Research & Innovation Manager

Job overview

We have an exciting role for maternity cover for 12 months within the R&I office for a Research & Innovation Manager (Band 7).

This post is an integral part of the R&I Division’s core function which exists to provide an efficient support service for the research delivery teams and sponsors as well as other internal and external stakeholders enabling the Trust to deliver its research ambitions.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to support oncology research undertaken within The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The prime purpose of the role is oversee the performance of the R&I Office in setting up and managing hosted clinical trials against national NIHR high level objectives and regional and local performance metrics whilst ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The key focus will be on NCVR processes and how the Division aligns with NCVR to provide an efficient costing service for hosted research.

Please note that this post is offered at 37.5 h/week with an anticipated start date in October.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this role is to ensure the effective delivery of Christie Research objectives, with a particular focus on hosted research and NCVR. This will be achieved by leadership which demonstrates continuous liaison throughout R&I, effective line management, contribution to robust risk management and project management.

The seniority of the role requires support to R&I senior management through comprehensive contributions to performance management and service improvement as well as representing the R&I Office both internally and externally.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Research Management Responsibilities

1.1. Ensure that the core activities of the R&I Office, namely the review and issue of Local Confirmation of Capability and Capacity for hosted clinical trials, review and approval for trial amendments, the processing of clinical trial agreements and other contracts for signature and the archiving of clinical trial documentation are robust  and completed to time.

2. Development of Quality in Systems and Data

• Plan and implement a broad range of activities necessary to monitor, analyse and improve the performance of the hosted clinical trial service, adjusting existing strategy and reprioritising staff workloads in the R&I Office as necessary.
• Work collaboratively within the Research Partnership Facilitator in relation to the effective and efficient delivery of research with commercial partners.
• Where appropriate, organise and schedule applicable meetings, ensuring these meetings are accurately documented and any actions agreed are followed-up.
• Where necessary for R&I Office to meet service requirements, undertake reviews for and issue Local Confirmation of Capability and Capacity for clinical trials and oversee approval of amendments to trials.
• Be proactive in liaising with colleagues beyond the R&I Office to support service providers and research teams, in particular by acting as escalation person for research teams with service queries.

2.1. Responsible for the collation and maintenance of information so that clinical trials can be registered, tracked and validated on R&I systems/databases.

2.2. Responsible for ensuring that the information for the multiple fields for each clinical trial registered with R&I Office meets the current standards for R&I trial datasets.   2.3. Provide and support the regular production of system reports required on behalf of R&I.

2.4. Maintain close communication with the researchers involved with Christie-sponsored research so that they are aware of the status of their project.

2.5. Working with the R&I Quality Manager, responsible for relevant R&I policy and procedure implementation and development.

2.6. Leads on the engagement and communication with service users and stakeholders regarding relevant changes to policies and procedures.

2.7. Advise on, and when appropriate, challenge others to ensure the implementation of new practice within R&I and across the Trust which may have an impact on the effective and efficient delivery of clinical trials.

2.8. Provide input into the design of R&I systems and processes e.g. dashboards to ensure data outputs are fit for purpose and reliable.

3. Leadership

4. Knowledge

• Provide oversight and take responsibility for the performance of the R&I Office in setting up and managing hosted clinical trials and ensuring processes are in place to deliver high quality data to each trial.
• Where appropriate attend R&I meetings and represent R&I by presenting to and engaging with regional and national research organisations.
• Provide supportive line management of staff within the R&I Office team, including recruitment, regular performance review and feedback, identification of development needs and measures to meet them, absence management, and reviewing and adjusting workloads to meet R&I’s agreed priorities.
• Take responsibility for identifying, assessing and reporting risks for the R&I Office hosted clinical trial function, for example by interpreting legal and external/internal policy changes, and participating as appropriate in the implementation of risk management measures across R&I.
• Act as a role model to junior staff in undertaking essential training updates and other relevant courses in line with Trust and NHS requirements and in good time.
• Communicate verbally and in writing to persuade and influence in order to foster and maintain relationships; to resolve conflict and difficulties as they arise; to explain complex and often sensitive information relating to Trust and R&I business and policy in an appropriate manner for target audience.
• Budget accountability. Scope and cost new systems for managing clinical research developing business cases for presentation and recommendation to the R&I senior management team; and identify and participate in financial improvement and efficiency measures as required.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge and understanding of research governance and regulatory requirements and
• Provide expert guidance to colleagues and researchers on initiatives developed by the Trust, NHS, Health Research Authority and MHRA.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of clinical research funding arrangements within the NHS and the implications for clinical research, especially of the Income Costing Tool.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of local, regional and national organisations and their policies relevant to R&I.

N.B. The exact requirements of the role may change due to the varying R&D environment.

The post holder is expected to adapt as deemed necessary by R&D Management.