Study Support Service Manager

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with NIHR, seeks a Study Support Service Manager to lead the regional Study Support Service. The role focuses on delivering cost attribution, portfolio oversight, and project management across multiple sites, aligning with national standards.

The post holder will manage a team of facilitators and coordinators, drive training, performance, and collaboration with regional leads to boost research capacity across the South Central

Qualifications

• Leadership and people management experience.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills.
• Strong collaboration and communication with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Study Support Service team.
• Coordinate with Local Specialty Leads and Settings Leadership.
• Deliver Study Support Services across designated specialties and settings.
• Oversee pre- and post-approval services, including cost attribution and portfolio oversight.
• Project manage regional initiatives and foster communities of practice.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Planning skills

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Degree

Job description

Job Overview

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Job Title: Study Support Service Manager

Contract: Fixed Term - 12 Months - Covering Other Leave

Please note, our offices are located in Hedge End, Southampton and the Oxford Science Park.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team, the Study Support Service Manager will assume a key leadership position in the Regional RDN (RRDN) Study Support Service, which will be seamlessly integrated within the collective national Study Support Service.

The Study Support Services Manager will be entrusted with the delivery of key commercial and non- commercial services such as cost and attribution support, portfolio oversight, project management and on-request services. Central to the role is the cultivation of a robust knowledge base within the assigned portfolio area, achieved through the establishment of communities of practice with relevant study and site delivery teams. By facilitating the exchange of best practices, the post-holder will ensure optimal study performance as required. The role will work in collaboration with Regional Specialty Leads to increase regional research capacity and capability.

The role will line/matrix manage a team of Study Support Service Facilitators and Coordinators. Line management of staff members will include undertaking staff reviews to identify training and development needs, and establishing how those needs will be met, and managing performance against agreed objectives.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include:

• Act as a liaison between various stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration, communication and alignment of objectives.


• Collaborate with designated Local Specialty and Settings Leadership to align operational activities with strategic objectives.


• Deliver the Study Support Services across designated specialties and settings, in accordance with nationally defined standards and processes. This will include preapproval services (planning and placement; national cost attribution services) and post approval services (portfolio oversight; on-request services).


• Project manage specialty and setting initiatives at regional, and occasionally national, levels.


• Facilitate communities of practice and events, encouraging system-level collaboration and learning to solve operational challenges and pursue opportunities for strategic development.


• Monitor and evaluate performance metrics relating to portfolio to identify areas for improvement.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:

• Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system.


• Specialist knowledge of RDN Portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR).


• Knowledge of national systems, structures and processes for supporting clinical research in NHS and non-NHS settings.


• Experience of health and care research management, including the support of studies pre-approval and post-approval.


• Demonstrable leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills

Please note, this role may require travel across the South Central region.

Person specification

Qualifications / Training Required

Essential criteria

• Postgraduate qualification (eg. Postgraduate Diploma) in a relevant subject or equivalent level of experience


• Degree


• Evidence of continual professional development

Desirable criteria

• Degree in health or science discipline Application


• Training in project management

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients


• Comprehensive understanding of life science industry’s needs and requirements with regard to health and care research


• High level of understanding of governance and legislative framework for clinical research in the NHS


• Understanding of the UK research pathway and funding


• Specialist knowledge of RDN Portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR)


• Knowledge of national systems, structures and processes for supporting clinical research in NHS and non-NHS settings


• Knowledge of utilising Business Intelligence solutions to work within a performance management framework


• Knowledge of methods, tools and techniques for problem-solving and continuous improvement


• Experience of health and care research management, including the support of studies pre-approval and post-approval


• Experience of facilitating meetings Application and Interview


• Experience of delivering health and care research support services


• Experience of managing high quality customer centric services for commercial and non-commercial customers


• Experience of managing effective collaborations and partnerships

Desirable criteria

• Professional operational research leadership within the organisation


• Professional operational research leadership at system level


• Experience of direct line management and managing colleagues to deliver clear objectives and performance targets


• Experience of supporting the implementation of business plans


• Experience of facilitating continuous improvement projects


• Project management experience, working as part of a team to deliver complex projects involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines