NIHR (RRDN) Operations Director (XN11)

The RRDN Operations Director is the senior officer responsible for the operational services of the RRDN. These services are delivered for the RRDN, partner organisations and research funders, with particular emphasis on addressing the needs of the life sciences industry (across both commercial contract and commercial collaborative research). These services include Study Support, Agile Research Support, regional support for Active National Delivery, Financial Management and Business Operations. The RRDN Operations Director line manages the Service/Team Leaders for the defined operational services.

The purpose of the RDN is to support the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy. The RRDN Operations Director is responsible for ensuring research sites have an appropriate level of funding to support and deliver the core NHS service support activities, in line with agreed funding principles. They will establish and maintain proportionate and nationally consistent mechanisms to ensure partner organisations use RDN funding appropriately and effectively. They will also ensure that all necessary contracts or agreements required are in place before funds are provided and will develop mechanisms to be adopted by RDN partner organisations to recover costs from commercial research funders in a timely and effective way.

The RRDN Operations Director is responsible for working in collaboration with regional R&D departments in order to support those departments in the delivery of their studies. The RRDN Operations Director will also implement any delivery priorities or initiatives as required by the RDN Coordinating Centre (RDNCC). This may be as part of wider strategic or political initiatives or as part of an urgent public health response. RRDN services will need to remain agile and responsive to such demands.

The RRDN Operations Director will support national and regional initiatives to help meet the research delivery needs of the life sciences industry, including providing a key account management function. The RRDN Operations Director will also work closely with the RRDN Strategic Development Director and ensure operational intelligence and expertise is used to strengthen the 3-year RRDN Strategic Implementation Plan. Alongside their regional responsibilities the RRDN Operations Director will co-develop and lead national programmes of work in collaboration with the RDNCC.