Strategic Delivery Manager; Nihr Crdc And West Yorkshire

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.

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 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

• 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-

• 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, ICs, or regional systems.
• Experience of engagement…