Corporate Services Manager

Job Overview

The RDN is a new organisation with new structures, governance and ways of working. Study delivery in England will be supported through 12 NIHR Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs).

These will work with the national Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) and the Department of Health and Care to provide a joint RDN leadership function via the RDN Board, so that the NIHR RDN as a whole functions as a single, transparent organisation with a shared vision and purpose.

University Hospital Southampton is the Host Organisation for the South Central RRDN region.

Main duties of the job

The Corporate Services Manager will play a central role to lead and direct the operational business planning and strategic financial management functions for the RRDN and will report to the Head of Strategy Engagement and Inclusion.

The primary functions of this role will include RRDN performance monitoring, RRDN business and financial planning and reporting activities and strategic development. This role will be responsible for the delivery of key strategic projects for the RDN regionally.

Projects will be varied in nature and feed into the RDN’s aim of creating capacity and capability in research delivery and the delivery of value for money and effective and sustainable improvements for research participants and the research delivery workforce.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The NIHR RRDNs will have three key roles which it will fulfil via new models of service delivery and functions, to:

• provide support to research sites to enable the effective and efficient initiation and
  
  

delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England;

• enable the strategic development of new and more effective research delivery
  
  

capability and capacity. This will include bringing research to under-served regions

and communities with major health and care needs;

• work jointly with the Coordinating Centre in the strategic oversight of the NIHR RDN.
  
  

This will ensure that the Portfolio is maintained as a cohort of high-quality, fully-funded, viable and deliverable studies. It will also ensure that the NIHR RDN as a whole serves the research delivery needs of investigators and R&D teams and is responsive to the changing domestic and global environment for health and care, life sciences and health research.

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.

Person specification

Qualifications / Training Required

Essential criteria

• Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or equivalent experience
• Project management qualification or equivalent experience
  
  

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• Experience of NHS management and research infrastructure
• Experience of acting in a senior management capacity, including experience in overseeing organisational planning and reporting activities
• Experience of managing staff
• Experience of using IT systems for information dissemination and to monitor performance
  
  

Aptitudes And Skills Required

Essential criteria

• Lead on and take oversight of network wide plans, with specialist skills to manage, adjust and deliver complex projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals and a broad range of activities, to tight deadlines
• Specialist knowledge and understanding of quality assurance and performance management techniques
• Extensive experience of project management experience in a leadership capacity, delivering complex projects involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines
  
  

Special requirements of the post

Essential criteria

• Prepared and able to travel to different locations across the region and nationally to attend meetings and conferences
  
  

Values and behaviours

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together