Research Project Manager

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced individual to join our Research & Innovation research support team as a Band 6 Research Project Manager. This role is pivotal in supporting the successful delivery of a diverse portfolio of clinical research studies across the organisation.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day management, coordination, and oversight of an allocated portfolio of clinical research projects, ensuring studies are delivered to time, target, and quality  standards in line with regulatory and governance requirements.

You will work closely with clinical teams, investigators, sponsor teams , and external partners to facilitate efficient study set-up, recruitment, and delivery.

The role requires a proactive and organised individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can manage competing priorities. You will contribute to improving research performance, supporting  innovation, and ensuring patients have access to high-quality research opportunities.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with research or project management experience who is looking to further develop their leadership skills within a supportive and dynamic research environment.

Main duties of the job

The Research Project Manager will lead the coordination and delivery of assigned clinical research studies/portfolio, ensuring milestones, timelines, and recruitment targets are met.

You will oversee study set-up, including regulatory approvals, governance requirements, and site initiation processes, ensuring compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and relevant frameworks.  The role involves monitoring study performance, managing risks and issues, and maintaining accurate project documentation and reporting systems.

You will act as a key point of contact for stakeholders, facilitating communication between internal teams and external partners, including sponsors and collaborators.

We are looking for an individual with experience in clinical research delivery/,management and research   project management skills , ideally within a healthcare or NHS setting. You should have strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills are essential.

A good understanding of research governance and regulatory requirements is required, alongside the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. A proactive approach, problem solving skills, and a commitment to high-quality clinical research delivery are key to success in this role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This post is an opportunity for an enthusiastic, well-motivated individual with excellent interpersonal, communication, financial, and organisational skills to join the Research Support Unit within the Research & Innovation Division at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The Research Project Manager will play a key role in supporting an allocated portfolio of research and support the wider development framework for the running of academic research trials.

They will provide support from grant preparation through project completion, to maximise research output, developing strong relationships and working alongside clinical and non-clinical researchers and other research support teams.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the smooth management of research projects and the production of deliverables, on time and within budget. They will support the Research Programme Leads to bridge clinical insight with operational execution to accelerate cancer research pathways in Manchester.

The post holder will need to work with minimal supervision and have experience within research, preferably in a biological or scientific research field. With experience working in academic clinical trials or clinical research within the NHS.

Research Project Management

Finance/Budget Management

Communications

Other

Training and Personal Development

• Input into issues of project feasibility from an early stage in grant application process •    Support preparation of ethics and regulatory authority applications and amendments and ensure all approvals have been gained prior to research commencing •    Assist in the writing and evaluation of research protocols, patient information, questionnaires and other study documentation as applicable •    Good planning and organisational skills – able to plan project and make adjustments if needed •    Assist with management of patient & public involvement & engagement activities  •    Advise and negotiate on clinical trial agreements including financial arrangements and material/data transfer agreements •    Develop and implement suitable tracking tools to support good trial management on behalf of the Chief Investigator •    Take responsibility for site-initiation, data collection and monitoring, and on-going study management •    Identify strategies for recruiting patients to individual studies and supporting team members in implementing these strategies.  •    Work to ensure patient recruitment targets and other project milestones are achieved •    Develop and manage the risk management strategy  •    Maintain and update trial master files and study databases •    Conduct research activity within the research governance framework •    Maintain and develop a working knowledge of current legislation regarding participation in research, including research and clinical governance and data protection. Attending mandatory and specialist training (e.g. ICH GCP) in accordance with local policy and research governance
• Assist in development of the project budget ensuring finances are well managed throughout the project duration; Working with NHS/University finance systems to raise purchase requisitions, receipt goods and check invoices are paid  •    Day-to-day project budget management duties, including administering and monitoring the project budget, acting as budget holder for project •    Develop and maintain excellent working relationship with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust finance department and University Research Finance/Support/Contracts to provide detailed costings for research projects and to troubleshoot any issues that arise
• Serve as a main point of contact for research teams and study investigators, external funding bodies, pharmaceutical companies etc, as applicable •    Support researchers with internal and external communication so that collaborations are maximised •    Liaise with a wide range of academic, clinical, managerial and administrative staff throughout the Trust, and other academic and healthcare institutions, both nationally and internationally •    Communicate persuasively to project boards and staff to the requirements of the project, negotiates with and motivates sites on project delivery, including linking with other initiatives  •    Communicates sensitive information about performance and change and risk, and deliver formal presentations to large groups •    Arrange meetings, prepare agendas, take minutes and distribute as appropriate, following up any action points; includes study team meetings, study initiation visits etc •    Draft abstracts and posters for local, national and international conferences  •    Write regular updates or newsletters to keep collaborators up to date with developments •    Prepare and submit interim and annual reports for R&I, ethics committees, funding bodies, etc. as required •    Where appropriate link with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) and the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) •    Organise external collaborative and training meetings: invite speakers, book venue, liaise with organisers and attendees, advertise event •    Contribute to research project web site design and content, if required.
• Able to exercise analytical and critical thinking - assimilating complex facts or situations, requiring interpretation, comparison of a range of options to meet project standards •    Contribute to training programmes for R&D and other clinical staff •    Contribute to the development of systems and infrastructure, such as SOP development, business development activities and financial management •    Assist with preparation for and presentation of reviews/audits/inspections (e.g., MHRA, in-house audits etc). •    Contribute to any process improvement initiatives.  •    Line management of junior staff •    Contribute to Cancer Research Project Manager Network activities
• Maintain professional development whilst evaluating own specialist knowledge through a process of appraisal and personal development planning to satisfy the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework requirements relating to the job •    Participate in Trust-wide education programmes and study days, regional and national meetings and research seminars as appropriate •    Acquire and maintain a working knowledge of key research areas  •    Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners.