Programme Manager (Clinical Trials)

King's College London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed university in London is seeking a Programme Manager to oversee the REFUEL-MS grant, which focuses on developing digital fatigue treatments. This role involves strategic management of work packages, budget oversight, and ensuring compliance with project timelines. Ideal candidates will have a degree in life sciences, extensive project management experience in clinical trials, and excellent communication skills. This full-time position is fixed-term until March 2028 and offers the chance to be at the forefront of innovative health research.

Qualifications

• Degree at least at 2.1 level or higher in any life science.
• Experience in project and budget management in clinical trials.
• Understanding of UK ethical and approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate work packages for the REFUEL-MS grant.
• Oversee project budgets and ensure timely delivery.
• Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Attention to detail

Team management

Communication skills

IT skills

Education

Degree in life sciences (e.g., psychology)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About us:

This post will be based in the Health Psychology Section of the Department of Psychology, at King's College London, embedded within a dynamic team that brings together expertise in long-term condition management, complex intervention development (including digital health), randomized controlled trials, and implementation research.

The Health Psychology Section has played a pivotal role in shaping the discipline within the UK and is internationally recognised for excellence in both research and teaching. Our work spans fundamental research into the psychosocial processes underlying adaptation to long-term conditions and the experience of symptoms, as well as translational research testing the efficacy and effectiveness of theory-based psychological interventions for people living with long-term conditions.

We are also at the forefront of developing and evaluating innovative methods to support self-management of health, symptoms, mood, and adherence, with a strong emphasis on digital interventions.

At King's, we are deeply committed to embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of our work.

About the role:

The post-holder will be responsible for the overall administrative management of the NIHR-funded REFUEL-MS grant. REFUEL-MS is a £2.7 million, 5.5-year programme grant for applied research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the MS Society. We are currently just over three years into the programme.

The overall aim of REFUEL-MS is to integrate existing components of exercise and behavioural interventions into an individually tailored, health care professional-supported digital fatigue treatment. We have completed the first three work packages and are currently running work package 4, a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of REFUEL-MS, with completion expected by the end of 2026. The fifth and final work package will begin implementation of REFUEL-MS in four UK MS services, exploring barriers and facilitators to future adoption.

The Programme Manager will play a central role in strategically managing and coordinating all work packages within REFUEL-MS, overseeing the budget, ensuring that each project is delivered on time, and maintaining adherence to standard operating procedures.

This is a key leadership position within a complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional programme.

This is a full-time (35 hours per week) fixed term post ending on the 31st March 2028.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the advert earlier than advertised if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Degree in any life science (e.g. psychology, social science, clinical neuroscience, profession allied to medicine) at least at 2.1 level or higher
2. Sound project management and budget management experience whilst running a clinical trial
3. Proven experience of all stages of a clinical trial from start-up to closeout, including an understanding of the UK ethical and HRA approval processes, R&D funding, and knowledge of sponsor and NHS organisational structures
4. Ability to show attention to detail and high standards of accuracy in all aspects of work
5. Ability to use own initiative and prioritise work for self and others
6. Ability to work in and help manage a multi-disciplinary team, using a flexible, adaptable team-working attitude, with an ability to supervise and monitor staff with tact and diplomacy
7. Excellent telephone/videoconferencing manner, letter, report and writing skills, ability to persuade and deliver information effectively through presentations
8. Excellent IT skills including using Microsoft Office and related software for word processing, spreadsheets and data analysis, and communication.

Desirable criteria

1. Post-graduate qualification (non-medical training) incorporating research methodology in subjects such as psychology, social science or clinical neuroscience (human)
2. Formal qualification in clinical trials (or working towards one) or certificate in clinical trials
3. Experience working on trials of interventions involving complex behavioural interventions
4. Knowledge of medical device regulatory procedures.
5. Experience in writing for scientific publication

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.