Clinical Research Practitioner

Job overview

The North West Regional Research Delivery Network (NW RRDN) is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Registered Clinical Research Practitioner. This exciting role offers the opportunity to work across a range of health and care settings throughout the North West, supporting the delivery of high-quality research.

At the NW RRDN, we're committed to bringing research opportunities closer to our communities, ensuring more people can take part in high-quality health and care research, regardless of where they live. By working with our NHS, academic, local authority, primary care and community partners, we're helping to shape the future of health and care through research.

As part of our Agile Research Delivery Team, you'll play a key role in delivering NIHR Portfolio research studies across multiple specialties and organisations,  supporting participant recruitment, study delivery and the safe conduct of research while ensuring the highest standards of quality and regulatory compliance.

We're looking for someone with significant experience in clinical research delivery, excellent organisational and communication skills, and the ability to work independently across a variety of settings. You'll also support and mentor colleagues, helping to develop a positive research culture across the region.

Please note: This role involves travel across the North West Regional Research Delivery Network, so the ability to travel between sites is essential.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Clinical Research Practitioner within the North West Regional Research Delivery Network's Agile Research Delivery Team, you will lead the delivery of high-quality research across a variety of health and care settings throughout the North West.

Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, you will coordinate and deliver NIHR Portfolio research studies, ensuring they are conducted safely, ethically and in line with study protocols, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) aThe role also includes providing day-to-day support and guidance to colleagues, building strong partnerships with clinical and research teams, and contributing to service improvement and the development of innovative approaches to research delivery.

This is a regional role requiring flexibility and the ability to travel across the North West to support research delivery where it is needed most, helping to increase opportunities for people to take part in high-quality health and care research and regulatory requirements.

You will support the recruitment and follow-up of research participants, undertake research procedures within your scope of practice, maintain accurate study documentation and contribute to the successful delivery of research across multiple organisations.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place.  This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others.  You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment.   If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices.  For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.