Strategic Lead for Capacity Development

Salary:58225 to 61759 with progression to 67468 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 24 October 2025

The Role

The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) provides expert guidance and input to applied health public health and social care researchers on the design and delivery of research and the development of research funding applications.

The NIHR RSS operates as a national service allowing researchers to access the most appropriate support irrespective of location. The NIHR RSS is delivered through RSS Hubs and Specialist Centres (in Public Health and Social Care) each a partnership of research organisations and groups. The NIHR RSS offers a wide range of research support and methods expertise.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the NIHR RSS as Strategic Lead for Capacity Development working across a national footprint hosted within the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University.

The successful candidate will use their knowledge and experience of learning methods and approaches coupled with their senior business management expertise to create and then drive forward the aims and objectives of the RSS National Collaborative Capacity Development Work Package and RSS Workforce Development Business Plan and Strategy promoting a culture of organisational learning.

In alignment with Newcastle Universitys blended working policy this position allows for working from home for half of your working week. The role is available up to 1 whole time equivalent (37 hours per week) fixed term until 30 September 2028. For informal enquiries please contact .

To apply applicants should provide evidence of how they meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in the job description/person specification by uploading a letter of application of no more than 2 sides of A4 along with a Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Key Accountabilities

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Work closely with the RSS Capacity Development National Work Package Lead RSS Directors RSS staff and the RSS Capacity Development Working Group in the creation and implementation of an RSS Workforce Development Business Plan and Strategy. This will increase capacity and capability through a range of workstreams and deliverables and support opportunities for career progression for all RSS staff
• Continually refine and improve the RSS Workforce Development Strategy as learning from initiatives is captured and when new information is available.
• Work with Capacity Development Working Group leads to propose a national RSS Career Pathway Framework for methodologists and other roles identifying and promoting different opportunities at different career stages
• Horizon scan across the RSS landscape to ensure capacity development activities and needs from Hubs Specialist Centres other National Work Packages or groups are identified and to ensure a strategy is in place to work with other National Work Packages where there is potential duplication

Leadership and Governance

Chair the National Capacity Development Working Group reporting to the National RSS Leadership Group
Influence and negotiate with RSS Directors across England to achieve buy-in support and investment from RSS Hubs and Specialist Centres to deliver a national NIHR RSS Workforce Development Strategy
Ensure that budget holders across RSS Hubs and Specialist Centres are appropriately consulted when proposing alterations or implementing new initiatives. This should include ensuring due consideration has been given to resource implications and respecting the budget holder responsibilities and governance arrangements across the NIHR RSS
Promote equality and diversity in working practices

Stakeholder Engagement
Engage with key national stakeholders to ensure that the National RSS Capacity Development Work Package effectively scopes develops and delivers capacity building programmes nationally for RSS staff identifying training gaps and professional growth opportunities. This includes working in an agile manner to respond promptly to new national Department of Health and Social Care or NIHR priorities
Represent the NIHR RSS at local regional and national meetings preparing and delivering presentations as appropriate
Prepare reports and deliver proposals and presentations to the National NIHR RSS Leadership Group ensuring Directors and Managers are briefed on developments and resource implications are discussed and agreed
Identify an appropriate technological solution to host national resources share documentation and best practice

Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting

Develop implement and analyse results of surveys training needs assessments and feedback from stakeholder interviews and groups
Ensure effective quality assurance mechanisms are in place in order that capacity development activities are developed using evidence-led practice offer value for money and that any national policy requirements and good practices are embedded
Develop and deploy appropriate processes to capture report and retain evidence of delivery to support NIHR and Department of Health and Social Care Annual Reporting requirements
Manage monitor and report budgets for the National Capacity Development Work Package ensuring good value for taxpayers money and exploiting economies of scale by working with NIHR infrastructure and other partners

The Person
Knowledge Skills and Experience

Substantial knowledge and experience at a senior level of learning methods and approaches developing staff and creating and implementing new resources and educational activities
Understanding of internship models and apprenticeship levy
Understanding of career pathways and accreditation models
Experience delivering training needs analysis processes
Experience developing workforce development frameworks and strategies
Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills
Exemplary communication and interpersonal skills including diplomacy negotiating and influencing at a senior level
Proven leadership skills in a multi-stakeholder environment pre-empting requirements identifying opportunities and facilitating change management
Extensive experience of shaping strategic direction as a result of leading and working with teams across multiple departments or organisations
Significant experience of programme and/or project management and demonstrable ability to deliver results on time and within budget
Strong analytical skills including the ability to evaluate existing workstreams and identify themes trends strengths opportunities and threats. Be able to respond appropriately based on the analysis
Strong and sound professional judgement and decision-making skills proactively resolving issues as they arise
High level of attention to detail
Line management experience and being responsible for the performance of teams across a large footprint including influencing and motivating teams across a range of projects without directly line managing these teams
Desirable
Experience of implementing measures to support accessibility in the workplace
Experience of working in the research setting
Understanding of Department of Health and Social Care and NIHR priorities

Attributes and Behaviour

Ability to work in an agile manner to be responsive to changes in political direction or new governmental / NIHR priorities or initiatives
Politically astute
Articulate confident and politically adept communicator ready and able to sell a vision deal with difficult situations and to challenge where necessary
Able to work creatively and consultatively to find solutions including using thematic review and benchmarking exercises to analyse existing practices
Demonstrates strong communication interpersonal and negotiating skills
Values equality diversity inclusion differing levels of expertise and differing opinions
Able to think strategically in complex situations including where there are conflicting priorities
Ability to analyse interpret apply and communicate highly complex or sensitive information
Ability to plan manage adjust and deliver complex projects involving multiple agencies
and individuals and a broad range of activities to tight deadlines

Qualifications

Educated to degree level or evidence of equivalent relevant experience (minimum of 8 years experience)
Desirable
Post-graduate degree in a relevant subject or professional qualification

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silverAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 28631