Research Programme Manager

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We offer a range of ongoing benefits to our valued workforce. From an active health and wellbeing programme to regular recognition events, we work hard to provide varied benefits that make a difference to your work-life balance.

Here are some clips of our Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust staff, speaking about their role and why they enjoy working for us.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you.

Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

At this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHS and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.

We are seeking a Research Programmes Manager who will provide leadership in the development, coordination, and management of larger-scale research programmes within the Trust.

This role will complement the Clinical Research Operations Manager by focusing on programme development and partnership working, while also supporting the growth of the Trust’s research portfolio and reputation.

The postholder will play a key role in identifying, securing, and initiating new research opportunities, working across clinical and academic institutions to develop sustainable, high‑quality research programmes.

• Bring expertise in research funding, programme management, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that new research is successfully established and aligned with Trust and national priorities.
• Lead the development and management of large, multi-partner research programmes.
• Support investigators with the development of larger funding applications, including grant writing, costing, and submission.
• Provide expert guidance on research design, governance requirements, and strategic alignment with NIHR, UKRI, and other funders.
• Oversee the start-up of new research programmes, establishing suitable infrastructure, partnerships, and resources.
• Monitor progress of ongoing programmes, identifying risks and mitigating barriers to delivery.

We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated “Good” by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple:
We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that’s doing well together.

Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification.

We are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under‑re‑presented communities for our more senior roles, like this one.

Oversee the start‑up of new research programmes, establishing suitable infrastructure, partnerships, and resources.

• Monitor progress of ongoing programmes, identifying risks and mitigating barriers to delivery.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a…