Lead Clinical Research Practitioner & Portfolio Co-ordinator

Job overview

Would you like to work in a team that is at the forefront of translational research into kidney disease that affects children and young people?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced clinical trials coordinator with experience working in clinical areas to coordinate the Paediatric Nephrology research portfolio.

Paediatric nephrology research is conducted at RMCH and the University of Manchester. Our research vision is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease in children and young people; to define biomarkers that will improve the monitoring of kidney health; and to recruit patients to clinical trials to explore efficacy and safety of novel therapies.

Paediatric Nephrology research is funded by Kidney Research UK, The Stoneygate Trust, the MRC, NIHR, and the Wellcome Trust, and we are experienced in delivering clinical research programmes, in collaboration with industry.  We have strong research links locally including the Manchester Child Health Research Institute, the Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre, the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, nationally with the UK Kidney Association and the Registry for Rare Kidney Disease; and internationally, with patient registries.

Our research currently includes programmes in the following areas; research registries and retrospective data studies, observational and interventional studies, clinical trials including early phase studies and preclinical studies of gene therapy.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act as a main point of contact for the Paediatric Nephrology research team, working closely with the Trust Research Office, clinical colleagues, service support departments within MFT and pharmaceutical companies.

The post holder will ensure that high quality, efficient administrative processes are in place and followed for the set up and coordination of studies, ensuring compliance with Standard Operating Procedures and the regulatory framework to support successful delivery of the research portfolio.

This is a hybrid role. You will need a health service background, knowledge and experience of research, clinical trials coordination, delivery and monitoring, and experience obtaining informed consent for research or willingness to undertake training. The successful candidate will undertake patient-facing activity to support recruitment and delivery of the research portfolio.

You will have sound knowledge of research governance, related legislation, inspection requirements and NHS governance and approval systems.

You will be an exceptional communicator with effective organisational skills, confident managing a demanding workload. Excellent IT skills and the ability to work on several projects simultaneously are essential.

You should be highly motivated, use initiative to resolve problems and work flexibly within the team and R&I. Cross-site working across MFT research campuses may be required.

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.