Study Support Service Manager

Job overview

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Job Title: Study Support Service Manager

Contract: Fixed Term - 12 Months - Covering Other Leave

Please note, our offices are located in Hedge End, Southampton and the Oxford Science Park.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team, the Study Support Service Manager will assume a key leadership position in the Regional RDN (RRDN) Study Support Service, which will be seamlessly integrated within the collective national Study Support Service.

The Study Support Services Manager will be entrusted with the delivery of key commercial and non- commercial services such as cost and attribution support, portfolio oversight, project management and on-request services. Central to the role is the cultivation of a robust knowledge base within the assigned portfolio area, achieved through the establishment of communities of practice with relevant study and site delivery teams. By facilitating the exchange of best practices, the post-holder will ensure optimal study performance as required. The role will work in collaboration with Regional Specialty Leads to increase regional research capacity and capability.

The role will line/matrix manage a team of Study Support Service Facilitators and Coordinators. Line management of staff members will include undertaking staff reviews to identify training and development needs, and establishing how those needs will be met, and managing performance against agreed objectives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include:

• Act as a liaison between various stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration, communication and alignment of objectives.
• Collaborate with designated Local Specialty and Settings Leadership to align operational activities with strategic objectives.
• Deliver the Study Support Services across designated specialties and settings, in accordance with nationally defined standards and processes. This will include preapproval services (planning and placement; national cost attribution services) and post approval services (portfolio oversight; on-request services).
• Project manage specialty and setting initiatives at regional, and occasionally national, levels.
• Facilitate communities of practice and events, encouraging system-level collaboration and learning to solve operational challenges and pursue opportunities for strategic development.
• Monitor and evaluate performance metrics relating to portfolio to identify areas for improvement.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:

• Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system.
• Specialist knowledge of RDN Portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR).
• Knowledge of national systems, structures and processes for supporting clinical research in NHS and non-NHS settings.
• Experience of health and care research management, including the support of studies pre-approval and post-approval.
• Demonstrable leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills

Please note, this role may require travel across the South Central region.