Leadership and Governance Manager

About the role

As the Leadership and Governance Manager, you will provide leadership on governance and operational management for the programme and will contribute to strategic direction to ensure the effective delivery of project objectives across multiple partner organisations.

The key purpose of this post is to develop, coordinate, and manage a large NIHR-funded mental health award at the University of Plymouth along with lead investigators.

You will play a pivotal part in building research capacity, strengthening research governance processes, managing specific projects and facilitating collaboration across universities, NHS organisations, and community partners.

An essential aspect of the role will be to develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including NIHR, research partners, healthcare providers, and community representatives. You will also contribute to knowledge mobilisation, supporting dissemination of research findings and ensuring that outputs lead to measurable impact across the health and care system.

The project is due to start 1 April 2026 with an expected end date of 31 March 2031 due to the nature of the project and funding.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role please contact Laura Gill via email at laura.gill@plymouth.ac.uk 

What we’re looking for

You will have experience of strategic oversight of project planning, delivery, and evaluation, including leadership of governance structures, financial monitoring, reporting, and performance management.

You will also have the following:

• Experience of managing collaborative, multi-organisation projects, with a proven track record in project and programme management within research and/or healthcare settings.
• Experience of people management and team leadership and of managing complex budgets, contracts, and performance monitoring processes.
• Experience of developing and implementing governance frameworks and administrative systems and hold a strong understanding of data protection (GDPR) and ethical issues in research.
• Experience of working both independently and as part of a cross-functional team as well as being able to provide skilled analysis, interpretation, and reporting of complex data.
• Experience of working with researchers at different stages in their career and hold a proven track record demonstrating experience of leadership development in a health, care, and/or research setting.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

Application Process

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Anticipated Interview Date:  Wednesday 14 January 2026 (in person)

Our Offer

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.

Additional Information

The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter, please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.

Closing date: 12 midnight, Sunday 4 January 2026

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