Senior Research Project Manager (translational research)

Job overview

Join a high-impact translational research programme at one of Europe’s leading cancer centres and help turn scientific discovery into real patient benefit.

We are seeking an ambitious and driven Senior Research Project Manager to join the Translational Research Office at The Christie. This role will be central to establishing and delivering a new cross-cutting function that supports the design, set-up and delivery of translational research across the Manchester cancer research ecosystem. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of innovative, Manchester-led academic research.

You will manage of a portfolio of complex translational research projects, including Manchester-led academic studies and collaborative multi-site programmes.  Working at the interface between laboratory science, clinical research and operational delivery, you will ensure studies are feasible, efficiently delivered and aligned with governance and regulatory requirements.

This role is ideal for candidates with significant research project management experience who are looking to step into a senior role with leadership responsibilities and programme-level impact.

An informal conversation to discuss the post is highly recommended, please contact: Dr Kate Brown (Translational Programme Lead) [email protected]

Main duties of the job

You will manage a portfolio of translational and academic-led clinical research studies, supporting delivery across the full project lifecycle. You will provide senior oversight and management of translational research studies and contribute to the development of a new service model.  Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the end-to-end management of complex translational research projects, from concept and feasibility through to delivery and reporting.
• Providing expert input into study design, operational planning and delivery models, ensuring projects are viable and scalable.
• Coordinating multi-disciplinary and multi-partner studies, including investigator-led and collaborative programmes.
• Overseeing regulatory and governance processes, including ethics approvals and compliance with GCP and HTA requirements.
• Managing and monitoring project budgets and grant funding, supporting cost recovery and sustainability.
• Acting as a senior point of contact for investigators, collaborators, funders and external partners.
• Supervising and supporting Band 6 Project Manager(s) and contributing to team development.
• Identifying and managing risks, issues and dependencies across a portfolio of studies.
• Contributing to grant development and funding applications, including feasibility and costing.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Portfolio and Project Management •    Manage the delivery of a portfolio of complex translational research studies, including investigator-led and collaborative multi-site projects. •    Take responsibility for end-to-end project management and oversight from feasibility and design through to delivery and reporting. •    Independently manage multiple high-value, high-complexity projects, prioritising competing demands. •    Monitor progress against milestones, proactively identifying and mitigating risks. •    Provide advice on study feasibility, operational design, regulatory frameworks and delivery models.
• Translational Research Operations •    Lead coordination of biospecimen-driven research, working in partnership with the MCRC Biobank to ensure effective sample-flow pathways. •    Ensure integration of clinical, laboratory and data workflows to support translational outputs. •    Develop and embed standardised processes supporting study set-up, approvals, and delivery across relevant teams. •    Contribute to improving timelines (e.g. approvals and first patient recruitment) through operational optimisation.
• Governance, Regulatory and Quality •    Oversee and support complex ethics, regulatory and governance submissions. •    Work with the Christie sponsorship team to ensure studies are delivered in line with GCP, HTA, data protection and research governance frameworks. •    Lead preparation for audits and inspections . •    Identify and manage programme-level risks, including regulatory and compliance risks highlighted within the translational research environment .
• Financial and Grant Management •    Lead the development and management of project budgets, including costings for grant applications. •    Support investigators in developing competitive funding proposals, including contributing to methodology and feasibility sections. •    Monitor financial performance across projects, ensuring efficient use of resources and cost recovery. •    Work closely with finance teams and funding bodies to resolve issues.
• Stakeholder Management and Collaboration •    Act as a senior point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including investigators, collaborators, funders and industry partners. •    Facilitate collaboration across The Christie, MCRC, University of Manchester and external partners. •    Build and maintain networks to support study delivery and funding success. •    Communicate complex and sensitive information to diverse audiences. 6. Leadership and Service Development •    Provide day-to-day supervision and support to Band 6 staff and junior colleagues. •    Contribute to the development of the Translational Research Office operating model, including processes, governance pathways and service offer. •    Support training and capability building across translational research teams. •    Contribute to continuous improvement, innovation and scalability of the service.
• Reporting and Performance •    Prepare and present project and portfolio reports to programme boards and senior stakeholders. •    Contribute to tracking and reporting against key metrics (e.g. timelines, recruitment, funding success). •    Support delivery of programme outcomes such as; Improved study set-up timelines, establishing new SOP, securing grant awards and sample use.

You will also play a key role in embedding processes and standards to support translational research delivery at scale. You may also undertake elements of trial management for investigator-led studies in Manchester, gaining valuable exposure to academic trial delivery at scale.

Post holders will be expected to participate fully in their personal development and review process in order to achieve the objectives for this post. We have a strong team working ethos and you will be required to work closely with different members of staff. The role comes with full training, and the opportunity for additional training to support career development within the Trust.