Trial Administrator - Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit - 106036 - Grade 5

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university in Birmingham is seeking a Trial Administrator to support clinical research in cancer trials. The role involves managing clinical research data, ensuring smooth trial operations, and providing administrative support to a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should have a relevant degree and experience in trial management. Flexible working arrangements and a generous benefits package are offered.

Benefits

40 days paid holiday annually

Flexible working arrangements

Occupational sick pay

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in clinical trial management or as a clinical research nurse.
• Experience using statistics packages such as SPSS or SAS is desired.
• Aptitude for large and/or complex relational databases.

Responsibilities

• Ensure smooth day-to-day running of study protocol and data collection.
• Maintain research and administrative databases to produce clean data sets.
• Conduct literature searches and maintain bibliographic databases.

Skills

Excellent organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Degree in a relevant biomedical or associated subject

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Access or SQL Server

Job description

Position Details

Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £29,647 to £31,460, with potential progression once in post to £35,388

Grade: 5

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to February 2027

Closing date: 4th September 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.With almost 5,000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai, there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are,and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working.In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops,places to eat and drink,our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham

Background

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest UK Cancer Research Collaboration (UKCRC) registered clinical trials unit in the country. The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) is based in the School of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham andspecialises in running cancer clinical trials. The unit has an extensive portfolio of phase I, II and III clinical trials in adults and children covering a wide range of disease sites. The unit employs a multidisciplinary team of over 200 members of staff including statisticians, systematic reviewers, trial management staff, research nurses, monitors, programmers, administrators and IT staff. The CRCTU receives substantial core funding from Cancer Research UK and additional funding from other charities, government and pharmaceutical companies.

The successful candidate will support and provide cover for the Trial Coordinators in the team and will be responsible for the administration, collection and management of clinical research data for one or more trial protocols. They will also provide secretariat services and administrative support for the group and multi-disciplinary collaborative research group(s), and provide day to day guidance for junior staff.

Applicants should have degree in a relevant biomedical or associated subject and be able to demonstrate experience in clinical trial management. Experience using Microsoft Office applications is also essential, and experience with Microsoft Access would be a distinct advantage. Excellent organisational and communication skills, attention to detail and the ability to work as part of a team are also essential for this position.

Role Summary

Trial Administrators are responsible for the administration and collection of clinical research data for one or more cancer trial protocols. They provide secretariat services to multi-disciplinary collaborative research group(s) engaged in clinical trials designed to improve the treatment and care of patients with cancer. Post holders work closely with the Trial Coordinator, ensuring the smooth process of trial administration, whilst providing support to colleagues, both inside and outside the unit, and give day to day operational guidance to Data Managers.

Main Duties

• Ensure smooth day-to-day running of the study protocol and data collection. This will involve the postholder ensuring he/she has a good understanding of how the general concepts underlying the design, conduct and analysis of clinical trials apply to routine trial management procedures and also how the clinical background and specific research questions being addressed applies to trial administration and data management.
• Responsible for ensuring that trial data set(s) are complete, accurate and up to date. This will be achieved by running queries to interrogate trial databases and performing regular, systematic checks of information on the database(s) and taking steps to correct any missing, contradictory or incorrect data. In addition the postholder will produce reports and lists on both a regular and ad-hoc basis.
• Maintain research & administrative databases to produce clean data sets for statistical analysis. This will involve the management of medical data and operation of complex database and information systems in order to code and abstract medical data and routine data entry.
• Record and code incoming forms etc, checking for inconsistencies, violations and unusual or adverse events. Maintain and circulate coding lists under the guidance of the Statistician, Trial Coordinator and Programmer.
• Offer initial guidance on interpretation and the development of new codes for non-routine and ad-hoc data.
• Test data entry, validation and report generation applications (i.e. confirming proper functioning of the trial database systems), reporting errors and suggesting modifications as appropriate.This will also involve creating and testing ad-hoc data bases, forms and report generation.
• Trial management includes general clerical duties by organising collaborative group meetings, handling petty cash, day to day distribution of trial materials, and drug supplies required by external centres.
• Preparation and distribution of study documentation and publicity material for the Trial Working Group.
• Conduct literature searches, using initiative to find missing or inaccurate references and to screen suitable papers. Maintain bibliographic databases by entering data, run duplicate checks and produce reference lists.
• Develop and document the standard operating procedures applicable to the work of the post, under the guidance of the Trial Coordinator. Train others in their use.
• Continue to develop and expand trial management skills and experience.
• Will cover for the Trial coordinator/ project leader and help supervise junior team members.
• Other duties appropriate to the band may be assigned to the post.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Support the delivery of clinical research in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the Declaration of Helsinki, applicable legislation (including, but not limited to, the Medicines for Human Use Clinical Trials Regulations, Data Protection Act 1998, Human Tissue Act), the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, Caldicott principals, and applicable NHS Trust and University policies and procedures, (including, but not limited to the University’s Data Protection Policy, Information Security Policy and Code of Practice for Research) in order to protect the research subject and the quality of each study.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant biomedical or associated subject, and be able to demonstrate relevant work experience e.g. in clinical trial management or as a clinical research nurse.(May have been obtained during the degree course.)
• An aptitude for large and/ or more complex relational databases (MS Access or SQL Server preferred), including query/report writing and a full range of data verification, cleaning techniques.
• Experience of using statistics packages such as SPSS, Minitab, BMDP or SAS is desired.
• Excellent all-round office management and clerical skills must include up-to date computing and office automation skills (e.g. email, excellent word processing & document layout, the use of mail merge etc).
• Must demonstrate a critical and intelligent attention to detail, high standards of accuracy and apply a sound knowledge of the research framework to the work.
• Aptitude for learning and applying new skills to ensure effective support and where necessary cover for the Trial Coordinator in order to help supervise junior team members.
• Experience of conducting literature or internet searches, finding missing or inaccurate information, and maintenance of bibliographic databases.
• Ability to interact as a team member, as well as working independently, deciding own short-term priorities and timetabling of tasks to meet agreed deadlines.
• Good communication skills and an excellent telephone manner.
• Maintains regular contact with professional research staff and members of the collaborating group. Handles routine communications (on own initiative) with the clinical investigators, research support staff and others in external centres for the collection of data and resolution of queries.
• Must be pro-active to identify potential problems, applying previous experience of general processes and procedures to take decisions. Work to develop and improve working practices under the Trial Coordinators guidance.
• Understands the importance ofequality and diversity in the workplace.
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Further particulars can be foundhere

Informal enquiries to Darren Barton, email: [e-mail]

View our staff values and behaviourshere

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .