Programme Grants Applied Research; PGfAR Programme Director

We are looking for a Programme Director for our Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) Programme, to succeed Professor Marian Knight who reaches the end of their tenure on 31 May 2026.

The NIHR PGfAR funding scheme makes significant awards of flexible funding budget and duration. Since the Programme was established in 2006, 47 rounds have been completed, leading to over 340 awards, largely health care related but increasingly, public health and social care orientated. To view our current funded projects, please visit the NIHR funding and awards website.

The research is applied and relatively ‘near-term’, with an expectation of clear benefits to patients, service users, carers, and the health and social care systems. Further information can be found by visiting the Programme Grants for Applied Research website.

In parallel, the programme offers both seed funding and/or follow‑on funding for those researchers seeking to strengthen their research activities funded via its component Programme Development Grants scheme. Please refer to the NIHR Programme Development Grants web pages for more details.

This role is an honorary post and does not confer any employment status or any employment rights. You should have an agreement in writing of support from your employing organisation when applying.

If you believe passionately in inclusive evidence‑based care and want to make health, public health and social care services and organisations work better for service users, patients, and the dedicated staff and managers who provide care, and you have a strong track record in health and care services research, then this is the role for you. Leading this influential programme, as part of a wider group of NIHR programme directors, will allow you to work across the health and care sectors and alongside key influencers in government.

As Programme Director, you will have the opportunity to guide the strategic focus and evolution of the PGfAR Programme. You will have strategic accountability for the programme’s research budget, working in co‑leadership with the NIHR Coordinating Centre (NIHR CC) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to maximise the value of the investment through the commissioned portfolio. You will be responsible for the overall scientific quality of the PGfAR Programme portfolio, and for probity of decision‑making.

You will have oversight of the programme’s portfolio of funded studies.

Alongside other programme directors you will be part of the NIHR research programmes senior leadership team. You will work collaboratively across programmes, and with other parts of NIHR and the DHSC, to maximise the strategic impact of not only the PGfAR Programme but NIHR’s investment across the research programmes portfolio in the delivery of key priorities.

The right candidate will have proven experience of health care, although knowledge of public health and social care would be beneficial, as well as sound knowledge of research and development in the field of health, public health and social care. For this role, we are particularly interested in candidates with experience of working in primary care. They will have a good understanding of research methods relevant to the programme, excellent communication and negotiating skills, and proven ability to chair committees effectively.

This role is accountable to the Deputy Director of Research Programmes in the Science, Research and Evidence directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care.

The tenure for this role is 3 years in the first instance, to be reviewed at 2 years. In the context of ongoing programme development, this role may evolve as Programme Director roles are reorganised or consolidated. Depending on these changes, there may be potential to extend by up to 2 years to a total of 5 years by mutual agreement.

You cannot hold any other NIHR honorary role for the duration of the tenure, other than in exceptional circumstances.

The overall time commitment includes attending meetings, providing specific advice and undertaking background and planning work.

Your key responsibilities will…