Head of Theme (1 X Population & Systems Medicine and 1 X Neurosciences and Mental Health)

Head of Theme (two roles – one each for Population & Systems Medicine and Neurosciences & Mental Health)

The Medical Research Council (MRC)
Salary: £65,262 (plus London allowance if applicable)
Band: UKRI Band G
Hours: Full time 
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire / Caxton House, London 

Closing date: 02/08/24 

Overall purpose: 

• To ensure there are clear, well communicated and realistic plans for developing MRC’s research portfolio in the Population & Systems Medicine Board (PSMB) or Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB) domains; and to lead its implementation.
• Build and nurture a broad network of relationships across stakeholder groups, both internally and externally.
• Undertake and deliver key strategic/policy projects for the Director of Section/MRC.  
• Accountable for the financial resources allocated through the Board for delivering research and associated activities.
• Manage and develop staff and prioritise resources across a matrix structure to ensure effective and efficient delivery of key activities and projects.
• Advise the MRC Executive Chair, Council, Executive Board and Directors on key issues to inform corporate decision making and organisational direction.
• Influence outcomes on behalf of the MRC.

Managing the MRC’s portfolio of research in a broad area of medical research (as defined by the Research Board); 

• Understanding – ensuring an awareness of emerging opportunities, challenges and threats.
• Upholding standards - ensuring sustained quality in peer review decision-making and implementation and delivery of programmes of research and strategic initiatives.
• Making changes - choosing and using suitable ways of achieving MRC’s aims in the area, (through reviews, change management, partnerships, funding decisions, appointments etc).
• Strategic thinking – working with the Board and key opinion leaders to identify and scope impactful investment opportunities in the Board portfolio area, developing proposals to access and/or lever funding, establish partnerships and implement delivery once approved.
• Providing direction - contributing expertise (portfolio, problems, partners, possibilities etc) to MRC strategy development, budget setting and evaluation.
• Relationships - representing the relevant Board portfolio and MRC’s successes and plans in the area to MRC’s full range of stakeholders in order to maintain MRC’s position and profile.

Main duties / key responsibilities: 

• Overseeing the funding decision meetings (Board) and peer review processes, ensuring that decision making is fair, defensible and properly documented, and that conflicts of interest are avoided.
• Ensuring Board membership includes appropriate expertise via the annual Board member recruitment exercise.
• Managing the relevant scientific commitment budget and corporate support budget.    
• Line management of the Head of Programme and Programme Managers in the team (c. 4 - 6 posts), including contributing to training and staff development; contributing to the management and development of other RPG staff supporting the Board.
• Lead MRC contact for and oversight of relationships with MRC Units, Centres and other major investments within the portfolio, including annual reviews of the delivery of Unit / CoRE objectives with the Board Chair, planning and delivery of investment reviews, and the recruitment of new Directors as required.
• Ensure effective working across MRC Head Office in relation to the wider portfolio of MRC Institutes, Units, Centres, major investments, other strategic programmes and research infrastructures.
• Act as lead MRC contact for Institutes (or divisions therein) and other major investments in the portfolio area.  
• Representation of MRC on external committees and in other fora relevant to the Board portfolio remit.
• Maintaining sufficient up to date knowledge of science within the portfolio remit to identify, and advise senior colleagues on major trends and opportunities.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of MRC scientific strategy within the Board portfolio remit, including responsibility for delivery of strategic projects and related reporting, ongoing horizon scanning, and obtaining input from Board members and other experts and stakeholders to identify scientific opportunities.
• Developing and maintaining good relationships with funding partners in current or possible future funding initiatives: maintaining an awareness of activities of UKRI’s constituent bodies, and other funders (both public and private sector), to identify potential partnership opportunities and ensure maximal impact for MRC investments.
• Liaison with other Research Councils/UKRI in relation to areas of cross council activity relevant to the portfolio area.
• Providing MRC input to developing or delivering international initiatives within the Board remit.
• Providing briefing for the MRC Executive Chair, Executive Board, UKRI, DSIT, DHSC and other Government departments, and preparing responses to external consultations or enquiries as required.
• Contributing to MRC documents (e.g. Annual Report, Strategic Delivery Plan) in relation to areas within portfolio remit.
• Risk management regarding Board business and the Board’s investment portfolio
• Contributing to MRC-wide activities and any other duties as required.   

Shortlisting Criteria 

Essential

• PhD (relevant to the work of the MRC).
• Significant experience working in health research management.
• Developing strategies for delivering major objectives in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Ability to manage and lead a team, including the management of performance.
• Experience of running high quality peer review.
• Familiar with UK medical or biological research in Universities and the NHS.
• Strong organisational planning skills.
• The ability to handle, analyse and present complex information (scientific, financial, policy, ethical).
• Excellent written communication skills, able to tailor style to a range of scientific, executive and lay audiences. Persuasive and credible in winning support for MRC’s agenda.

Desirable

• Postdoctoral research experience in academic or industry settings.
• Experience of managing high performing partnerships.

Interview Criteria 

Essential

• Negotiating solutions in conflicting and politically sensitive environments.
• Proven experience of representing an organisation at a senior level and the influencing favourable outcomes.
• Ability to engage in scientific issues, with credibility at all levels.
• Ability to manage and develop highly qualified professionals; ability to empower others to take responsibility for delivery of business objectives.
• Ability to think and plan strategically in research, relating long-range goals to short-term action.
• The ability to work under pressure and deliver targets to very tight deadlines.
• High level of insight and credibility in medical research and research funding issues.
• Committed to organisational development and guides others through change.
• Comfortable and confident in working in a changing environment.
• Strategic and pragmatic thinker.
• A strong leader who empowers others.
• Excellent oral communication skills.

How to apply

Online applications only for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly describes how you fulfil the key job criteria specified, along with your motivation for the role and working for the MRC. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application. 

Please ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Working relationships: 

Reports to: Deputy Director of Investigator-led themes

Staff Management: Board Head of Programme (Band F) and 4-6 Programme Managers (Band E) in the team

In addition to close working relationships with senior staff in the directorate, Programme Managers, Science/Project Managers and the Board administrative teams, the role involves developing and maintaining a broad range of working relationships within MRC and externally, including:

• Other directorates/teams within MRC Head Office, notably those within the areas of strategic initiatives and major investments, strategy development, international, evaluation and finance.
• Board members, in particular the Chair and Deputy Chair.
• Members of MRC Science Strategy Board, Council and Oversight Groups.
• Directors of MRC Institutes/Units/Centres within the portfolio remit, and Senior. Institute/Unit/Centre staff.
• Members of the scientific community, and senior university staff in HEIs with significant MRC investments (e.g. major MRC investments, national research resources etc).
• Scientific initiatives and consortia of relevance to the Board’s remit (UK and international), other Research Councils across UKRI, research charities, NIHR and other public funding bodies, and commercial organisations with a biomedical R&D interest.

Other key information 

The post holder will be based in either the London or Swindon Head Office, but will be required to work at the other site on a frequent basis and to attend meetings/workshops in other UK and/or overseas locations. The MRC operates flexible working between office locations and home, in line with business needs and maintaining a strong office presence. 

The post holder will need to work early and/or late when required – especially around key meetings and events.

Interviews are set to take place on the week of the 2nd September.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package! We’re committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

Plus, many more benefits and well-being initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.