Comms and Engagement Manager (Clinical Trials Regulations)

Job Summary

The HRA has been working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on new clinical trials regulations for the UK. Proportionate legislation, complemented by guidance, has been designed to facilitate well-designed research and provide a framework for innovation in clinical trials and clinical trial design. The changes are a key part of the UK vision for the future of clinical research. We are now in a transition period before changes come into effect in 2026.

The Communications and Engagement Manager will work as part of the HRA's project team supporting the implementation of the new legislation and will assist stakeholders through upcoming changes.

They will manage strategic stakeholder relationships and act as an ambassador for the clinical trial regulations project, both within and outside the organization.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will collaborate closely with the HRA's communications and policy and engagement teams. Their responsibilities include coordinating stakeholder groups, gathering and sharing evaluation metrics and stakeholder intelligence across the organization, and working with colleagues at MHRA to produce high-quality communications.

A self-starter with creative ideas, the Communications and Engagement Manager will manage their own work, ensuring timely delivery to support the program's progress and organizational needs. Their work will ensure stakeholders have the necessary information to support them through change, making clinical trials more trustworthy in the UK.

About Us

As a flexible working friendly organization, we aim to enable you to work in a way that suits you best. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity, recognizing that diverse perspectives foster stronger, more innovative services.

We welcome applications reflecting the diversity of our community, including age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, religion or belief, sexual orientation, and other characteristics.

We have policies to ensure fair and consistent treatment throughout the recruitment process. Please discuss flexible working arrangements during your application; we will do our best to accommodate them.

Note: Roles in Bristol, Manchester, or Nottingham are only available as home-based; in Newcastle, we can consider an office-based contract, to be discussed at interview.

Job Details

Posted on: 11 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 per year (pro rata)

Contract: Fixed-term

Duration: 11 months

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference: 980-RAF1322

Location: Newcastle, Holland Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NQ

Job Responsibilities

We seek an experienced engagement professional with excellent communication skills to join our project team and help achieve project benefits.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders to deliver project objectives.
• Lead engagement efforts to incorporate the views and experiences of patients, the public, and the research community.
• Build effective relationships with communication and engagement managers of partner and stakeholder organizations.
• Plan and conduct stakeholder events like workshops, interviews, and user research to ensure regulations reflect user and stakeholder needs.
• Deliver presentations and briefings to external stakeholders and represent the HRA at various events.

Communication

• Create clear, engaging content for internal and external audiences, including presentations, press releases, web content, and newsletters.
• Coordinate with teams to manage communication distribution, ensuring adherence to HRA guidelines across media channels.
• Develop methods to evaluate and measure the impact of communication activities for continuous improvement.

Planning, Organisational, and Analytical Skills

• Coordinate stakeholder groups, manage information flow, and gather feedback.
• Develop and implement communication and engagement strategies and plans using diverse techniques.
• Analyze stakeholder interactions to share insights and improve practices.
• Collaborate with policy teams to enhance information usefulness and presentation.