Research Contracts Manager

Job overview

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has identified excellence in research for the benefit of patients as a core component of its corporate vision.

In order to realise this vision, the Trust has formed a close research partnership with the University of Nottingham (UoN), with a common research strategy and an integrated system of research management and governance. This research partnership has recently been awarded the prestigious National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre in and HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) and has been outstandingly successful in other major NIHR competitions. NUH therefore expects to be at the forefront of research and innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill health and in the translation of advances in basic biomedical research into benefits for patients.

The Research Contracts Manager will provide legal advice to the NUH R&I by drafting, negotiating, facilitating, reviewing and amending as required a wide range of research and innovation-related contracts connected to biomedical research, carried out at NUH including but not limited to commercial and non-commercial research, confidentiality, transfer of human tissue, data protection and service level agreements. The post-holder will be responsible for the ongoing monitoring, tracking and updating of the research contracts database with all NUH research agreements and will ensure a robust contracts management system is upheld.

Main duties of the job

• Review, draft and negotiate a variety of research and innovation-related contracts, such as confidentiality agreements, clinical trial agreements, collaboration agreements, service agreements and material transfer agreements, to ensure that the appropriate contracts are in place before the beginning of all research projects and that such contracts reflect NUH’s interests as far as possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Ø  To manage and prioritise a substantial, varied and complex workload, handling conflicting expectations of internal and external parties, whilst responding sensitively to the requirements of all relevant parties. Ø  Liaise with and negotiate contractual terms on contracts with senior research staff (external and internal), academic and non-commercial collaborators, pharmaceutical companies (both domestic and foreign) and Contract Research Organisations (CROs). Ø  Develop relationships with NUH clinical researchers and external research contracts specialists and/or legal advisors at non-commercial and commercial stakeholders, to facilitate effective working relationships to ensure an efficient contracts management process. Ø  Use initiative, judgement, creativity and pragmatism in negotiating agreements to facilitate the efficient opening of research projects, ensuring the contract is signed on terms which is fair and reasonable for all parties, whilst protecting the interests of NUH. Ø  Contribute towards the development and implementation of effective procedures and systems relating to the research contracting activity of NUH, including developing and maintaining standard documentation, SOPs and contract templates. Ø  To work with Research & Innovation teams, including Pre Award, Post Award, Research Governance and Research Finance, to deliver a timely, customer focused and integrated research contracts service. Ø  To escalate contract terms to the R&I Legal Services Manager or members of the R&I Senior Leadership Team, that are outside NUH’s standard contracting obligations. Ø  To keep researchers, investigators and external stakeholders updated on the progress and status of their respective contracts and ensure Principal Investigators/research staff are aware of their responsibilities under the agreements and of any contractual and/or financial terms relevant to their research. Ø  To keep abreast of new developments related to clinical research and general contract law, including changes in relevant policy and legislation. Ø  Ensure appropriate contracts are fully executed, recorded and stored for all new projects. Ø  Protect NUH’s interests as far as possible in the context of clinical research, mitigate risk and identify and reduce any potential liabilities to the Trust under research and development connected contracts as far as possible. Ø  Ensure any Trust obligations under any research and development contract are clearly documented, monitored and followed up accordingly. Ø  Identify and highlight potential legal issues that may arise in research studies according to the Clinical Trials Directive, Data Protection Act 2018 and UKGDPR, Human Tissue Act 1998 and UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research. Ø  To engage in training programmes which are consistent with the Research Contracts Managers needs and aspirations and of those of NUH Research and Innovation. Ø  Assist the R&I Legal Services Manager where required.