Research Administrator

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced administrator to join the Neurosciences Research Delivery team. You will provide administrative support across research projects, coordinate data entry, meetings, and participant questionnaires, acting as a key contact for professionals and research participants.

The role requires Level 4 qualifications, strong IT skills, and the ability to work under pressure while maintaining confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a pressured environment within a busy admin role.
• Ability to manage multiple studies and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Support administrative facilitation of studies within the Neurosciences portfolios.
• Act as point of contact for professionals and research participants for queries and documentation.
• Conduct data entry, transcription, meeting coordination, and minutes; manage records and finances.
• Assist with end of study reports and study setup as required.

Skills

Administrative experience

Attention to detail

Good communication skills

Proficient IT skills

Education

Level 4 qualifications (NVQ 4, HNC, Diploma) or equivalent experience

Mandatory training completion

ICH-GCP certification

Tools

Proficient IT systems

Job description

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

Are you a highly experienced administrator with a keen eye for detail? Are you looking for a challenging and interesting role? Join our friendly and inclusive Research and Development team at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. We are seeking an experienced and self-motivated administrator with the ability to work autonomously with initiative and judgement, to join the Neurosciences Research Delivery team. In this role, you will provide administrative support on a wide variety of different research projects so strong organisational skills and the ability to work calmly and efficiently under pressure are essential. Working alongside our existing team of research practitioners, you will act as a point of contact for both professionals and research participants. Refined communication skills and the ability to deal with enquiries with discretion and sensitivity will be crucial. Playing a vital role in this team, you will enable our research team to conduct crucial studies for the benefit of our wider patient service.

You Should Demonstrate

• Administrative experience within a pressured environment
• The flexibility and time management skills to work across multiple studies simultaneously
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
• Proficient IT skills

Main duties of the job

You Will

• Work closely with the Research Delivery team to support the administrative facilitation of studies across the Neurosciences portfolios.
• Act as point of contact for professionals and research participants for queries, to ensure timely and efficient study set up, distribution and collation of participant questionnaires, and ensure end of study reports are released appropriately.
• Be undertaking a range of administrative duties including data entry, transcription, arranging meetings and taking minutes, document management, maintaining accurate records and managing financial accounts.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Level 4 qualifications (such as NVQ 4, HNC, Diploma) or equivalent experience.
• Maintain mandatory training required for the role.
• Undertake and maintain ICH-GCP certification.

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• Advanced IT and digital literacy skills, with the ability to develop further.
• Previous administrative experience, including dealing with the public/clients and organising work systems.
• Demonstrates continuous professional development (CPD).
• Able to communicate complex information with good communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
• Able to plan and organise complex activities (e.g., patient visits, invoicing schedules).
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience of supervising junior staff.
• Awareness of own limitations and appropriate use of escalation processes.
• Able to work under pressure and promote a positive work environment.

Desirable criteria

• Experience with research-related administrative processes.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Experience in handling research data, including data entry and maintaining confidentiality.
• Experience in financial administration, such as invoicing and tracking costs.

Desirable criteria

• Experience supporting service development or improvements.

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances

Essential criteria

• Adaptable and flexible to meet service needs.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work autonomously.
• Ability to be mobile to meet the needs of the post.

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form. Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job. As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date. When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.