• Job Description

  Req#: C9298-MDI-0149A?language=en&page=772&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Are you passionate about health and care research? The NIHR is looking for a HR/OD Lead with experience of providing strategic and operational workforce in the public sector and / or working in a research environment to join our teams providing HR and OD expertise to strategic and operational business making and developing innovative people solutions to support business plans and strategy working.

  The NIHR enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.

  Successful applicants will be flexible, proactive, responsible, have great communication skills, and be able to work as part of a team to ensure delivery of the relevant portfolio of work.

  This position offers a great opportunity to work as part of an enthusiastic and skilled multidisciplinary team to provide excellent HR/OD support to colleagues across the NIHR Academy, playing a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best health and care researchers to tackle the complex challenges of the future.

  This is a great time to join NIHR as we look to expand many of our activities and deliver an excellent experience for those developing their health and care research careers.

  We encourage individuals who are considering applying to contact the office and have a conversation with the hiring manager.

  Shortlisting date: 31 July 2025

  Interview date: 13 August 2025

  Main duties of the job

  The successful candidate will:

  • be responsible for the provision of strategic and operational workforce support to ensure best practice people management within the NIHR Academy.
  • support and report into the NIHR Academy Executive Board and will be the main contact for all strategic and complex workforce matters including learning and development.
  • be responsible for ensuring the contribution of HR and OD expertise to strategic and operational business decision making and developing innovative people solutions to support business plans and strategy working alongside senior managers to develop plans to take forward NIHR Academy priorities
  • lead on initiatives relating to workforce modernisation and service improvement through effective people management
  • identify and address development needs in relation to people management skills, capacity, and capability within the NIHR Academy.

  The post holder is required to maintain knowledge on employment case law, changes to employment legislation, NHS national guidance, developments in best practice HR, and policy within the host LTHT and the NIHR Academy to assess its impact and review ways of working across the organisation.

  The post holder is accountable for the HR advice given to management teams, as well, where necessary, the interpretation of different strands of HR advice from specialist areas.

  About us

  The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR plays a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchers and complements the additional NIHR investment in world-class research facilities and a skilled research workforce.

  This role is hosted by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and delivers the work of the NIHR, leading on policy, strategy and delivery in respect of academic training in England and working closely with other NIHR centres and the Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

