Principal Statistician

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic leader for their statistical team to drive innovative research in clinical trials. This role offers the opportunity to shape the statistical methodologies used in groundbreaking cancer research. You will lead a skilled team, ensuring compliance with regulations while promoting statistical concepts across the organization. Your expertise will directly impact the efficiency of clinical trials, making a significant contribution to advancing healthcare. If you are passionate about statistics and eager to influence the future of cancer research, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Flu Vaccination

Professional Development Opportunities

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Qualifications

• Proven track record in clinical trials and epidemiology.
• Experience managing NHS R&D activities and research funding.

Responsibilities

• Lead the statistical team to provide expert advice on clinical trial designs.
• Ensure efficient and compliant statistical services across the Trust.

Skills

Statistical Analysis

Project Management

Clinical Research

Communication Skills

Leadership

Quality Assurance

Regulatory Compliance

Education

First degree in Statistics or related field

Higher Qualification in Statistics

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

• To lead the statistical team so they can provide expert advice to investigators on complex clinical trial designs and novel and standard statistical methodologies, i.e. adaptive designs, dose-response model selection and analysis, Bayesian methods, biomarker studies.
• To promote the use of statistical concepts within research across the Trust.
• To ensure the statistical service delivered is efficient, effective, and compliant to all applicable regulations.
• Take responsibility for our database and its development needs.
• To write and maintain the statistical section of protocols and statistical analysis plans, advising the most appropriate statistical methods

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• First degree or equivalent in a subject with a statistical component
• Higher Qualification in statistics and appropriate experience in applied statistics, in the role of medical statistician

Research Skills Experience

Essential criteria

• Conduct of research on human participants as a clinical or nonclinical scientist or in a technical role
• Management within a research funding organisation
• Management of NHS R&D activity.
• Clinical research management in an academic unit or the pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience of working in an academic research environment.
• Evidence of initiation or central coordination of research collaborations
• Proven project management experience in clinical trials, epidemiology, or public health setting.
• Track record in providing expert advice and guidance on trials related issues
• Clear understanding of and interest in cancer research and in particular clinical cancer research and the ability to communicate this effectively to others.
• Experience of managing Quality Assurance documentation and systems.
• Experience of ethics, regulatory and funding submissions, and reports
• Excellent knowledge of the EU Clinical Trials Directive, Good Clinical Practice and Research Governance requirements together with the ability to disseminate the knowledge and information.
• Experience of high-level negotiations i.e. with pharmaceutical companies, sponsors, funding bodies and Chief Investigators.

Desirable criteria

• Ability to lead and develop scientific projects.
• Ability to make scientific and logistical input into trial protocols.
• Project management/clinical trials experience gained in a number of multi centre, phase 1- III randomised clinical trials.
• Specialist knowledge/experience of international trial negotiation/set up.
• Experience of working in the cancer field.
• Experience of preparing for regulatory/sponsor inspection
• Manuscript preparation.

Management Skills / Experience

Essential criteria

• Excellent relationship management skills.
• Proven track record of leadership qualities with experience of working at a senior level (i.e. management team or equivalent).
• Significant experience of successfully designing and implementing new ways of working, including new processes and systems.
• Proven track record of managing, directing, and supporting staff.
• Experience and ability to make effective and enthusiastic contributions to scientific, strategic and management meetings.
• Significant experience of strategic planning and management

Desirable criteria

• Experience of recruiting staff.

Other requirements

Essential criteria

• Ability to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations
• Ability to handle information and situations of a confidential, delicate or difficult nature with authority and tact
• Ability to be proactive in "horizon scanning" i.e. identification of new issues.
• Ability to work to high professional standards at all times.
• Ability to project a positive and professional image of the joint institution and RM CTU to- stakeholders from the UK and from overseas
• Ability to see RM CTU's work in the context of national and international activities
• Excellent organisational and time management skills to manage and deliver a range of tasks and projects to tight deadlines.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate liaison with colleagues
• Excellent knowledge of PC based Windows and Microsoft Office software.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of presenting at national /international meetings
• Ability to work across internal teams and external organisations.
• Skills in preparing and delivering complex presentations and reports for a range of audiences.
• Ability to chair meetings effectively.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a proactive and forward looking way with clinical academics.
• Flexible and innovative approach to working, including problem solving through lateral thought, management of change and a desire to develop knowledge.
• Ability to provide strong strategic leadership alongside The Head of Clinical Trials, for RM CTU under the direction of the Director.
• Highly motivated with the ability to influence and inspire others
• Commitment to work within a team in an effective and supportive way
• Effective decision maker.
• Ability to work effectively under direction and on own initiative
• Strong attention to detail.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination - What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 801.8KB)
• Job Features Form (PDF, 128.6KB)
• Royal Marsden Trust Values (PDF, 715.5KB)
• Workplace Wellbeing and Rewards Guide (PDF, 1.2MB)