Company Description LGC Ltd (www.lgcgroup.com) is a global life sciences company serving government, academia, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food, environment, security, and sports sectors. Its Grant Management Group (GMG) works closely with the NIHR and other UK government bodies to support medical and health research. GMG manages funding calls, contracts and intellectual property, ensuring research projects are delivered efficiently and in line with strategic priorities, while collaborating with stakeholders across the NHS, academia, government and industry to advance health innovation.The NIHR, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, is the UK’s largest funder of health and social care research. It delivers world leading studies that improve health, wellbeing and economic growth with GMG providing critical operational and management support to its funding programs.Job DescriptionThe Head of NIHR Life Sciences Industry Engagement is responsible for delivering a unified, strategic, and outcomes-driven industry engagement model across the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).The aim of this role is to maximise the impact of NIHR’s Key Account Management (KAM) and Business Development (BD) functions, ensuring NIHR presents a single, coordinated interface to the global life sciences industry.The postholder will integrate and lead NIHR’s engagement activity across multiple organisations and infrastructures, transforming it from an activity-based function to a business-focused growth unit that delivers measurable outcomes- including increased commercial trials, inward investment, and strengthened industry confidence in the UK.They will work closely with the Head of the NIHR Industry Hub to ensure that engagement directly drives delivery, aligning relationships, study setup, and performance into one end-to-end offer.Key Responsibilities1. Strategic Leadership and System IntegrationEstablish a cross-NIHR Key Account Management and Business Development model - uniting currently fragmented functions into a single, coherent industry-facing offerDefine and operationalise a clear national industry engagement framework that links the NIHR Coordinating Centre, Research Delivery Network (RDN), and wider NIHR infrastructureEnsure industry partners experience NIHR as a single, joined-up system- balancing research delivery strengths with NIHR’s broader innovation, translational, and data capabilitiesOversee alignment of engagement functions with the Life Sciences Sector Plan and NIHR’s Life Sciences Industry Strategy2. Key Account Management (KAM) TransformationExpand and professionalise the NIHR KAM function to operate across the full NIHR systemEnsure each key sponsor has a single, senior NIHR relationship lead with full visibility of all their studies, collaborations, and innovation partnershipsIntroduce standardised KAM principles, role definitions, and performance measures across NIHR, ensuring consistency and accountabilityEstablish governance, escalation, and feedback loops to continuously improve the sponsor experienceStrengthen collaboration between KAMs and the Industry Hub, ensuring sponsor issues and study-level challenges are rapidly resolved3. Business Development (BD) LeadershipTransform NIHR’s Business Development function, responsible for generating new partnerships and expanding NIHR’s commercial research portfolioIntroduce a unified pipeline management system (Salesforce CRM) to track, qualify, and convert industry opportunities from engagement to contractDeliver and regularly review sector-specific strategies for pharma, biotech, and healthtech, ensuring NIHR proactively engages with companies at all stages of maturity - from SMEs to global multinationalsDevelop and promote a clear SME offerCo-produce guiding principles and operating models for KAM and BD across NIHR4. Governance, Processes, and PrinciplesLead co-development of the Guiding Principles and Governance Framework for KAM and BD, ensuring:Clear delineation of roles, responsibilities, and escalation processesDefined procedures for transitioning accounts between teams with no loss of continuityCommon standards for conference participation, external representation, and industry communicationsTransparent reporting and shared accountability through an Industry Delivery Board structureEstablish a national reporting framework that enables DHSC, NIHR Board, and HMG to track performance, growth, and impact across all industry-facing functions5. Integration with the Industry HubWork in strategic partnership with the Head of the NIHR Industry Hub to ensure engagement activity translates into delivery outcomesAlign KAM and BD intelligence with the Hub’s performance data and dashboardsEstablish a real-time feedback loop between sponsor engagement and operational delivery, supporting rapid escalation and issue resolutionCollaborate to maintain sponsor visibility and confidence from initial contact through to study delivery and “last patient out”6. Performance, Outcomes, and ReportingDefine and deliver measurable performance metrics, including:Growth in commercial trials and investmentConversion rate from engagement to new clinical trial or industry collaborative projectReduction in duplication and fragmentation across engagement functions.Sponsor satisfaction, retention, and repeat businessEfficiency gains in account transition and partner managementLead quarterly performance reviews, providing insight reports to DHSC and NIHR leadership on engagement effectiveness and system impactEnsure all reporting aligns with the NIHR Industry Metrics Framework and UK Life Sciences Competitiveness Indicators7. Culture, Capability, and WorkforceBuild and lead a national team with the commercial, relationship, and analytical skills to engage credibly with global life sciences companiesPromote a culture of collaboration, transparency, and accountability across all industry-facing NIHR teamsDeliver structured development programmes for KAMs and BD staff to build commercial awareness and negotiation skillsModel NIHR’s core values, partnership, inclusivity, and innovation, in all engagement activityQualificationsPerson Specification: Essential Criteria Senior leadership experience in business development, account management, strategic partnerships, and/or clinical research within life sciences or healthcareProven success in delivering measurable growth through industry collaborationStrong understanding of NIHR, NHS R&D, the UK clinical research environment, and the wider life sciences landscapeDemonstrated ability to lead cultural and structural change within large organisationsExcellent relationship management and negotiation skills at executive levelStrategic thinker with ability to link engagement activity to system-wide outcomesDesired CriteriaExperience working with or within the pharmaceutical, biotech or CRO sector Track record of leading transformation across complex, multi-stakeholder systemsExperience of working across devolved administrations or international research networksFamiliarity with CRM and performance analytics systems (e.g. Salesforce)Formal qualification in business, leadership, or health innovation managementUnderstanding of UK life sciences policy and industrial strategyPerformance MeasuresUnified cross-NIHR KAM and BD model operational by end of Year 1.Increase in commercial studies initiated, completed, and reinvested.Improved conversion rate from engagement to active contract.Reduced duplication across NIHR industry-facing functions.Positive sponsor feedback on coherence and responsiveness of NIHR’s offer.Demonstrable impact on NIHR’s contribution to UK life sciences growth metrics.Impact Statement This role will deliver one of NIHR’s most significant organisational transformations, uniting fragmented industry engagement into a single, strategic, and accountable system that speaks to industry with one voice. By turning engagement into measurable business outcomes, the Head of NIHR Life Sciences Industry Engagement will strengthen sponsor confidence, accelerate investment, and ensure NIHR plays a central role in delivering the UK’s ambition to be the best place in the world to develop, test, and adopt life sciences innovation.Additional InformationCompensation, Benefits & Working Arrangements: Salary: Commensurate with experience Location: Victoria, London / Hybrid working model Contract Type: Permanent Contract Working Hours: 37.5 per week, 7.5 hours per day Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidaysEmployee Benefits Include: Annual, discretionary bonus Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme Life Insurance Cover Benenden Healthcare Membership Training and Development Opportunities Season Ticket LoanNB: We offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, flexible working arrangements. This is an office based, hybrid role with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices 1 day each week, this may increase, subject to team requirements. Application If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Essential and Desired Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with the NIHR. Inclusion and Diversity LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.