Research Portfolio Manager

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

• To provide direct line management for research coordination and administrative staff within a designated team.
• Overall managerial responsibility for recruitment, retention, disciplinary and grievance, and all human resource related staffing issues for the assigned team.
• Ensure the annual performance review and identification of development needs are conducted in accordance with Trust policy.
• Provide leadership within the team and act as a role model and resource for all team members.
• Maintain own professional development and identify learning needs and opportunities.
• Oversee and lead on induction training, support and mentoring for new non-clinical post holders within the team and across the division
• Support and contribute to the education and training needs of the research teams, ensuring the objectives of the organisation are reflected
• Participate and lead on continued training and development of non-clinical staff across the Research Division

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Support contract negotiation processes with trial sponsors under direction from the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager, ensuring appropriate financial agreements are in place for each project for both commercial and Trust-sponsored (i.e. investigator-led) research.
• Identify funding streams for potential grant applications and facilitate preparation and submission of local, national and European research grant applications (PM)
• Ensure the business processes and systems for financial management are implemented, such as, service line reporting, invoicing, procurement, activity logs etc.
• Adopt responsive working practices in relation to any new financial processes/ systems that require implementation.
• Produce written activity and annual reports under the direction of the Research Manager/Clinical Research Nurse Team Leaders

CLINICAL TRIALS/PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Act as a pivotal point of contact with the pharmaceutical companies, study sponsor, and clinical research associates.
• Under the direction of the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leaders/ Research Manager, be responsible for and may participate in the administrative set-up and on-going administrative management of all clinical trials within the team.
• Post holder will receive and provide complex clinical trial information and be expected to use their communication skills to ensure this information is processed via the correct pathways. This will include:
• Co-ordinate and assist in the writing and evaluation of clinical research protocols, patient information, questionnaires and CRFs for individual studies.
• Communicating across the clinical teams and trial sponsors to prepare and submit ethics and regulatory authority applications and amendments, ensuring all approvals have been gained prior to research commencing.
• Write regular updates and design newsletters for each study to keep collaborators up to date with developments and forthcoming projects.
• Draft abstracts and posters for local, national, and international conferences
• Implement and ensure maintenance of systems to track the status of the research portfolio to support monitoring of the delivery of projects and supporting any key business-related decisions within a designated team.
• Responsible for ensuring clinical report forms and other data capture mechanisms are completed efficiently and effectively within agreed timeframes.
• Development of team reporting mechanisms to measure data capture/ entry against agreed performance metrics.
• Development of action plans to address any actual or potential deviations from agreed data capture metrics.
• Ensure team, divisional and national study targets are achieved within agreed timeframes.
• Liaison with Trust departments regarding trial feasibility and resource requirements
• Oversee the archiving process for all clinical trials and team projects, ensuring adherence to the current Trust archiving guidelines.

QUALITY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

• Working in collaboration with the Clinical Research Nurse Team
• Leaders and the divisional quality and improvement teams to ensure that quality systems and new ways of working are implemented and embedded within team practices.
• Be pro-active in monitoring the quality and effectiveness of working practices within research team.
• The post holder is expected to use initiative and be able to work independently without close supervision. They are also expected to plan and organise their own time and workload activity with prioritisation, referring to the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager as required. The post holder is guided by relevant protocols, SOPs and expected to exercise judgement outside these areas. However, the Research Division's managerial team members are available as point of reference for any queries and will meet regularly with staff.
• The post holder is expected to lead on specific projects as designated by the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Scientific/ Business degree or relevant experience in scientific and medical research
• Current GCP certification

Desirable criteria

• Post graduate certificate in clinical research or other relevant post graduate qualification/ experience
• Management qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Line management experience
• Significant experience in clinical trial administration and co-ordination in the NHS, academic and/ or commercial setting
• Experience of using a wide range of IT software and data collection applications
• Experience in managing projects and able to independently deliver projects on target

Desirable criteria

• Experience of performance monitoring and management
• Grant writing and ethics submissions
• Previous experience of working in the NHS
• Experience in leading/ initiating change
• Post-graduate administration/ business experience

Skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate, influence in contentious situations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Intermediate level of IT skills
• Strong leadership skills
• Effective organisational, prioritisation and time management skills
• Ability to assimilate complex information

Desirable criteria

• Ability to manage simultaneously a wide variety of issues and projects

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• In-depth understanding of clinical research process, patient information systems and relevant clinical research relevant standards and legislation
• Knowledge of medical terminology and oncology
• Knowledge of external organisations including research partners in the higher education and commercial sectors

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of cancer biology and different treatment modalities
• Knowledge of research funding arrangements within the NHS

OTHER

Essential criteria

• Ability to work to tight and/ or unexpected deadlines
• Flexible and adaptable
• Conscientious and hardworking
• Ability to work unsupervised or as part of a team
• Innovative and positive approach with the ability to troubleshoot effectively

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of CPD
• Evidence of achievement under pressure

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

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 252.9KB)
• The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)