Internet Explorer is no longer supported by Microsoft. To browse the NIHR site please use a modern, secure browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

Programme Director, NIHR Global Health Research Job Specification

Contents

Published: 06 December 2022

Version: 1.0

Print this document

The Director of Science, Research and Evidence for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is looking to select an exceptional individual to be the first Programme Director of the Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Health Research portfolio.

If you are passionate about addressing the diverse health needs of people in low and middle income countries (LMICs) through research and strengthening research capacity and capability in LMICs and the UK, and you have a strong track record in applied global health research, then this is the role for you.

As Programme Director, you will be accountable to the Director for Science, Research and Evidence for the DHSC. You will be responsible for delivering the Global Health Research annual programmes budget, thematic programme priorities, the overall scientific quality of its portfolio, and for probity of decision-making. You will have scientific oversight of a portfolio of around 100 directly funded studies and research capacity strengthening awards as well as a portfolio of studies managed through strategic partnerships. Leading this major portfolio will allow you to work across the global health research community alongside key influencers in government.

The right candidate will have substantial expert knowledge of and a proven track record in applied global health research, with an established international reputation in the field, as well as sound knowledge of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and its stakeholders. You will also have knowledge and understanding of the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion as applied to global health research, and excellent communication, management, interpersonal and leadership skills.

The total time commitment to the NIHR Global Health Research portfolio is up to three days per week, to cover attendance at meetings, approval of funding recommendations and contracting new research, and undertaking a strategic role within Global Health Research and the wider NIHR. The appointment will initially be for three years with the potential to extend for a further two years upon review. The post holder’s department will be in receipt of an honorarium payment as set out in the job description. The postholder should be able to take up duties as soon as possible.

The NIHR is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, as outlined in our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy 2022-2027, where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution. We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and communities and are committed to having leadership and teams that are made up of diverse skills and experiences. Find out more about EDI at NIHR.

We will try our best to make reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers to this post in the application / interview process. If you have any access needs or require any support throughout the application process, please contact us.

Closing Date for applications: 8th Feb 2023
Date for Interviews: mid-March 2023
For an informal discussion about the role please contact mike.batley@dhsc.gov.uk
Applications in the form of an electronic CV together with a supporting statement of suitability should be sent to ghrtp@nihr.ac.uk

Programme Director, NIHR Global Health Research

Accountable to: DHSC Director of Science, Research & Evidence, via the DHSC Deputy Director, Research Programmes

Time Commitment: up to three days per week

Salary: Honorarium to be paid to the host institution for allocation within the successful applicant’s Department or academic area

Expenses: Reimbursement of travel and other expenses associated with the role

Tenure: Three years (subject to review at two years) with possible extension for a further period

Proposed Start Date: July 2023

Background

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Health Research portfolio, funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA), was established in 2016 and builds on NIHR’s operating principles of impact, excellence, effectiveness, inclusion and collaboration. We fund high-quality global health research for the direct and primary benefit of people in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and strengthen research capacity and capability in both the UK and in LMICs through mutual learning and knowledge exchange.

Working closely with the global health research community, we commission and invest in applied health research and training that responds to the diverse needs of LMIC communities, anticipates the evolving global burden of disease and addresses health system priorities. We fund work in more than 50 countries through:

  • NIHR Programmes that award research funding to equitable partnerships between groups of researchers or groups of research institutions in LMICs and the UK
  • Partnerships with other global health research organisations, supporting existing, high quality funding schemes and co-creating new initiatives to respond to areas of need
  • Investment in People, funding the career development of researchers at all career stages and supporting research managers and other research support staff in LMICs and the UK

In support of the UK’s global commitments, our portfolio is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, promotes Universal Health Coverage, and contributes towards addressing emerging global health challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change. We are committed to transparency, accountability and value for money for the UK taxpayer.

Looking ahead, we will continue to shift the ‘centre of gravity’ of our global health research portfolio to be led by individuals and institutions in LMICs, by strengthening LMIC-led research teams, partnerships and consortia to address locally identified health challenges.

Our strategic research priorities from 2021-2025 are to:

  • address the shifting global burden of disease
  • develop health systems to identify and respond to population needs,
  • build resilience to tackle future global health threats, and
  • strengthen research capacity in LMICs through equitable partnerships between LMIC and UK researchers

Driven by our NIHR Principles, promoting community engagement and involvement, equitable partnerships, and funding high-quality, policy-relevant, impactful research.
To find out more about the active portfolio of NIHR Global Health Research please visit https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk

Role Purpose

Accountable to the Director of Science, Research and Evidence in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) via the Deputy Director, Research Programmes, the Programme Director for Global Health Research is responsible for scientific oversight of the overall NIHR global health research portfolio, operating across the UK and over 50 LMICs. The appointment seeks to build confidence in its value across the global health research community and beyond. The Programme Director works with the NIHR Global Health secretariat teams to ensure the smooth day to day running of research commissioning and management, and with the Global Health Research funding committees and their chairs to ensure consistency in the operation of the programmes and to enhance their potential. Working closely with DHSC, the Programme Director will ensure the active portfolio is delivering on its strategic objectives and providing value for money through monitoring and assurance in line with objectives and the overarching programme(s) theory of change.

