recruitment, strengthen sponsor relationships, maximise commercial research income and support achievement of national performance expectations, including the 150-day First Participant Recruited target.

You will work with senior clinical and operational leaders, commercial sponsors, NIHR infrastructure, primary care, system partners and national stakeholders to remove barriers to research delivery and resolve complex issues. You will also help shape future delivery models, workforce and infrastructure plans, investment priorities and innovative approaches that expand access to commercial research across Bradford and West Yorkshire.

Main duties of the job
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.

About us
The Bradford and 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

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 36 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 389-26-8354528

Essential experience

• 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 skills

• 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 skills

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

Essential knowledge

• 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

• Knowledge of data-driven performance management and improvement methodologies.

Essential qualifications

• 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 qualifications

• Formal leadership or management training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details
Employer name: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Contact for questions about the job
Director of Research Operations, Dr Tracy Watson, tracy.watson@bthft.nhs.uk, 07970238348