Job summary
Research Facilitator
Band 6
Velindre University NHS Trust.
FIXED TERM UNTIL: 31st March 2029
Are you ready to make a difference in the fight against cancer? Do you want to improve the lives of those living with cancer?
Velindre University NHS Trust is seeking a dynamic and motivated person to support the exciting developments within our Research Service, and its cutting-edge clinical research trials.
About you.
We are looking for a proactive individual with:
- Proven expertise in clinical research governance and delivery.
- Strong organisational, analytical, and communication skills.
- Experience of managing and supporting research teams.
- Excellent understanding of the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, Good Clinical Practice, and clinical trial regulations.
You should be confident working independently and as part of a team, with a strong commitment to improving cancer research outcomes for patients.
If after reading the job description, you would like to know more about the role, please contact: Christopher.Cotterill-Jones@wales.nhs.uk
Interviews are planned to take place on: 27th August 2025
1.
Main duties of the job
The Role.
As a Research Facilitator, you will lead the setup, oversight, and delivery of research studies hosted or sponsored by the Trust. Working closely with clinical teams, research sponsors, partner organisations and support services, you will ensure studies meet regulatory standards, governance requirements, and performance targets.
You will also take a lead role in one of the following specialist areas:
Trust-Sponsored Research: coordinating the oversight and compliance of research studies sponsored by the Trust.
Research Service Data: ensuring accuracy of study data used for internal governance and national reporting.
Cardiff Cancer Research Hub/Specialist Portfolios: supporting cross-organisational delivery of early phase and complex cancer research studies.
This is a non-clinical post with line management responsibilities for Research Facilitation Officers and support staff. You will act as a key link between investigators, delivery teams, sponsors and regulators, offering expert support and ensuring excellence in research governance and performance.
This post is fixed term until 31/03/2029 to meet the needs of the service.
About us
Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and ouraward-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.
Formed in 1994, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to apply the key principles of value based healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.
If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.
Visit our website to find out more https://velindre.nhs.wales/
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Post graduate degree, or equivalent educational qualification, or minimum of two years NHS experience, or other work related knowledge or experience.
- Possess previous experience within the NHS, or the field of health research, or clinical trials / research studies.
- Evidence of having undertaken International Council for Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) training within the last 2 years, or willingness to complete ICH GCP training within two months of appointment.
- Possess and demonstrate a detailed knowledge of, and / or experience in, the ethical, research governance, and regulatory / legislative requirements for the set-up, delivery and ongoing management of clinical trials / research studies and associated processes.
- Possess a knowledge of clinical trial / research study methodology.
- Excellent communication and computer skills, including the use of Microsoft Office software packages.
Desirable
- Relevant management qualification
- Working knowledge of quality systems and processes essential to the development, preparation, and maintenance of policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and work instructions.
- Graduate in a health science or clinical research qualification.
- Possess knowledge of Wales Clinical Portal (WCP) / Welsh Patient Administration System (WPAS) databases.
- Possess the ability to prepare / generate reports, posters, and presentations, preferably using Microsoft Office software.
- Possess further education / qualification in IT or project management.
Experience
Essential
- Several years' experience of working in the clinical trials / research environment.
- Evidence of continuing development
- Previous experience of research processes and methodologies
- Experienced in working to the ethical, research governance, and regulatory / legislative requirements for the set-up, delivery and ongoing management of clinical trials / research studies and associated processes.
- Experience of coordinating regulatory inspections
- Experience of working with databases and using reporting tools
- Experience of the project management of non-staff and staff resources
- IT literate and capable of developing, maintaining, and reporting information from large and / or complex databases (e.g. Local Portfolio Management System [LPMS])
- Successful introduction of project management methodologies and associated best practice to inexperienced teams and individuals.
- Experience of working in complex and pressured environment with conflicting demands on time.
- Experience of communication and engaging with diverse stakeholder groups.
Desirable
- Supervisory or line management experience.
- Experience of reviewing research studies for ethical, financial, legal and data protection issues.
- Understanding of medical and research terminology and concepts.
- Experience of working within a Research & Development [R&D] support service environment.
- Understanding of project budgets.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Innovative and adaptive skills for interpreting changes in the UK and European research regulations and legislation
- Excellent computer skills for inputting data into and extracting information from databases.
- Well-developed and proven organisational ability, with the ability to multi-task and to prioritise workload.
- Proven application of decision making and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication skills (written & oral), excellent presentation and people skills.
- The ability to train individuals and groups of people with a range of skills.
- Able to develop staff - setting objectives and appraisals.
- Able to inform, negotiate and influence others.
- Extensive knowledge of: oICH Good Clinical Practice [GCP] oEuropean Union Directives for Clinical Trials oUK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research oThe Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations oThe Human Tissue Act oUK General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] and Data Protection Act
- A working knowledge of financial systems and budget management.