  Details

  Date posted

  01 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8a

  Salary

  £55,690 to £62,682 a year subject to the pay award

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Flexible working

  Reference number

  C9298-MDI-0149A

  Job locations

  N I H R Clinical Research Network

  NIHR Academy Executive

  21 Queen Street

  Leeds

  LS1 2TW

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  • To be the HR / OD Lead at NIHR Academy working with and reporting into the Assistant Director Finance, Governance and People providing specialised knowledge and advice on HR/OD. The post holder will be part of the Finance, Governance and People team. NIHR Academy has approximately 130 employees and a budget in excess of £10m. As the HR and OD expert, the post holder will be required to take the lead on strategic HR, OD and Training and Development issues, advising and recommending actions to the NIHR Academy Executive Board and Senior Leadership teams, thereby ensuring compliance with employment law and governance requirements.
  • To inform the annual business planning process and support the NIHR Academy agenda by contributing to the workforce planning cycle, service improvement and role design. Develop and implement local workforce plans for the NIHR Academy as part of the strategic planning process, tailored to the business ensuring delivery of NIHR Academy objectives.
  • To advise and support the NIHR Academy in the development and modernisation of their services and related workforce requirements to include effective workforce utilisation, role design, workforce restructuring, skill mix and management of change in line with best practices and LTHT Policies and Procedures.
  • To lead on the design and review of strategic organisational development and change initiatives in partnership with managers and staff to ensure change is implemented in compliance with good employment practices and the Trusts Policy in respect of behaviours and values, service improvement initiatives, equality and diversity and corporate social responsibility, and proactively engaging with staff representatives if appropriate.
  • Ensure a culture of succession planning within the NIHR Academy to ensure vacancy levels are appropriately managed and short-term, high-cost interim solutions are limited.
  • Lead the analysis and review of metrics, Staff Survey results and workforce information reports for the NIHR Academy highlighting areas for concern. Proactively work with managers and colleagues to put plans in place to resolve areas of concern and/or manage risks, ensuring delivery of HR performance targets. Ensure that unresolved areas of concern and risks are escalated appropriately through the Trusts workforce governance structure if necessary.
  • Ensure the delivery of NIHR Academys SLA workforce performance targets. This will involve helping managers to identify how targets can best be achieved.
  • Contribute to the development and review of key workforce performance indicators.
  • Devise and deliver cultural change management programmes which will assist in the delivery of the NIHR Academy and Trusts overarching strategy and are in accordance with the Leeds Way.
  • Develop and implement interventions and programmes to ensure managers are confident, competent and supported to manage their staff effectively.
  • Coach and guide senior managers in all staff management related issues - managing change, maximising individual performance, building high performance teams and dealing with conflict.
  • Advise NIHR Academy Executive Board and line managers on the interpretation and application of terms and conditions of employment, LTHT Trust policies, current legislation and codes of practice.
  • Foster a positive climate of employee relations within the NIHR Academy, to support the implementation of a partnership approach and to develop and maintain good working relationships with representatives of Trade Unions and staff organisations if required.
  • Ensure managers are equipped to manage informal issues with their staff effectively, providing best practice advice to minimise escalation to formal processes, where appropriate.
  • To provide coaching and leadership to senior managers and enable them to develop the necessary skills to effectively manage people issues within their teams.
  • To identify and address development needs in relation to people management skills, capacity and capability within the NIHR Academy.
  • To lead on effective appraisal and personal development implementation within the NIHR Academy.
  • To lead on the implementation of HR, organisational development and training systems and policies across the NIHR Academy as measured by key performance indicators, reporting progress to the NIHR Academy Executive Board,
  • To interpret HR policy and legislation, providing guidance to managers within the NIHR Academy in cases with unique characteristics, or where precedent has not yet been set.
  • Work with NIHR Academy management teams to ensure that staff within the organisation have an annual appraisal and personal development plan commensurate with their role.
  • In addition to the general responsibility for equality and diversity, this postholder should act as a role model in respect of equality and diversity and foster a culture within that encourages inclusion.
  • To regularly prepare reports, analyses and position papers as required, for NIHR Academy Executive Board including regular updating of the relevant areas within the NIHR annual business plan and reports to DHSC.
  • To manage a team promoting the NIHR Academy values and positive culture.
  • To perform any other duties commensurate with the grade of post under the direction of the Assistant Director Finance, Governance and People, including leading on strategic projects where required.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  • To be the HR / OD Lead at NIHR Academy working with and reporting into the Assistant Director Finance, Governance and People providing specialised knowledge and advice on HR/OD. The post holder will be part of the Finance, Governance and People team. NIHR Academy has approximately 130 employees and a budget in excess of £10m. As the HR and OD expert, the post holder will be required to take the lead on strategic HR, OD and Training and Development issues, advising and recommending actions to the NIHR Academy Executive Board and Senior Leadership teams, thereby ensuring compliance with employment law and governance requirements.
  • To inform the annual business planning process and support the NIHR Academy agenda by contributing to the workforce planning cycle, service improvement and role design. Develop and implement local workforce plans for the NIHR Academy as part of the strategic planning process, tailored to the business ensuring delivery of NIHR Academy objectives.
  • To advise and support the NIHR Academy in the development and modernisation of their services and related workforce requirements to include effective workforce utilisation, role design, workforce restructuring, skill mix and management of change in line with best practices and LTHT Policies and Procedures.
  • To lead on the design and review of strategic organisational development and change initiatives in partnership with managers and staff to ensure change is implemented in compliance with good employment practices and the Trusts Policy in respect of behaviours and values, service improvement initiatives, equality and diversity and corporate social responsibility, and proactively engaging with staff representatives if appropriate.
  • Ensure a culture of succession planning within the NIHR Academy to ensure vacancy levels are appropriately managed and short-term, high-cost interim solutions are limited.
  • Lead the analysis and review of metrics, Staff Survey results and workforce information reports for the NIHR Academy highlighting areas for concern. Proactively work with managers and colleagues to put plans in place to resolve areas of concern and/or manage risks, ensuring delivery of HR performance targets. Ensure that unresolved areas of concern and risks are escalated appropriately through the Trusts workforce governance structure if necessary.
  • Ensure the delivery of NIHR Academys SLA workforce performance targets. This will involve helping managers to identify how targets can best be achieved.
  • Contribute to the development and review of key workforce performance indicators.
  • Devise and deliver cultural change management programmes which will assist in the delivery of the NIHR Academy and Trusts overarching strategy and are in accordance with the Leeds Way.
  • Develop and implement interventions and programmes to ensure managers are confident, competent and supported to manage their staff effectively.
  • Coach and guide senior managers in all staff management related issues - managing change, maximising individual performance, building high performance teams and dealing with conflict.
  • Advise NIHR Academy Executive Board and line managers on the interpretation and application of terms and conditions of employment, LTHT Trust policies, current legislation and codes of practice.
  • Foster a positive climate of employee relations within the NIHR Academy, to support the implementation of a partnership approach and to develop and maintain good working relationships with representatives of Trade Unions and staff organisations if required.
  • Ensure managers are equipped to manage informal issues with their staff effectively, providing best practice advice to minimise escalation to formal processes, where appropriate.
  • To provide coaching and leadership to senior managers and enable them to develop the necessary skills to effectively manage people issues within their teams.
  • To identify and address development needs in relation to people management skills, capacity and capability within the NIHR Academy.
  • To lead on effective appraisal and personal development implementation within the NIHR Academy.
  • To lead on the implementation of HR, organisational development and training systems and policies across the NIHR Academy as measured by key performance indicators, reporting progress to the NIHR Academy Executive Board,
  • To interpret HR policy and legislation, providing guidance to managers within the NIHR Academy in cases with unique characteristics, or where precedent has not yet been set.
  • Work with NIHR Academy management teams to ensure that staff within the organisation have an annual appraisal and personal development plan commensurate with their role.
  • In addition to the general responsibility for equality and diversity, this postholder should act as a role model in respect of equality and diversity and foster a culture within that encourages inclusion.
  • To regularly prepare reports, analyses and position papers as required, for NIHR Academy Executive Board including regular updating of the relevant areas within the NIHR annual business plan and reports to DHSC.
  • To manage a team promoting the NIHR Academy values and positive culture.
  • To perform any other duties commensurate with the grade of post under the direction of the Assistant Director Finance, Governance and People, including leading on strategic projects where required.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Masters degree in HR-related specialism or equivalent experience
  • CIPD or similar post-graduate qualification in HR-related subject
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

