Head of Operations – Clinical Research Facility

HIRANI; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Queen’s University Belfast seeks an exceptional Head of Operations to build and lead the NICRF within iREACH Health, driving operational excellence and research delivery across academic, NHS and industry partnerships.

Reporting to the NICRF Director, you will oversee operations, finance, workforce planning and regulatory compliance, and act as the interface with partner organisations to scale a major clinical research facility.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership in clinical research or healthcare operations.
• Experience delivering large-scale operational programmes and managing significant budgets.
• Strong understanding of governance and regulatory frameworks (GCP, MHRA).
• Ability to collaborate with senior academic leaders, clinicians and industry sponsors.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across operations, finance, workforce planning and regulatory compliance.
• Lead NICRF and drive operational excellence to scale the facility.
• Oversee delivery of high-quality research services in regulated environments.
• Support the transition of NICRF into the new iREACH Health Clinical Research Facility.
• Act as a key interface between Queen’s University Belfast, NHS Trust and national partners.
• Build workforce capability and drive organisational change across the centre.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget management

Education

Postgraduate qualification in health services management

Clinical research experience

Life sciences background

Public health expertise

Business/healthcare leadership

Job description

Queen’s University Belfast seeks an exceptional Head of Operations to build and lead the NICRF within iREACH Health, driving operational excellence and research delivery across academic, NHS and industry partnerships.

Reporting to the NICRF Director, you will oversee operations, finance, workforce planning and regulatory compliance, and act as the interface with partner organisations to scale a major clinical research facility.