Research Manager (Trust Sponsored Portfolio) | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Posting date:	27 May 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	26 June 2025
Location:	Manchester, M20 4BX
Company:	The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7236706/413-95509-RI-LS

Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced research management professional to join the Christie Sponsorship Team.

The post holder will be responsible for the leadership and development of a small team of staff who facilitate the management and oversight of a diverse portfolio of research sponsored by the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

Where required you may provide direct support to individual studies.

You will work closely with investigators, project managers, internal research support services and external collaborating organisations

The post will support the ongoing development and implementation of systems for the effective management of the research portfolio sponsored by the Trust.

You will provide leadership to and management of the governance facilitation team, and provide ongoing oversight of study progress and key performance indicators to ensure that studies within the portfolio meet key milestones and regulatory reporting requirement, research governance and risk management. Areas covered:
• Pre study support guidance and training
• Feasibility and study start up
• Study initiation
• Study oversight and tracking and ongoing guidance
• Study close-out

You will be required to provide regular reports to research management and governance groups

You will be required to liaise with external collaborators funding agencies (including industry, charities, Department of Health & Social Care, NIHR), and other organisations and Trust departments as required.

The ideal candidate will be proactive, highly organised and proficient in communicating with a wide range of stakeholders,

This post holder will have a strong understanding of research in the NHS and are keen to support the development and oversight of high-quality clinical and translational research

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.

We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the team in the conduct of sponsorship reviews of research on behalf of Trust. This will include in-depth reviews of protocols and complex research documentation, risk assessments.

The Research Manager will work with the Senior Research Governance Manager (SGM) sponsorship governance facilitation team to ensure appropriate databases are maintained to ensure oversight of research activity.

To be responsible for the operational management of an allocated portfolio of research.

Attend management and operational meetings to represent the Research coordination team.

Working closely with the SGM they will review the capacity within the R&I sponsor coordination team to support to new requests for Sponsorship.

To assist the SGM in resource planning for the team (budget, staffing, training, equipment, specialised software etc).

Working with the R&I Business Manager, Research Grants Manager and researchers and their teams provide regular reports on the progress, management and oversight of research to provide insight in the performance against key milestones, identifying risks and obstacles to the successful delivery of research.

Manage the administrative / coordinator staff within the R&I sponsor team delivering appraisal, performance, and mandatory training requirements for these staff.

Support the activities of the RIGM.

Work in partnership with the researchers and their teams ensure the Trust sponsored research portfolio is delivered and contribute to the delivery of Divisional objectives.



Key Relationships:

Director of Research and Innovation, Research Quality Regulatory and Compliance Manager (Sponsor), Trial Monitors and members of the Research and Innovation Senior Management Team, NHS and academic researchers from the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and its partners and collaborators contributing to the wider research programme.



Clinical Trial Management

Oversee, support and advise research coordinators in the overall day-to-day management of Trust supported studies.

Directly lead and manage a small portfolio of multi-centre trials as necessary.

Effectively manage unplanned events, which may impact on the smooth running of projects. Identify and implement action/plans on day to day issues in agreement with the Chief Investigator and escalating issues as necessary to the SGM.

Take a leading role in project level team meetings as required, Trial Steering Committee (TSC) and and participate in trial procedure reviews and setting standards for trial protocols.

Maintain an operational oversight of the portfolio of Christie sponsored research.

To provide specialist advice on study set up and management, with an emphasis on clinical trials.

Contribute to the development of operations and work plans evaluating the alignment level of team’s capacity with the department’s vision and strategy.

To work with the SGM and Research Quality Regulatory and Compliance Manager (Sponsor), to ensure all research sponsored by the Christie are of high quality and comply with good clinical practice standards, regulatory requirements and relevant standard operating procedures and policies.



Resource Management

Actively contribute to the costing of research studies, working collaboratively with researchers and income and costing team to ensure that research sponsored by the Trust is costed effectively.

In conjunction with the research grants manager monitor the budgets associated with the research portfolio and ensure there are processes in place to ensure robust financial reconciliation.

Working collaboratively with trial managers, project managers, coordinators and pharmacists to provide input into the forecasting of clinical trials supplies to ensure effective costing of study budgets.

Working with the SGM and functional leads to ensure the continued financial sustainability of the research support staff within the sponsor team.



Human Resources

Oversight of staff issues for those within the allocated group including people management, appointment, probation, appraisal, development, and progression, review of performance according to policies and procedures agreed by the Trust.

Oversight and monitoring of staff workloads in order to ensure an equitable distribution of staff loadings across the staff group and the most effective use of staff resources.

The visible commitment, management and maintenance of high standards of safety throughout their domain commensurate with current Health and Safety legislation and with the Trust policy.

Lead in the review of training needs of trial management and coordination staff to ensure the appropriate training structure is in place.

Provide specialist trial management training (scheduled or ad hoc) to staff where necessary and actively promote lifelong learning and personal development.



Reporting/Information Management

Ensure that up to date and accurate records of clinical trials and their statuses are maintained.

Provide regular progress reports for Christie sponsored supported studies and report to operational and management meetings.

Ensure accuracy of clinical trial information in all Clinical Trials Management Systems, clinical trial databases, and tracking systems. Ensure quality, timely, and accurate data and report submission to regulatory authorities.



Communication

Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationships between relevant stakeholders, practitioners, academics, clinicians and managers within the Organisation and across organisational boundaries.

Communicate and liaise with patient and user groups to incorporate patient user involvement in all areas of research.


This advert closes on Tuesday 17 Jun 2025

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