- Knowledge of "the rules governing medicinal products in the European Union": oVolume 9A - Guidelines on Pharmacovigilance for Medicinal Products for Human Use oVolume 10 - Clinical Trials
- A good understanding of the NHS clinical environment.
- Extensive knowledge of research governance.
- The ability to demonstrate effective partnerships, working both within and outside of the organisation.
Desirable
- Experience of using Microsoft Office.
- Proven ability to take the lead in development of processes / systems in a complex regulatory environment.
- Knowledge of regulatory authority inspection systems and processes.
- Demonstrable Team management skills.
Other
Desirable
- Welsh Speaker (Level 1) or willingness to work towards
- Tactful and firm.
- Enthusiastic, motivated, and reliable with an ability to motivate others.
- Flexible approach to work.
- Relates well to staff at all levels and capable of working in a team.
- Good negotiator.
- Willingness to participate in additional clinical governance activities.
- Willingness to continue own development.
- Willingness to travel throughout the UK.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Post graduate degree, or equivalent educational qualification, or minimum of two years NHS experience, or other work related knowledge or experience.
- Possess previous experience within the NHS, or the field of health research, or clinical trials / research studies.
- Evidence of having undertaken International Council for Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) training within the last 2 years, or willingness to complete ICH GCP training within two months of appointment.
- Possess and demonstrate a detailed knowledge of, and / or experience in, the ethical, research governance, and regulatory / legislative requirements for the set-up, delivery and ongoing management of clinical trials / research studies and associated processes.
- Possess a knowledge of clinical trial / research study methodology.
- Excellent communication and computer skills, including the use of Microsoft Office software packages.
Desirable
- Relevant management qualification
- Working knowledge of quality systems and processes essential to the development, preparation, and maintenance of policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and work instructions.
- Graduate in a health science or clinical research qualification.
- Possess knowledge of Wales Clinical Portal (WCP) / Welsh Patient Administration System (WPAS) databases.
- Possess the ability to prepare / generate reports, posters, and presentations, preferably using Microsoft Office software.
- Possess further education / qualification in IT or project management.
Experience
Essential
- Several years' experience of working in the clinical trials / research environment.
- Evidence of continuing development
- Previous experience of research processes and methodologies
- Experienced in working to the ethical, research governance, and regulatory / legislative requirements for the set-up, delivery and ongoing management of clinical trials / research studies and associated processes.
- Experience of coordinating regulatory inspections
- Experience of working with databases and using reporting tools
- Experience of the project management of non-staff and staff resources
- IT literate and capable of developing, maintaining, and reporting information from large and / or complex databases (e.g. Local Portfolio Management System [LPMS])
- Successful introduction of project management methodologies and associated best practice to inexperienced teams and individuals.
- Experience of working in complex and pressured environment with conflicting demands on time.
- Experience of communication and engaging with diverse stakeholder groups.
Desirable
- Supervisory or line management experience.
- Experience of reviewing research studies for ethical, financial, legal and data protection issues.
- Understanding of medical and research terminology and concepts.
- Experience of working within a Research & Development [R&D] support service environment.
- Understanding of project budgets.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Innovative and adaptive skills for interpreting changes in the UK and European research regulations and legislation
- Excellent computer skills for inputting data into and extracting information from databases.
- Well-developed and proven organisational ability, with the ability to multi-task and to prioritise workload.
- Proven application of decision making and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication skills (written & oral), excellent presentation and people skills.
- The ability to train individuals and groups of people with a range of skills.
- Able to develop staff - setting objectives and appraisals.
- Able to inform, negotiate and influence others.
- Extensive knowledge of: oICH Good Clinical Practice [GCP] oEuropean Union Directives for Clinical Trials oUK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research oThe Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations oThe Human Tissue Act oUK General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] and Data Protection Act
- A working knowledge of financial systems and budget management.
- Knowledge of "the rules governing medicinal products in the European Union": oVolume 9A - Guidelines on Pharmacovigilance for Medicinal Products for Human Use oVolume 10 - Clinical Trials
- A good understanding of the NHS clinical environment.
- Extensive knowledge of research governance.
- The ability to demonstrate effective partnerships, working both within and outside of the organisation.
Desirable
- Experience of using Microsoft Office.
- Proven ability to take the lead in development of processes / systems in a complex regulatory environment.
- Knowledge of regulatory authority inspection systems and processes.
- Demonstrable Team management skills.
Other
Desirable
- Welsh Speaker (Level 1) or willingness to work towards
- Tactful and firm.
- Enthusiastic, motivated, and reliable with an ability to motivate others.
- Flexible approach to work.
- Relates well to staff at all levels and capable of working in a team.
- Good negotiator.
- Willingness to participate in additional clinical governance activities.
- Willingness to continue own development.
- Willingness to travel throughout the UK.
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
