# Study Support Service Manager > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/study-support-service-manager/78ee24ab-9036-4e72-bf3e-db1a3c18e561 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/study-support-service-manager/78ee24ab-9036-4e72-bf3e-db1a3c18e561.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Manchester - **Region:** North West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Manager and corporate - **Grade:** Band 7 - **Salary:** £49,387 - £56,515 per annum (pro rata) - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Hybrid Working Model) - **Closing date:** 2026-06-26T08:00:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-06-12T21:02:52.015Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Manchester/Manchester/Manchester_University_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Research/Research-v8060566 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8060566?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.mft.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview The Study Support Service Manager will assume a key leadership position in the Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Study Support Service, which will be seamlessly integrated within the collective national Study Support Service, which serves as the cornerstone of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), facilitating the effective delivery of studies throughout the system while enhancing strategic capacity and capability. ### Main duties of the job The role will be entrusted with the delivery of critical services across a defined portfolio of specialties and settings. These encompass pre-approval services such as Planning and Placement Service/ national cost and attribution tools, as well as post-approval services including portfolio oversight 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 also work in collaboration with Regional Specialty and Setting Leads, actively engaging in regional and national improvement projects, aligning efforts with strategic objectives, and fostering continuous improvement (CI) across the network. The role will line manage a team of Study Support Service Facilitators/ Officers 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. The postholder will ensure the same review processes take place for all staff with the defined function via appropriate line management arrangements and that skills and capabilities exist to meet current and future business needs ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.   So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the ‘Candidate Essentials Guide’ that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification.  This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how ‘we care for you as you care for others’.  Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you.  This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone. Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive.  We look forward to receiving your application. Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post.  As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.  If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below. ## Job Details The Study Support Service Manager will assume a key leadership position in the Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Study Support Service, which will be seamlessly integrated within the collective national Study Support Service, which serves as the cornerstone of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), facilitating the effective delivery of studies throughout the system while enhancing strategic capacity and capability. ## Job Description The role will be entrusted with the delivery of critical services across a defined portfolio of specialties and settings. These encompass pre-approval services such as Planning and Placement Service/ national cost and attribution tools, as well as post-approval services including portfolio oversight 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 also work in collaboration with Regional Specialty and Setting Leads, actively engaging in regional and national improvement projects, aligning efforts with strategic objectives, and fostering continuous improvement (CI) across the network. The role will line manage a team of Study Support Service Facilitators/ Officers 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. The postholder will ensure the same review processes take place for all staff with the defined function via appropriate line management arrangements and that skills and capabilities exist to meet current and future business needs ## Responsibilities To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading. So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the ‘Candidate Essentials Guide’ that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how ‘we care for you as you care for others’. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone. Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application. Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below. ## Person Specification ### Skills and Abilities **Essential** - Demonstrable leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills - Proven interpersonal skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations - Able to adapt to any arising projects/tasks that may be required within the remit of the post to promote research and improve processes as set down in approved SOPs - Strong problem-solving skills, including a proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential future issues - Ability to communicate difficult information both orally and in writing, both internally to colleagues and externally to a range of audiences - Ability to analyse, interpret and present highly complex information - Ability to deliver complex projects involving multiple agencies and individuals - Excellent IT skills, particularly in the use of web applications, Google Workspace and Microsoft Office - Empathetic approach to resolving conflict, with the ability to work with sensitivity and tact ### Knowledge and Experience **Essential** - Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients - Comprehensive understanding of life science industry’s needs and requirements with regard to health and care research - High level of understanding of governance and legislative framework for clinical research in the NHS - Understanding of the UK research pathway and funding - 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 - Knowledge of utilising Business Intelligence solutions to work within a performance management framework - Knowledge of methods, tools and techniques for problem-solving and continuous improvement - Experience of health and care research management, including the support of studies pre-approval and post-approval - Experience of facilitating meetings - Experience of delivering health and care research support services - Experience of managing high quality customer centric services for commercial and non-commercial customers - Experience of managing effective collaborations and partnerships - Experience of supporting the implementation of business plans - Experience of facilitating continuous improvement projects - Project management experience, working as part of a team to deliver complex projects involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines **Desirable** - Professional operational research leadership at system level - Experience of direct line management and managing colleagues to deliver clear objectives and performance targets ### Education and Qualifications **Essential** - Postgraduate qualification (e.g. Postgraduate Diploma) in a relevant subject or equivalent level of experience. - Degree - Evidence of continual professional development **Desirable** - Degree in health or science discipline - Training in project management ## Documents - [functional requirements (pdf, 920.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10350825) - [sss manager job description (pdf, 449.3kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10350824) - [inside mft – your candidate place (pdf, 306.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2890) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.