Research Partnerships Manager

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Development of key relationships and communications initiatives

• Set up, build and maintain partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, charities, other NHS sites, and academic institutions
• Identify and develop key partnership networks
• Promote research internally within the Trust and externally with pharmaceutical companies, charities, other NHS sites, and academic institutions
• Develop and implement communications strategies on research developments in consultation with the Christie Research Communications Manager
• Ensure that the Communications Manager is regularly briefed on all major developments and initiatives concerning the partner relationships and promotional activities
• Produce a range of media and communication materials appropriate to a variety of stakeholder groups, including writing press releases and website articles as requested
• Brief and manage the activities of advertising, market research, print/production and public relations agencies as required
• Responsible for the R&D content on The Christie intranet and internet relating to partnerships
• Advise on, and when appropriate, ensure the implementation of new practice/developments within the Division and across the Trust which may have an impact on the effective and efficient delivery of research
• Work, liaise and communicate with colleagues across the Trust to improve the quality of research and research services
• Provide and receive complex and sensitive information to colleagues and vendors
• Facilitate timely contract negotiations by liaising closely with business development and research teams
• Communicate highly complex strategic information to groups of people at a variety of levels

Project management

• Identify, plan and implement service improvements to modernise research services and practices within the Trust
• Lead on key research partnerships and collaborations, ensuring that business activities are delivered to target and meet agreed timelines
• Plan and organise a broad range of complex research activities ensuring all are completed on schedule and adjustments are made for any issues that arise
• Progress the activities of key research strategy themes
• Facilitate the development of strategic plans for research and the creation of business plans to support research and research service developments in-line with Trust's strategic objectives
• Liaise with the Business Planning Team, the Sponsor and the Research Teams to facilitate prompt contract negotiations
• Identify opportunities to develop and pilot new research projects
• Ensure that all research services are delivered meeting agreed deadlines and objectives within a strategic framework set by the NHS and/or the Trust
• General project management duties include:
• Facilitate key partnership meetings as required
• Provide information and advice on appropriate collaborations, targeting of applications, dissemination of data and clinical trial implementation
• Monitor timelines for study set up key stakeholders
• Monitor feasibilities and contract negotiations
• Plan and organise own work to ensure delivery of corporate and directorate aims and objectives

Events management

• Organise research events on behalf of the division including workshops and symposia aimed at a range of different audiences
• Host key partners such as pharmaceutical companies and charity representatives on tours of research facilities to raise the profile of the organisation
• Manage more formal events such as External Scientific Advisory Board (ESAB) reviews
• Arrange for appropriate personnel to take part in discussions with external organisations and stakeholders on local, regional and national committees

Management of key metrics for reporting purposes

• Assist in ensuring that performance and other board/service reports on the Trust's research activities are produced in a timely manner for Division board, other performance committees and to external bodies as required
• Collate and analyse key metrics for the Trust's annual reports such as academic publications, trials recruitment and research grant income
• Assist in the development of new systems for streamlining operational reporting
• Maintain databases and other records systems (i.e. mailing lists, bids/ business cases)

Finance and research grant management

• Regularly ensure all potential partnership funding opportunities are identified and disseminated to the appropriate staff within the Trust in a timely manner
• Facilitate key grant applications to enhance the Trust's research income portfolio (i.e. provide medical writing support and collate business cases)
• Ensure that service contracts are in place with external service providers for the delivery of research services by the Trust

Development of operational processes

• Regularly maintain a high level strategy for R&D within the Trust that meets local, regional and national priorities and requirements
• Maintain a clear understanding of local, regional and national policies relevant to clinical research in the NHS and uphold the Trust's standards
• Implement SOPs to improve working practices
• Regularly ensure that systems are established for the organisation and management of research activities under coherent programmes and themes

Development of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) initiatives

• Enhance professional infrastructure to establish PPIE groups across various research themes within the Trust
• Promote collaborative research ideation activities between research teams and PPIE groups to address unmet needs along the patient pathway
• Promote partnerships with sponsors to increase industry participation in PPIE activities
• Develop methods for capturing data on PPIE activities for inclusion in the Trust's annual reports
• Improve and increase dissemination of research findings to the public
• Promote Christie research within local communities to increase awareness of research activity

Other key skills

• Strong IT skills using various software packages including MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook
• Good presentation skills to deliver information to a variety of audiences
• Strong scientific background and knowledge of academic and industry research processes to understand and progress complex experimental ideas
• Excellent time-management, attention to detail and medical/scientific writing skills to produce detailed accurate reports within tight timeframes

Continuing professional development

• Undertake continuing personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job and satisfy the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework requirements relating to the job
• Attend and participate in meetings and training courses as identified and/or agreed by the line manager and division
• Develop core leadership skills with a view to providing future management to an expanding team

Freedom to Act

• The post holder will be guided by precedent and clearly defined occupational policies, protocols, procedures or codes of conduct. Work will be managed, rather than supervised and results outcomes will be assessed at agreed intervals by the individuals the post is accountable to.
• Perform any other duties within the range of skills and abilities of the post holder, as required
• Work unsupervised and autonomously within the range of skills and abilities of the post holder, as required while adhering to the Trust's policies and procedures

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to postgraduate level

Desirable criteria

• Postgraduate qualification with significant research experience in a medical field (i.e. PhD)
• Project management qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of producing and disseminating research communications within a medical discipline to both professional and lay audiences (i.e. Medical writing experience)
• Grant writing experience
• Experience of multidisciplinary working across complex academic, commercial and NHS organisations
• Significant formal training or research in a relevant field. Highly developed specialist knowledge underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant experience.
• Experience in project management and able to independently deliver projects on target
• Experience of delivering PPIE research initiatives

Desirable criteria

• Experience of developing and delivering research strategies
• Experience of having undertaken or managed clinical research / clinical trials in the NHS, academic and/or commercial setting
• Experience of developing and maintaining systems and administrative procedures
• Management of staff within a research environment
• Experience of managing research events
• Experience of web content management
• Experience of collating research metrics for annual reporting purposes

Skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills - ability to negotiate, influence in difficult and contentious situations
• Report writing and able to produce board papers within tight timeframes
• Able to understand the principles of research projects covering a wide range of scientific subject areas
• Ability to communicate confidently and deal effectively with individuals at different levels both within and outside the organisation
• Ability to effectively coordinate and plan multiple projects with conflicting and demanding deadlines

Desirable criteria

• IT and information and project management skills
• Organisational and time management skills

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of GCP guidelines
• Proven expertise in good clinical practice (ICH-GCP) and knowledge of R&D regulations
• Knowledge of external partnership organisational structures such as NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and CRUK Centres of Excellence

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of clinical trial methodology and logistics
• Knowledge of clinical research funding
• Understanding of cancer and cancer research
• Understanding of Home Office licencing requirements for conducting preclinical research

Values

Essential criteria

• Strong leadership
• Innovative and positive approach
• Tenacity

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to work and act independently
• Flexible working hours and arrangements
• Flexible and motivated team player
• Ability to manage simultaneously a wide variety of issues and projects
• Maintain confidentiality

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 212.3KB)
• The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)