Research & Development (R&D) Operational Manager

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Brixton; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Brixton is seeking an R&D Operational Manager to oversee research governance within the organization. The ideal candidate will manage approvals and compliance with legal regulations, ensuring efficient research practices. Responsibilities include developing policies, providing expert advice on research governance, and managing the R&D department's daily operations. A relevant degree and extensive experience in research governance are required. The salary ranges from £64,156 to £71,148 per annum, inclusive of HCAS.

Qualifications

• Excellent understanding of research governance regulations.
• Experience in managing a multi-professional team.
• Strong interpersonal skills to communicate with diverse contacts.

Responsibilities

• Lead research governance and obtain NHS permission for studies.
• Develop systems for assurance of Trust's research capacity.
• Provide expert advice on research governance and requirements.

Skills

Research governance experience

Strong communication skills

Change management

Team leadership

Education

Relevant degree or professional qualification

Masters level qualification

Job description

Research & Development (R&D) Operational Manager

The Research & Development office at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and independent individual to join our team as a R&D Operational Manager. The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of R&D governance review and approval within the Trust. They will act as the King's College Hospital Research Governance Lead, ensuring the organisation meets its legal and regulatory obligations in order to create and maintain a high quality compliant research base. A key role is to ensure that research is facilitated and approved efficiently and rapidly in line with NIHR objectives for study set‑up. As the Trust looks to increase research activity and offer more opportunities for our patients, this role will play a key role in ensuring robust governance processes are maintained while engaging and assisting researchers to set‑up and deliver studies.

The closing date is 22 December 2025

Main duties of the job

• Lead on research governance and provision of NHS permission for studies undertaken within the Trust.
• Develop and implement local systems to enable assurance of the Trust’s capacity and capability to undertake research projects.
• Provide expert advice to the Trust regarding research governance, relevant local and national research approvals and research requirements.
• Liaison with key staff to provide expert advice, guidance and training around all aspects of research governance and management of research.
• Develop policies and standard operating procedures around the governance approval systems and national legislation.
• Liaise with the South London Clinical Research Network Team to facilitate new CRN initiatives and deliver on high‑level network objectives.
• Responsible for accurate submission of Trust research data for the Department of Health benchmarks related to performance in initiating and delivering clinical research.
• Manage the day‑to‑day running of the R&D Department.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

• Relevant degree / professional qualification or equivalent experience.
• Masters level qualification or equivalent experience.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Excellent understanding and extensive experience of research governance and other relevant regulations relating to clinical research.
• In‑depth knowledge of non‑commercial funding and application processes for clinical research.
• In‑depth knowledge of the workings of external organisations and authorities relating to clinical research and clinical trials in the NHS and academia.
• Strong and demonstrable interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate with a diverse range of contacts, both internal and external to the organisation.
• Highly effective change management skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of different funding streams that exist to support NHS‑based research.
• Understanding of commercial research in the NHS and academia.
• Database skills.

Skills & Competencies

Essential

• Experience of line management and leading a team.
• Ability to prioritise & organise own workload and that of a team.
• Ability to motivate members of staff at all levels and demonstrate strong leadership skills.
• Ability to work efficiently alone & as a member of a multi‑professional team.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here.

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

R&D Office - Coldharbour Works

245A Coldharbour Lane

Brixton

SW9 8RR

Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/

£64,156 to £71,148 a year Inclusive of HCAS per annum