Senior Study Support Service Manager

Job summary

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks across the U.K. These work with the national Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to provide a joint RDN leadership function via the RDN Board, so that the NIHR RDN operates as a single, transparent organisation with a shared vision and purpose. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is Host Organisation for the Yorkshire RRDN region. The RDN supports the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy.

Main duties of the job

The Study Support Service Senior Manager will have overall responsibility for leading the local operational aspects of the Regional RDN (RRDN) Study Support Service, which will be seamlessly integrated within the collective national Study Support Service, which serves as the cornerstone of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), facilitating the effective delivery of studies throughout the system while enhancing strategic capacity and capability. This role will have overall responsibility for ensuring local services within the Study Support Service are delivered to a high quality and consistently in line with nationally defined standards and operating processes. These encompass pre-approval services such as Planning and Placement Service/national cost and attribution tools, as well as post-approval services including portfolio oversight and on-request services. The role will also serve as a primary escalation point to identify issues necessitating regional or national resolution and attention. The role will work in collaboration with Regional Specialty and Settings Leads, ensuring seamless coordination and alignment with broader strategic objectives.

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Details

• Date posted: 25 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8a
• Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time
• Reference number: 001332
• Job locations: Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For questions about this job, contact:

Srdjan Ljubojevic Head of Partner Liaison and Planning Email: Srdjan.ljubojevic1@nhs.net Shortlisting Date: 7 July 2026 Interview Date: 16 July 2026

Job Summary

The Study Support Service Senior Manager will have overall responsibility for leading the local operational aspects of the Regional RDN (RRDN) Study Support Service, which will be seamlessly integrated within the collective national Study Support Service, which serves as the cornerstone of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), facilitating the effective delivery of studies throughout the system while enhancing strategic capacity and capability.

This role will have overall responsibility for ensuring local services within the Study Support Service are delivered to a high quality and consistently in line with nationally defined standards and operating processes. These encompass pre-approval services such as Planning and Placement Service/national cost and attribution tools, as well as post-approval services including portfolio oversight and on-request services. The role will also serve as a primary escalation point to identify issues necessitating regional or national resolution and attention. The role will work in collaboration with Regional Specialty and Settings Leads, ensuring seamless coordination and alignment with broader strategic objectives.

Why you should join our Team

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks across the U.K. These work with the national Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to provide a joint RDN leadership function via the RDN Board, so that the NIHR RDN operates as a single, transparent organisation with a shared vision and purpose. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is Host Organisation for the Yorkshire RRDN region.

The RDN supports the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy.

What you will bring to the role

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Act as a senior leader within the RDN, providing strategic direction and guidance
• Work as part of a community of senior leaders across the national network, exercising shared leadership and promoting the consistency of experience across a nationally-harmonised Study Support Service
• Collaborate with Local Specialty and Settings Leadership to align operational activities with strategic objectives
• Provide strategic support to research delivery sites, drawing on and contributing to national network intelligence
• Manage the Implementation and cascade of national strategic Study Support direction within the region and the local RRDN

BUSINESS PLANNING

• Support the contribution to collective national business planning for the Study Support and Partner Liaison services
• Contribute to reviewing, evaluating and approving research site delivery plans, and have delegated responsibility for periodically performance monitoring against those plans to ensure that RDN funding is being used appropriately and effectively
• Contribute to business planning for the Study Support Service and Partner Liaison functions, ensuring effective implementation and reporting

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred Collaborative Fair Accountable Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

We’re committed to recruiting exceptional people to deliver outstanding services across Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and helping every colleague reach their full potential. We’re looking for a compassionate, inclusive, and collaborative leader who shares our values and can build strong partnerships. We warmly invite applications from people from a variety of backgrounds and sectors, and are especially keen to hear from individuals from a minority ethnic background. We’re dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and has a true sense of belonging, as we work together to deliver the best in healthcare to the people of Leeds and beyond.

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.