Research Sponsorship Facilitator

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust; Truro; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Cornwall is seeking a Research Sponsorship Facilitator to support the development of home-grown research studies. Key responsibilities include managing research projects, providing guidance to researchers, and ensuring compliance with NHS regulations. The ideal candidate should possess extensive knowledge of the NHS research processes, excellent communication skills, and a proactive approach. The role also involves liaising with various stakeholders to enhance community involvement in research.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of research processes within the NHS.
• Ability to work autonomously while being organized.
• Experience in preparing research documentation.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate RCHT sponsored research projects.
• Provide guidance for researchers on documentation.
• Liaise with PPIE groups for community involvement.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Knowledge of UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care

Attention to detail and accuracy

Experience with NHS clinical care systems

Data management experience

Proactive team player

Education

Degree in a relevant field

Job description

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Research & Development Department (R&D) as a Research Sponsorship Facilitator to support the development and delivery of our home-grown research studies portfolio at RCHT. The successful candidate will provide a complete and comprehensive administration and coordination service across the Trust, to determine best practice and inform policy, planning and service development which will contribute to the home-grown research knowledge base and support the development of ideas that would improve the quality of care for patients.

To enable comprehensive support to researchers across the Trust, candidates should have excellent knowledge of the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care, the principles of Good Clinical Practice and the statutory instruments relating to the investigation of medicines, plus extensive knowledge of research processes within the NHS.

We are seeking a flexible, proactive, team player who is a self-starter with excellent written and verbal communication skills. The successful candidate will be expected to work autonomously, be IT literate; organised; be able to work to a high standard of detail and accuracy; ideally have experience with NHS clinical care systems; have previous data management and clinical research experience.

To create and maintain a database of RCHT sponsored research in order to manage the RCHT sponsored studies portfolio.

• Support potential researchers in the development of research projects by sign posting to appropriate organisations and individuals for help and support.
• Signposting researchers in sourcing relevant funding opportunities from multiple agencies.
• Provide guidance and support researchers on the documentation that should be completed and submitted to the appropriate authority before and during the delivery of the study. This includes the IRAS application form, research database registration, annual reports and the end of study report.
• Complete or prepare the documentation on behalf of the sponsor for appropriate authorisation. This includes the Schedule of Event Cost Attribution Tool (SoECAT).
• Support and advise researchers on processing amendments; this includes preparing the documentation, liaising with the Study Set-up team and assisting the Senior Management Team with the classification of amendments.
• Liaising with Patients and Public Involvement Engagement (PPIE) groups to ensure the community is consulted and involved in RCHT sponsored research. This may include undertaking surveys of public and patient involvement in research at RCHT.
• To represent the sponsor at meetings with internal and external organisations and other trusts hosting RCHT sponsored research and advising the group of the sponsor requirements.
• Support the Research Governance Manager in running the Sponsor Oversight Committee (SOC); keeping the members up to date with the status of existing research projects and new projects in the pipeline.
• Maintain the sponsor e‑mail account, responding to enquiries, filing documents, compiling safety alerts for governance review and escalating or alerting senior staff to emails requiring action as applicable.
• Ensure the Trial Master Files are maintained. This includes liaising with the Study Set-up team and R&D Governance Officer to ensure good version control and all RCHT sponsored research is filed appropriately.
• Oversee the sponsor research process. Compiling a manual of work instructions detailing the processes undertaken by the sponsor in the development and delivery of a research project.
• Prepare and provide appropriate training sessions on research processes for individuals or groups as required.
• To be responsible for planning, organising and prioritising own workload to meet the demands from all stakeholders.
• To maintain regular contact with researchers for the duration of the research project to ensure a successful and timely completion of each study and all milestones are reached, recorded and appropriately reported.
• To provide and receive highly complex data and information and recognise and understand the sensitivity of different types of research data and communicate these when necessary.
• Responsibility for updating and maintaining various research databases and spreadsheets in line with national research governance requirements.
• To understand the principles of research governance, and good clinical practice to ensure research work generated complies with these legal and regulatory requirements.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people - a figure that can increase significantly with visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million.

We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non‑clinical roles.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is a research active organisation.

It’s established South West Clinical School in Cornwall exists to promote clinical academic career opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals interested in research and evidence-based activities. Read their research paper to find out more.

Website: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/clinical-schools/royal-cornwall-hospitals-nhs-trust-clinical-school

https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871231209037

This advert closes on Tuesday 13 Jan 2026