ARDT Research Officer

Job overview

The NIHR Research Delivery Network East Midlands (RDN:EM), hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, supports high-quality research in the NHS and social care across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, and Northamptonshire.

We provide the infrastructure that enables research to benefit patients, carers, and the public through improved care and treatments.

We are seeking a motivated and organised individual to join the Agile Research Delivery Team. This role supports the set-up and delivery of NIHR Portfolio studies across wider care settings, including GP and Dental practices. The post holder will contribute to both research delivery and support engaging stakeholders, assisting with site identification, study set-up, and governance aligned with regional priorities.

Working across multiple organisations and disciplines, you will build collaborative relationships to promote engagement, maximise research opportunities, and ensure high-quality study delivery. As part of the Agile Research Delivery Team, you will work closely with the Study Support Service, Stakeholder and Engagement Team, and colleagues across the RDN, reporting to the Research Facilitator.

The post-holder will specifically support the Leicester/Leicestershire/Rutland and Derby/Derbyshire localities.

This is a fixed-term post for 24 months.

Main duties of the job

This role supports the Agile Research Delivery Team within the Research Delivery Network (RDN) by ensuring smooth, efficient,  compliant delivery of research studies across wider care settings.

The post holder:

• Acts as a liaison between stakeholders (sponsors, funders, investigators, care organisations) to ensure clear communication, alignment of objectives, and customer-focused service delivery.
• Manages and safeguards data: ensuring integrity, quality, compliance with governance standards, and accurate portfolio reporting (including cost attribution, study tracking, and recruitment data).
• Supports digital innovation, using tools such as dashboards and recruitment platforms to aid study planning, decision-making, and performance monitoring.
• Ensures compliance with policies, standards, and NIHR requirements, helping stakeholders understand and meet their roles and responsibilities.
• Provides operational and administrative support.
• Enables effective study delivery: facilitating study set-up, feasibility/capability assessments, monitoring progress,  supporting sponsors with recruitment and data submission.
• Contributes to service improvement and training, identifying opportunities to optimise processes, sharing knowledge and best practices across the network.
• Collaborates internally and externally to address challenges, align initiatives, and ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery that contributes to national research goals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role is central to supporting the delivery of high-quality research across a range of wider care settings, including GP and Dental Practices, ensuring compliance with national standards, and facilitating effective communication between sponsors, investigators, wider care organisations, and research participants.

The post holder will play a key role in maintaining data integrity, supporting study set-up and delivery, and ensuring alignment with the NIHR RDN Portfolio Policy. They will also contribute to service improvement, stakeholder engagement, and the development of innovative approaches to research delivery.

The role requires excellent communication skills, strong analytical ability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The successful candidate will work collaboratively across regional and national teams, helping to drive continuous improvement in research delivery and ensuring that patients, carers, and the public remain at the heart of the RDN’s work.

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Act as a liaison between stakeholders to ensure effective communication and alignment of objectives.
• Work in accordance with governance frameworks, regulatory requirements, and professional standards (e.g. Good Clinical Practice, Data Protection).
• Escalate risks appropriately and contribute to corporate governance processes.

Information Management & Administration

• Analyse and interpret complex information to support research delivery decisions.
• Ensure data quality and integrity within RDN portfolio systems, addressing issues proactively.
• Support the implementation of Information Governance best practice.
• Contribute to digital innovations, including dashboards and recruitment tools, to enhance research delivery.

Operational Management

• Support efficient study set-up, acting as the main NIHR Network contact where required.
• Monitor study progress, supporting stakeholders to resolve issues and meet agreed targets.
• Facilitate feasibility and capacity assessments to ensure timely study delivery.
• Provide training, administrative support, and project management for research initiatives.

Service Improvement & Development

• Identify and contribute to service improvement opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement projects to optimise processes and stakeholder experience.
• Help organise communities of practice and knowledge-sharing events.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build strong relationships with sponsors, funders, investigators, and research sites.
• Support engagement with research-naïve sites to widen access to research opportunities.
• Ensure inclusive communication with participants, carers, and the public, respecting diverse needs.
• Promote patient, carer, and public involvement in research design, delivery, and dissemination.

Financial & Performance Management

• Support cost attribution and allocation processes for studies.
• Contribute to performance monitoring, reporting, and delivery against KPIs.
• Collaborate with colleagues to align with the national RDN Performance and Operating Framework.

Life Sciences & Industry Engagement

• Support business development activity with life sciences partners, signposting expertise and knowledge to enable high-quality research delivery.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to work flexibly and occasionally travel across the RDN region, including occasional evenings or weekends, in line with service demands.
• Commitment to delivering a high standard of care to research participants.