  Skills & Behaviours

  Essential

  • Strategic planning and change management skills
  • Strong leadership skills
  • Honesty and personal integrity
  • Role model for equality and diversity
  • Accept responsibility and accountability for own actions and decisions
  • Take responsibility for own learning and development and share learning and knowledge with others
  • Using resources available in an effective, efficient and timely manner having proper regard to the best interests of the Trust
  • Respect confidentiality
  • Seek to ensure that no-one is unlawfully discriminated against
  • Ensure that staff are helped to maintain and improve their knowledge and skills and achieve their full potential
  • Ensure that judgements about colleagues (including appraisals and references) are consistent, fair and unbiased and are properly founded
  • Show commitment to working as a team by working to create an environment in which leadership is encouraged and developed at all levels

  Other criteria

  Essential

  • Effective communication
  • Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
  • Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence others at all levels within the organisation. This includes effective communication within situations which are emotionally charged and potentially hostile
  • Ability to influence and motivate others

  Experience

  Essential

  • Significant experience of working within HR and Organisational Change
  • Experience of workforce planning
  • Experience of embedding innovative HR / OD practice
  • Specialist knowledge of employment law
  • Knowledge of service improvement initiatives within the NHS
  • Knowledge and understanding of appraisal and personal development policies and procedures
  • Experience of developing the people management skills of others

  Desirable

  • Knowledge of LTHT HR policies
  • Working knowledge of NHS terms and conditions and NHS Key
  • Performance Indicators and how they are applied
  • Previous NHS experience
  • Previous experience as an HR business partner
  • Experience of service improvement initiatives within the NHS
  • Experience of leading change in respect of appraisal and personal development policies and procedures

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Masters degree in HR-related specialism or equivalent experience
  • CIPD or similar post-graduate qualification in HR-related subject
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

  Skills & Behaviours

  Essential

  • Strategic planning and change management skills
  • Strong leadership skills
  • Honesty and personal integrity
  • Role model for equality and diversity
  • Accept responsibility and accountability for own actions and decisions
  • Take responsibility for own learning and development and share learning and knowledge with others
  • Using resources available in an effective, efficient and timely manner having proper regard to the best interests of the Trust
  • Respect confidentiality
  • Seek to ensure that no-one is unlawfully discriminated against
  • Ensure that staff are helped to maintain and improve their knowledge and skills and achieve their full potential
  • Ensure that judgements about colleagues (including appraisals and references) are consistent, fair and unbiased and are properly founded
  • Show commitment to working as a team by working to create an environment in which leadership is encouraged and developed at all levels

  Other criteria

  Essential

  • Effective communication
  • Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
  • Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence others at all levels within the organisation. This includes effective communication within situations which are emotionally charged and potentially hostile
  • Ability to influence and motivate others

  Experience

  Essential

  • Significant experience of working within HR and Organisational Change
  • Experience of workforce planning
  • Experience of embedding innovative HR / OD practice
  • Specialist knowledge of employment law
  • Knowledge of service improvement initiatives within the NHS
  • Knowledge and understanding of appraisal and personal development policies and procedures
  • Experience of developing the people management skills of others

  Desirable

  • Knowledge of LTHT HR policies
  • Working knowledge of NHS terms and conditions and NHS Key
  • Performance Indicators and how they are applied
  • Previous NHS experience
  • Previous experience as an HR business partner
  • Experience of service improvement initiatives within the NHS
  • Experience of leading change in respect of appraisal and personal development policies and procedures

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Additional information

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  Address

  N I H R Clinical Research Network

  NIHR Academy Executive

  21 Queen Street

  Leeds

  LS1 2TW

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  Address

  N I H R Clinical Research Network

  NIHR Academy Executive

  21 Queen Street

  Leeds

  LS1 2TW

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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