Academic Capacity lead for NIHR Biomedical Research Centre bid

NIHR has announced the intention to fund a fifth round of the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) competition in 2027.

In preparation, we are inviting expressions of interest for an Academic Capacity lead who will develop and implement a cohesive research capacity building strategy across the bid, working closely with Prof Philip Newsome, who will lead the bid. We expect to appoint a single lead to oversee this work during bid preparation in close relationship with King's Clinical Academic Training Office (KCATO) and, subject to success, to support the delivery of the academic capacity strategy in the future BRC. This BRC bid will run alongside the BRC hosted by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

About NIHR BRCs

NIHR BRCs are substantial, competitive, infrastructure awards to leading NHS Trust and University Partnerships in England to accelerate the translation of innovative scientific discoveries into patient benefit through experimental medicine research and early phase clinical trials. BRC awards are typically awarded based on research themes which typically span a range of disorders and therapeutic areas and used to fund interdisciplinary teams of clinicians, researchers, allied health professionals and professional services staff to leverage external funding and collaborations to facilitate the delivery of the BRC scientific strategy. NIHR have announced the intention to fund the next round of BRCs with all information here. 

The USP for this BRC bid will be Personalised Health and Care with and for communities. The BRC will be challenge-based with an overt focus on the key healthcare problems facing us locally and nationally. Themes will be framed against longer-term targets whilst also containing conventional BRC stage targets and outputs

Role scope: 

1. Overall Training and development strategy for the bid
Lead the development and delivery of the Training and Development strategy for the BRC bid, working with the Director, Deputy Directors and Theme Leads to embed strong capacity building initiatives and support throughout the bid, and ensure alignment with other KHP infrastructures partner institutions and NIHR training strategies.  

2. Alignment of training and development opportunities across KHP and other NIHR infrastructure
Work with established training and development groups such as but not limited to Kings Clinical Academic Training Office (KCATO), SLaM BRC, Translational Research Office and ACORN. This will include active contribution to the National NIHR infrastructure Training Forum and NIHR Academy. As well as contributing to the local KHP Infrastructure forum to support a cohesive training offer across KHP. 

3. Resourcing, staffing and support for training and development 
Lead planning for appropriate resourcing of training and capacity development within the bid, including budgeting for training and capacity development activity.  

4. Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
Develop and oversee a framework for monitoring, evaluating and reporting training and development activity and impact across the bid and, if successful, the BRC, including agreed metrics and qualitative feedback from staff and participants.

5. Inclusive research culture for career development. 
Promote positive research culture in all areas of training and development of researcher and research active staff. This includes ensuring underrepresented professions and groups of people are supported in training and career development opportunities. Working with the EDI lead, champion the implementation of initiatives that support recruitment, retention and progression of a diverse and inclusive workforce. 

6. Clinical academic pipeline and NIHR Academy integration
Oversee integration of the BRC capacity strategy with NIHR Academy schemes (Academic Clinical Fellowships, Clinical Lectureships, Advanced Fellowships and Development and Skills Enhancement Awards) and with BRC-funded PhD and fellowship schemes. Work with Theme Leads to ensure a visible clinical academic pipeline spanning medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health professional and pharmacy staff, from pre-doctoral entry through to senior lectureship, and including routes for non-clinical researchers.
Application process:

Applications are invited from senior staff employed by a King’s Health Partners organisations typically at the level of Reader or Professor (substantive, honorary or adjunct), working in translational medicine across health disciplines. 

The candidate would need to be/have:

• Substantively employed by one of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, or King’s College London;
• A sustained record of excellence in research activities as indicated through original research articles with evidence of the impact of their research for patient benefit;
• An ability to think strategically and champion innovative approaches to building partnerships, driving impact, and accelerating research translation into clinical practice;
• Experience of, and commitment to, research training and capacity building at all levels across the spectrum of NHS trust staff and HE Postgraduate researchers. A sound understanding of NHS trust career structures for both medical and non-medical staff (nurses, midwives allied health professionals) is essential for this role;
• Evidence of being a team player and an ability to work with a range of stakeholders across KHP.

This is fixed-term role starting on appointment and running for the first two years of a successful BRC (around end March 2030). The posts may be extended by mutual agreement for the remainder of the BRC award. For the period of the successful BRC award the post will be allocated a 0.2 nominated FTE 

We are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and diversity and inclusion in accordance with KHP strategic principles. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from groups underrepresented in senior research posts.

Please submit your completed application comprised: 

• A cv, which is a maximum of three pages long including one page for publications.  
• A cover letter stating your interest in the role, your vision for research culture, EDI and how you would develop the BRC training and capacity building portfolio and the value you would bring to the role. 

Please email your application to translationalmedicine@kcl.ac.uk.  

The deadline for expressions is 5pm Thursday 14 May. There will potentially be informal interviews with two weeks of the deadline. 

For an informal chat about the role, please arrange an appointment to speak with Phil Newsome, translationalmedicine@kcl.ac.uk.