Research Contracts Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

To manage and prioritise a substantial, varied and complex workload, handling conflicting expectations of internal and external parties, whilst responding sensitively to the requirements of all relevant parties.

Liaise with and negotiate contractual terms on contracts with senior research staff (external and internal), academic and non-commercial collaborators, pharmaceutical companies (both domestic and foreign) and Contract Research Organisations (CROs).

Develop relationships with NUH clinical researchers and external research contracts specialists and/or legal advisors at non-commercial and commercial stakeholders, to facilitate effective working relationships to ensure an efficient contracts management process.

Use initiative, judgement, creativity and pragmatism in negotiating agreements to facilitate the efficient opening of research projects, ensuring the contract is signed on terms which is fair and reasonable for all parties, whilst protecting the interests of NUH.

Contribute towards the development and implementation of effective procedures and systems relating to the research contracting activity of NUH, including developing and maintaining standard documentation, SOPs and contract templates.

To work with Research & Innovation teams, including Pre Award, Post Award, Research Governance and Research Finance, to deliver a timely, customer focused and integrated research contracts service.

To escalate contract terms to the R&I Legal Services Manager or members of the R&I Senior Leadership Team, that are outside NUHs standard contracting obligations.

To keep researchers, investigators and external stakeholders updated on the progress and status of their respective contracts and ensure Principal Investigators/research staff are aware of their responsibilities under the agreements and of any contractual and/or financial terms relevant to their research.

To keep abreast of new developments related to clinical research and general contract law, including changes in relevant policy and legislation.

Ensure appropriate contracts are fully executed, recorded and stored for all new projects.

Protect NUHs interests as far as possible in the context of clinical research, mitigate risk and identify and reduce any potential liabilities to the Trust under research and development connected contracts as far as possible.

Ensure any Trust obligations under any research and development contract are clearly documented, monitored and followed up accordingly.

Identify and highlight potential legal issues that may arise in research studies according to the Clinical Trials Directive, Data Protection Act 2018 and UKGDPR, Human Tissue Act 1998 and UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.

To engage in training programmes which are consistent with the Research Contracts Managers needs and aspirations and of those of NUH Research and Innovation.

Assist the R&I Legal Services Manager where required.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• Professional knowledge of contract law acquired through a degree or professional experience within a relevant organisation
• Suitable research contracts management experience within a relevant organisation
• Professional knowledge of clinical research, relevant legislation, contract drafting and reviewing

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with research contracts and legal agreements in an NHS clinical research setting, in particular the review, drafting and amendment of such agreements
• Knowledge of the medicines for Human use (clinical trials) regulations; Data protection Act; GDPR, Human Tissue Act; Research Governance Framework
• Experience and knowledge of negotiation strategies
• Knowledge of current national systems and structures for the approval, management and monitoring of clinical research in the NHS

Desirable

• Knowledge and/or experience of Intellectual Property Law, including patent law, law of confidence, copyright law, its identification, protection and exploitation
• Experience in developing, implementing and following standard procedures

Communication and Relationship Skills

Essential

• Proven interpersonal skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations.
• Ability to communicate difficult, complex and sometimes challenging information both orally and in writing, both internally to colleagues and externally to a range of audiences.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

Essential

• Ability to analyse and interpret research management information
• Ability to analyse and interpret long and complex legal documents
• Ability to make judgements regarding a range of highly complex research management issues
• Ability to focus for long periods

Planning and Organisation Skills

Essential

• Very strong attention to detail
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise work and to deliver results consistently to tight timelines
• Ability to work with minimal day-to-day supervision

Physical Skills

Essential

• Mental effort: Frequent requirement for intense concentration, with an unpredictable work pattern
• Working at a computer for a substantial proportion of the working day

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

Queens Medical Centre

Derby Road

Nottingham

NG7 2UH

Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)