Research Portfolio Manager

The Christie NHS FT; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Manchester is seeking an experienced Research Portfolio Manager to oversee haematology trials. In this pivotal role, you'll lead a team, manage trial initiation and delivery, and negotiate contracts with sponsors. You must possess strong leadership and communication skills, a relevant degree, and experience in clinical research. This position offers an annual salary between £38,682 and £46,580, and the opportunity to be part of a dynamic research team.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in clinical trial administration.
• Experience in managing projects independently.
• Knowledge of clinical research standards and legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of trial coordination staff.
• Manage recruitment and performance reviews.
• Support contract negotiation processes with sponsors.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Strong leadership skills

Effective organisational skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Education

Scientific/ Business degree or relevant experience

Current GCP certification

Post graduate certificate in clinical research

Tools

IT software and data collection applications

Job description

Please note that this post is offered as a permanent contract at full-time hours (37.5 h/week)

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Research and Innovation Division at The Christie. We are looking to appoint a Research Portfolio Manager to join the Haematology Clinical Research Delivery Team.

The team supports many commercial, NCRN and in-house trials including CAR-T trials and a large proportion of early phase research.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced individual to work alongside 2 other RPMs leading a large team of trial coordination staff and support the management and maintenance of the haematology trials portfolio to the highest standard.

The post holder will also be involved with initiatives across the R&I division such as training and improvement projects.

The role is ideal for individuals keen to pursue a managerial career in trial coordination and portfolio management. It is tailored to equip the successful candidate with the necessary skills and experience to become a future leader in this field.

Main duties of the job

Applicants should meet all the essential criteria described in the job description as a minimum.

You will be responsible for efficient and timely initiation and delivery of new trials in line with new NIHR targets, effective ongoing management of the portfolio and assist with feasibility management. You will work with other portfolio managers in the team, each leading on a specific area of the portfolio, acting a point of contact for internal and external colleagues, liaising with many different members of staff including trial sponsors, monitors and the wider research community, so excellent communication is key. The role will also require supporting senior colleagues with contract negotiations and financial management within the team.

You will be responsible for leadership and direct line management to a team of trial coordination staff including workload allocation and troubleshooting across the team and supporting recruitment, induction and training of new team members.

The role holder will require working knowledge of our key research policies and procedures and demonstrable experience of commercial and non-commercial study set up, R-PEAK/ EDGE, costings using the online NIHR ICT system, initial and amendment contracting and general trial organisation.

About us

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is one of the leading cancer centres in Europe, offering high quality diagnosis, treatment and care as well as being at the forefront of cancer research and education.

As a key member of the Haematology Research Team, you will be joining a busy, dynamic and supportive group who are passionate about research. Haematology covers different disease types and the research landscape is constantly evolving. The portfolio consists of a range of trials and projects including new systemic treatments and combinations, transplant, GvHD, CAR-T and bio-banking/observational providing a varied role for team members.

Working with a team of Clinical Trials Coordinators, Research Nurses, and Investigators you will support the delivery of commercial, NCRN and academic trials. We put emphasis on individual's and team's development and encourage engagement from all team members into meetings and quality and improvement projects. An exposure to a variety of trials, tasks and processes enables professional and continuous growth.

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

To provide direct line management for research coordination and administrative staff within a designated team.

Overall managerial responsibility for recruitment, retention, disciplinary and grievance, and all human resource related staffing issues for the assigned team

Ensure the annual performance review and identification of development needs are conducted in accordance with Trust policy.

Support and contribute to the education and training needs of the research teams, ensuring the objectives of the organisation are reflected.

Contribute to the assessment and allocation of the workforce requirements to support the effective maintenance and management of the portfolio of research within the designated team.

Provide leadership within the team and act as a role model and resource for all team members.

Maintain own professional development and identify learning needs and opportunities.

Participate in Trust-wide education programmes and study days, regional and national meetings and research seminars as appropriate.

Oversee induction training, support and mentoring for new non-clinical post holders within the team

Participate and lead on continued training and development of non-clinical staff across the Research Division.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Support contract negotiation processes with trial sponsors under direction from the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager, ensuring appropriate financial agreements are in place for each project for both commercial and Trust sponsored (i.e. investigator-led) research.

Ensure the business processes and systems for financial management are implemented, such as, service line reporting, invoicing, procurement, activity logs etc.

Adopt responsive working practices in relation to any new financial processes/systems that require implementation.

Produce written activity and annual reports under the direction of the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leaders

CLINICAL TRIALS MANAGEMENT

Act as a pivotal point of contact with the pharmaceutical companies, study sponsor, MAHSC-Clinical Trials Coordination Unit and clinical research associates.

Under the direction of the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leaders/ Research Manager, be responsible for and may participate in the administrative set-up and on-going administrative management of all clinical trials within the team.

Implement and ensure maintenance of systems to track the status of the research portfolio to support monitoring of the delivery of projects and supporting any key business related decisions within a designated team.

Responsible for ensuring clinical report forms and other data capture mechanisms are completed efficiently and effectively within agreed timeframes.

Development of team reporting mechanisms to measure data capture/ entry against agreed performance metrics.

Development of action plans to address any actual or potential deviations from agreed data capture metrics.

Ensure team, divisional and national study targets are achieved within agreed timeframes.

Liaison with Trust departments regarding trial feasibility and resource requirements

In collaboration with the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager work in liaison with internal and external sponsors and their representatives to ensure timely collection and management of trial related data

In conjunction with the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager collate and provide relevant information relating to the capabilities of the assigned team in preparation for strategic partnership meetings. Oversee the archiving process for all clinical trials, ensuring adherence to the current Trust archiving guidelines

QUALITY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

Working in collaboration with the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leaders and the divisional quality and improvement teams to ensure that quality systems and new ways of working are implemented and embedded within team practices.

Be pro-active in monitoring the quality and effectiveness of working practices within research team.

The post holder is expected to use initiative and be able to work independently without close supervision. They are also expected to plan and organise their own time and workload activity with prioritisation, referring to the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager as required. The post holder is guided by relevant protocols, SOPs and expected to exercise judgement outside these areas. However, the Research Divisions managerial team members are available as point of reference for any queries and will meet regularly with staff.

The post holder is expected to lead on specific projects as designated by the Clinical Research Nurse Team Leader/ Research Manager

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Scientific/ Business degree or relevant experience in scientific and medical research.
• Current GCP certification
• Post graduate certificate in clinical research or other relevant post graduate qualification/ experience.

Experience

• Significant experience in clinical Trial administration and coordination in the NHS, academic and/ or commercial setting.
• Experience of using a wide range of IT software and data collection applications.
• Experience in managing projects and able to independently deliver projects on target
• Experience of performance monitoring and management.
• Previous experience of working in the NHS.
• Experience in leading/ initiating change.
• Post-graduate administration/ business experience.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate, influence in contentious situations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Intermediate level of IT skills.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Effective organisational, prioritisation and time management skills.
• Ability to assimilate complex information
• Ability to manage simultaneously a wide variety of issues and projects.

Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of clinical research process, patient information systems and relevant clinical research relevant standards and legislation
• Knowledge of medical terminology and oncology
• Knowledge of external organisations including research partners in the higher education and commercial sectors.
• Understanding of cancer biology and different treatment modalities
• Knowledge of research funding arrangements within the NHS

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

• Ability to work to tight and/ or unexpected deadlines.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Conscientious and hardworking.
• Ability to work unsupervised or as part of a team.
• Innovative and positive approach with the ability to troubleshoot effectively
• Evidence of CPD.
• Evidence of achievement under pressure.

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.

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro rata