Research Contracts Manager

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in London is seeking an experienced Research Contracts Manager to provide legal support for clinical research. You will draft and negotiate contracts, manage a team, and ensure compliance with UK regulations. Ideal candidates have a legal qualification and experience in research contract management. This role offers a chance to work in a dynamic healthcare environment with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Career development

Flexible working arrangements

Staff recognition scheme

Qualifications

• Legal qualification or working towards one.
• Proven experience in research contract management.
• Strong knowledge of UK research governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead drafting, negotiation, and execution of research agreements.
• Act as the primary legal contact for complex contracts.
• Manage and mentor a team of Contract Specialists.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Legal qualification at postgraduate level

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Fulfil your potential in hospitals that make history:

Charing Cross, Hammersmith, St Mary's, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea and Western Eye.

With five world-renowned hospitals, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is full of opportunity if you are looking to develop your healthcare career.

We are an NHS Trust of approximately 16,000 people, providing care for over a million and a half patients from north west London and beyond every year.

We have a rich heritage and an ambitious vision for the future of our patients and local communities.

With our partners, Imperial College London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, we form Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, one of 6 academic health science centres in the UK, working to ensure the rapid translation of research for better patient care and excellence in education.

We are proud of our heritage in innovation and we are early adopters of new insights in technologies, techniques and treatments for improving health.

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Research Contracts Manager to join the Joint Research Office at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality legal and contractual support to a leading NHS Trust engaged in cutting-edge clinical research. Working with internal stakeholders and external partners, you will lead a team of contract specialists and manage a diverse portfolio of high-value research agreements. If you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and are passionate about supporting research excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As Research Contracts Manager, you will:
• Lead the drafting, negotiation, and execution of a wide range of research agreements, including clinical trial contracts, collaboration agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
• Act as the primary legal contact for complex or high-risk contracts, ensuring regulatory and legal compliance.
• Manage and mentor a team of Contract Specialists, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and academic institutions.
• Drive service development, ensuring our contract processes remain efficient, compliant, and future-ready.

We're seeking a highly organised and motivated professional with:
• A legal qualification (or working towards one), ideally at postgraduate level.
• Proven experience in research contract management, preferably within NHS, academic, or legal environments.
• Strong knowledge of UK research governance frameworks, including the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, Human Tissue Act, and Data Protection Act.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to delivering high-quality service.

Interview are will be held on 18th August.

Working for our organisation

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.

Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview. .

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential criteria

• Legal qualification or working towards
• Formal legal qualification at postgraduate level

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience

Essential criteria

• Sound knowledge of contract law. Knowledge of associated research contracts and clinical trial issues such as costs, governance, intellectual property, publication, confidentiality, VAT, indemnities, liabilities etc. and issues surrounding the market place.
• Knowledge and experience of working with research contracts and legal agreements, in particular the review, drafting and amendment of such agreements
• Knowledge of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations; Data Protection Act; Human Tissue Act; UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.
• Knowledge and understanding of the research approval process, the legislation governing research, clinical trials set up and pharmaceutical company requirements.
• Proven ability to understand and interpret complex contract documentation and financial terms and conditions.
• Experience of liaising with staff from a range of organisations and at different grades

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in NHS research, academic, financial or legal environment
• Experience of summarising complex research projects for internal publications
• Experience of line management of staff

Skills/knowledge/ abilities

Essential criteria

• Substantial negotiations skills, able to demonstrate success across a wide range of disciplines and levels
• Ability to analyse and rationalize research information. Ability to make complex decisions
• Excellent organisational and planning skills including proven ability to organise and prioritise workload (of self and team), work efficiently and meet tight deadlines. Assist in development of service provision through advice to researchers and managers.
• Ability to work independently and proactively and as part of a team and to fit in with the demands of a busy, open-plan office

Please ensure you check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process. If you are shortlisted you will be contacted by email and text message (if you provide a mobile contact number).

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 628.3KB)
• Functional Requirement form (PDF, 73.2KB)
• Our Strategy 2023-25 (PDF, 230.4KB)