Furthermore, the Programme Director will be expected to lead the establishment of appropriate structures/mechanisms to support priority setting for the directly funded thematic programmes, responding to global health and policy needs, in addition to UK Government priorities.

Key responsibilities

The Programme Director of Global Health Research has the following key responsibilities:

  • Support the continued development of the Global Health Research portfolio strategy, working collaboratively across the NIHR and with DHSC and through external liaison with a diversity stakeholders, taking into account the overall policy framework and budgetary limit.
  • Provide strategic leadership in the development of key structure(s)/mechanisms required for scoping and prioritising research themes and focus areas for thematic NIHR Global Health Research programmes.
  • Maintain oversight of the academic and scientific direction of the NIHR Global Health Research portfolio, including the balance of its content, relevance, and responsiveness to needs and priorities of LMICs, the wider global health landscape and DHSC.
  • Scientific oversight of the funded NIHR Global Health portfolio and research commissioning process.
  • Play a key role in raising the profile and impact of the NIHR Global Health Research portfolio through external liaison and ambassadorial activities, both national and global.
  • Strategic oversight, through the NIHR global health secretariat teams and in conjunction with DHSC, for the procedures adopted for commissioning and monitoring programmes, ensuring delivery of objectives and financial commitments.

In addition to above key responsibilities, the Programme Director is expected to:

  • Play a leading role in representing the global health research portfolio across the NIHR, including contributions via the NIHR Strategy Board.
  • Advise on scope (and content where applicable), to develop scoping/prioritisation and commissioning briefs.
  • Ensure the quality of the programmes commissioning processes, making recommendations for funding to the DHSC, and to have an oversight of the feedback to applicants.
  • Attend Funding Committees regularly (typically observing three to five 1- or 2-day meetings per year usually held in the UK).
  • Contribute to ensuring timely delivery of funded projects, in collaboration with the Funding Committee Chairs and the NIHR Global Health secretariat teams. This includes reviewing scheme-level annual and final reports / documentation, risks and issues, requests for protocol changes, virements and variations to contract including contract extensions (both no cost or costed).
  • Actively participate in the NIHR Strategy Board (usually three 2-day meetings per year in the UK).
  • Chair and attend multiple key forums and meetings across the NIHR and beyond.

You will be expected to work effectively with the NIHR Global Health secretariat teams across three NIHR Coordinating Centres (located in Leeds, Twickenham and Southampton). You will be supported in delivery of this role by the relevant senior NIHR Coordinating Centre staff, a consultant advisor who provides scientific support and advice, and NIHR secretariat teams who will manage all aspects of the committee’s work and who actively monitor and assure each global health scheme within the overall portfolio. Candidates should note that a lot of face-to-face engagement is likely to take place in the UK and while travel expenses incurred while delivering the role’s duties will be recompensed, the NIHR is committed to achieving high value for money on its ODA funding and as the UK’s largest funder of health and care research, we recognise the key role we must play in driving and promoting ‘net zero’.

Person Specifications

Knowledge, Quality and Skills

Essential

  • Substantial expert knowledge and evidence of an established international reputation in applied global health research
  • Excellent management, interpersonal, and leadership skills, including effective chairing, inclusion and time management to demonstrate credibility amongst peers
  • Familiarity with the processes for securing high quality research awards and the variety of research methods required and appropriate to awards via this programme
  • Ability to communicate effectively with a diversity of key stakeholders
  • A strong sense of fairness and probity, with a strong commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of funding and research activity
  • Strong commitment to supporting Community Engagement and Involvement and stakeholder engagement throughout the research life cycle as a core value to the programme
  • Confident and sensitive negotiation skills
  • Discretion in the handling of confidential information
  • Familiarity with Official Development Assistance (ODA) and its stakeholders
  • Familiarity with the NIHR and the wider research funding landscape both nationally and internationally
  • Knowledge and understanding of inclusive research prioritisation mechanisms

Experience

Essential:

  • Proven track record of applied global health research leadership in LMICs
  • Proven experience of chairing large meetings
  • Experience of maintaining and creating new, complex relationships
  • Demonstrable professional experience of successful research delivery in LMICs
  • Long-term affiliation through part/full or honorary employment with a UK HEI or Research Institute

Desirable:

  • Wider affiliations to LMIC HEIs or research institutes
  • Experience of working corporately and across organisational boundaries

Qualifications

Essential:

  • Higher degree (PhD or equivalent experience)

Desirable

  • Leadership and/or management qualification

General Requirements

Essential:

  • Capacity to dedicate time to the Global Health Research portfolio and related work, including capacity to prepare for and attend regular face-to-face meetings
  • Capacity to contribute to wider work across NIHR, including, if required, represent NIHR at national and international meetings

Application Process

Please submit a full CV and supporting letter indicating how you meet the person specification and highlighting your suitability for the role by 12 noon GMT on 8 February 2023. Applications should be submitted by email to ghrtp@nihr.ac.uk 

Applications will be assessed by a short-listing panel against the person specification set out for this role in late February 2023 and short-listed applicants will be invited for interview in central London if possible, otherwise via videoconferencing, in mid-March 2023.

For informal discussions about the role prior to application please contact: mike.batley@dhsc.gov.uk.