Lead Portfolio Research Nurse

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

This NIHR Portfolio Delivery post at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will lead high-quality operational nursing support for NIHR portfolio studies, mainly Phase III, across CUH divisions and linked sites.

You will provide leadership for portfolio study setup, delivery and cost recovery, shaping governance and reporting, while supporting the CUH Strategy 2026 and developing the research nursing community.

Qualifications

• RGN with first degree
• Post-registration qualification in research delivery
• GCP and VIC knowledge
• Leadership or management module

Responsibilities

• Lead NIHR portfolio study operational nursing support across CUH divisions
• Support setup, delivery and growth of NIHR commercial portfolio
• Foster cross-specialty collaboration via Cluster Model
• Promote NIHR My Research Experience surveys and report results
• Develop research nurse training and ensure cost recovery
• Report NIHR portfolio delivery performance to nursing staff
• Support CUH Strategy 2026 with clinical colleagues
• Provide expert advice for the research nurse community
• Strengthen governance and reporting for portfolio studies
• Escalate research nurse concerns with line managers

Skills

Proven leadership

Team leadership

Autonomy in practice

Professional development

Education

Masters Degree

Post-registration qualification in research delivery

GCP knowledge

VIC certification

Job description

Main area Research & Development Grade Band 8a Contract Fixed term: 18 months (31/03/28) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-RD-264199-RE1

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division R&D Town Cambridge Salary £57,528 - £64,750 p.a pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 17/11/2026

Job overview

This is an exciting new NIHR Portfolio research delivery post that will work across the biomedical campus and a wide variety of specialties. You will lead on supporting high quality, inclusive, cost-effective operational research nurse support for NIHR portfolio studies, mainly Phase III, outside of the Cambridge Clinical Research Centre and the Cambridge Clinical Trials Centre.

This post is being established to provide leadership and support for NIHR portfolio research outside of the CCRC and CCTC for mainly Phase III research.

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus combines research in world-class institutes, patient care in Cambridge University Hospitals with over 700 studies open at any one time and the Royal Papworth Hospital. There is drug discovery though GlaxoSmithKline’s Clinical Unit and AstraZeneca’s global research headquarters.

Main duties of the job

Lead on supporting high quality, inclusive, cost-effective operational research nurse support for NIHR portfolio studies across the CUH divisions.

Lead on research nurse support for national initiatives for improved set up, delivery and growth of the NIHR commercial portfolio and its related metrics.

Lead on collaborative working across specialties through a new Cluster Model.

Lead on the increase in completed NIHR My Research Experience surveys at CUH and dissemination of the results to inform best practice.

Lead on research nurse training and skills to ensure effective cost recovery for portfolio studies at CUH.

Responsible for communicating NIHR portfolio delivery performance to the research nurse community.

Support and promote the CUH Strategy 2026, working closely with AHP/CRP and clinical colleagues to engage and promote research.

Provide expert advice and support for the research nurse community, linking in with the work of the Chief Nursing Office.

Support communication and strengthening of the governance and reporting infrastructure for research nurses working on Portfolio studies.

Act as a point of contact and support for escalation of research nurse concerns and issues in collaboration with line managers and others such as CI/PIs.

Working for our organisation

Come Nurse with us…

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values ofTogether – Safe, Kind, Excellentsupport the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant currently on a fixed term contract you are able to apply for this as a fixed term position.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 8th November 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 17th November 2026.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full-time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full-time permanent contract unless you have:

• applied for a Graduate visa
• or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

• 1. RGN with first degree
• 2. Post registration qualification in research / research delivery in addition to GCP and VIC
• 4. Evidence of professional continuous development and portfolio of learning
• 5. Leadership or management module
• 6. Willingness & ability to work toward masters
• 1. Masters Degree
• 2. Advanced communication skills or Counselling qualification.

Experience

• 1. Significant B7 level in a research role and leading a research team.
• 2. Significant experience of the set up and delivery of portfolio commercial research and CTIMPS
• 3. Evidence of leading service change.
• 4. Managing and or leading a team
• 5. Experience in project management
• 1. Introducing effective new ways of working and change management.
• 2. Practical experience of policy development
• 3. Experience of MHRA inspections

Knowledge

• 1. Significant SoECAT and NCVR process
• 1. Budget management and cost recovery for portfolio studies

Skills

• Proven leadership and team leading skills
• Ability to work autonomously as an independent practitioner.
• Proven ability to manage and progress own professional development

Additional Requirements

• 6. The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Ms Christian Sparke Job title NIHR Portfolio Support Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07496959773 Additional information

Informal discussion with Christian Sparke for this new post is strongly encouraged