The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Life Science Key Account Manager
The closing date is 16 November 2026

Join the NIHR in a pivotal senior leadership role designed to be the primary conduit for commercial partners. You will act as a single point of access for industry leaders, helping them explore their pipelines, plan effectively, and facilitate the delivery of high-impact clinical research across the UK. Hosted by the NIHR Research Delivery Network, you will bridge the gap between life sciences companies and the wider clinical research ecosystem, ensuring the UK remains a premier destination for commercial trial delivery.

We are looking for a visionary leader with deep specialist knowledge of the NHS and R&D systems, and the life sciences industry. You should have a proven track record of managing senior stakeholder relationships and the ability to navigate complex matrix management structures. Requires a blend of strategic thinking, relationship management, robust analytical skills, and the ability to inspire a national research delivery workforce to perform to the highest standards.

Your work directly contributes to the health of the nation and the strength of the economy. You will be part of a collaborative culture that values equality, diversity, and continuous improvement. This role offers the unique opportunity to represent the UK on an international stage, involving national and international travel, while forming part of a national portfolio management function that shapes the future of healthcare.

Main duties of the job
As a Life Science Key Account Manager, you will serve as the primary strategic lead for our commercial partners, acting as their single gateway to the NIHR's extensive research infrastructure. Your day-to-day will involve translating complex pipeline needs into actionable research plans, leveraging business intelligence to drive commercial growth, and troubleshooting performance across the national portfolio. Success in this role demands a unique combination of commercial acumen, expert negotiation skills, and strategic stakeholder management. We are looking for an adaptive, visionary leader who can navigate complex matrix structures while championing an inclusive, "One NIHR" culture to ensure we deliver high-impact research for the benefit of the UK.

About us
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 225-RRDN-8379857

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
• Desirable: Research management and administration including governance, sponsorship, costings, contracts, finance and clinical trial agreements

Experience/Skills

• Essential: Significant specialist knowledge of the NHS, R&D systems and the context of the importance of the life sciences in this context
• Essential: Experience at dealing with very senior people both internally and externally e.g operational management
• Essential: Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines

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.

Employer details
Employer name: The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Address: The Scotlands, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Strategic Development Director, Carly Cooper, carly.cooper@nihr.ac.uk, 07342080507

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's privacy notice is available on the employer's website.