NICRF Head of Operations

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 is seeking an exceptional operational leader to help build and lead the next generation of clinical research infrastructure through the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility within iREACH Health.

NICRF is a core component of iREACH Health, supporting the delivery of high-quality early- and late-phase clinical trials across academic, NHS, and industry partnerships. As Head of Operations, you will work closely with the NICRF Director and iREACH Health leadership to drive operational excellence, strengthen research delivery capability, and support the transition of NICRF into the new purpose-built iREACH Health Clinical Research Facility.

You will provide strategic leadership across operations, finance, workforce planning, and regulatory compliance, ensuring that the facility operates as a high-performing, integrated research environment. The role will also act as a key interface between Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and national partners including NIHR, HSC R&D and industry sponsors.

This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in building and scaling a major clinical research facility and to contribute to the advancement of translational and clinical research in Northern Ireland.

About the person:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic operational leader with a strong track record in managing complex clinical research or healthcare operations. You will bring substantial leadership experience and the ability to operate effectively across academic, healthcare, and industry environments.

The successful candidate will demonstrate proven experience in leading large-scale operational programmes, managing significant budgets, and delivering high-quality services within regulated environments. You will have a strong understanding of clinical research delivery, including the governance and regulatory frameworks that underpin clinical trials (e.g. GCP, MHRA and related standards).

You will be an effective collaborator and relationship builder, capable of working with senior academic leaders, clinicians, healthcare partners and industry sponsors to enable high-performing research delivery. The ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, develop workforce capability and drive organisational change will be essential.

Applicants should hold a postgraduate or professional qualification in a relevant discipline such as health services management, clinical research, life sciences, public health, or business/healthcare leadership (or demonstrate equivalent senior leadership experience).

This role requires a highly organised, strategic thinker with excellent communication, influencing and problem-solving skills, and a strong commitment to delivering safe, compliant and impactful clinical research.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.