Business Manager

Business Manager 

Post:                       Business Manager, Adolescent Health Study

Location:               Flexible working – remote/hybrid. Must be willing and able to travel across the UK, especially to Edinburgh and London, to support business need.

Salary:                   c£50,000 per annum

Duration:              Permanent  

Reporting to:       Head of Business Operations
 

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. Recruitment will take place mainly through schools. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on creating a securely accessible research data resource, designed to enable a wide range of research studies, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

The Business Manager will play a vital role in supporting the effective operation and delivery of the organisation’s complex health and data research activities. Reporting to the Head of Business Operations, the postholder will oversee business operations, coordinate administrative functions, and provide managerial support to ensure efficient and cost-effective programme execution.

The Business Manager will be a key contributor to maintaining efficiency and encouraging a collaborative work environment.

Main responsibilities

Operational Management

• Oversee the day-to-day administrative and business operations of the organisation.
• Ensure effective coordination of resources to support programme delivery and organisational objectives.
   

Programme Delivery Support

• Collaborate with the Head of Business Operations and work closely with the Senior Study Project Manager to monitor project timelines, deliverables and milestones.
• Assist in the preparation of project documentation, including progress reports and risk assessments.
• Coordinate logistics for programme activities such as meetings, workshops and stakeholder events.
• Develop resources and tools to support efficient programme delivery and team productivity.
   

Financial and Resource Coordination

• Work closely with the Head of Finance / Finance Manager to support budget management activities, including tracking expenditures and reporting variances.
• Coordinate resource allocation to ensure programme and project needs are met.
• Assist in the preparation of grant applications and funding proposals.
   

Stakeholder Coordination

• Working closely with the Head of Communications, serve as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on administrative matters.
• Facilitate effective communication between teams and leadership to ensure alignment of activities.
• Support the preparation of materials for stakeholder engagement and presentations.
   

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement improvements to administrative processes and systems to enhance efficiency.
• Ensure robust record-keeping and documentation to support compliance and reporting requirements, in accordance with GDPR regulations.
   

Director’s Office Team Leadership and Support

• Develop the Executive Office function, providing support for the AHS Executive Line management of the AHS Executive Assistant(s), providing guidance, support, and opportunities for professional development.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Proven experience in a business or operations management role, preferably within the health, research and/or data sectors.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with experience in stakeholder management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage staff effectively.
• Proficiency in office software, including spreadsheets, word processing, and project management tools.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain high standards of accuracy.
• Experience supporting programme or project delivery, including monitoring and reporting.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in supporting programme delivery within a research or academic organisation or setting.
• Knowledge of health research and data governance frameworks.
• Familiarity with budget management and financial reporting.
• Experience in implementing process improvements within an operational setting.
• An understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the health and data research landscape.
• Experience organising events or workshops for stakeholders.

Dimensions

• This is a full-time role.
• Flexible working across several geographical locations in the UK. Travel will be required to AHS locations and partner organisations.
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK.
   

Application Process

Please apply with a CV and a covering letter explaining what you can bring to this role, including your current salary, to Jobs@gravitateHR.co.uk

The closing date for this position is midnight on Monday 23^rd March 2025.

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the week commencing 7th April 2025

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of:

• Gender, including gender reassignment
• Marital or civil partnership status
• Having or not having dependants
• Religion or belief
• Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins)
• Disability
• Sexual orientation Age

We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.  All job applicants and employees who work for us will be treated fairly and will not be unfairly discriminated against on any of the above grounds. Decisions about recruitment and selection, promotion, training or any other benefit will be made objectively and without unlawful discrimination. 
 

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team in 2025. As the senior executive team evolves, our values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.