Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader to join the Study Support Service at the East of England Regional RDN. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in how research studies are planned, supported and delivered across the NHS and wider health and care system. You will work within a collaborative national network focused on improving the consistency, quality and efficiency of research delivery.
You will join a supportive and knowledgeable team that values partnership working, continuous improvement and shared learning. We work closely with research sites, sponsors and system partners to solve challenges and strengthen research capacity across the region. Our culture is open, respectful and improvement-focused, with strong peer support and opportunities to develop leadership skills.
In return, we offer flexible working, excellent development opportunities and the chance to build expertise across a broad research portfolio. If you are motivated by making a difference to research delivery, enjoy collaborative problem-solving and want to grow your leadership capability within the NIHR Research Delivery Network, this is an excellent opportunity.
Main duties of the job
As Study Support Service Manager you will lead delivery of Study Support Services across designated specialties and settings, ensuring high-quality pre-approval services (planning and placement and national cost attribution tools) and post-approval services (portfolio oversight and on-request support).
You will line manage Study Support Service Facilitators, allocating workload, developing capability and supporting performance. You will work closely with research delivery organisations across the East of England to support study feasibility, address delivery challenges and strengthen research capacity and capability.
You will collaborate with regional and national colleagues to ensure consistent service delivery and contribute to improvement initiatives across the network. You will use data and insight to monitor portfolio performance, identify risks and target support where needed.
Examples of decisions you will make include:
- Determining study planning and placement recommendations based on feasibility and capacity.
- Deciding when portfolio performance issues require intervention or escalation.
- Prioritising team resource and improvement activity across specialties.
This role suits a collaborative, organised professional who combines operational delivery with partnership working and continuous improvement.
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Act as a liaison between various stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration, communication and alignment of objectives
- Work as part of a community of specialty and settings leaders across the national network, promoting the consistency of experience across a nationally-harmonised Study Support Service
- Collaborate with designated Local Specialty and Settings Leadership to align operational activities with strategic objectives
- Provide strategic support to designated research delivery sites, drawing on and contributing to national network intelligence
- Support the implementation and cascade of national strategic direction within the region and the local RRDN
- Develop and undertake activities which contribute to the annual business planning cycle
- Support with reviewing, evaluating and approving research site delivery plans, and have delegated responsibility for periodically performance monitoring against those plans to ensure that RDN funding is being used appropriately and effectively within specific specialties and settings
Please view the attached job description for full details of the role and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Act as a liaison between various stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration, communication and alignment of objectives
- Work as part of a community of specialty and settings leaders across the national network, promoting the consistency of experience across a nationally-harmonised Study Support Service
- Collaborate with designated Local Specialty and Settings Leadership to align operational activities with strategic objectives
- Provide strategic support to designated research delivery sites, drawing on and contributing to national network intelligence
- Support the implementation and cascade of national strategic direction within the region and the local RRDN
- Develop and undertake activities which contribute to the annual business planning cycle
- Support with reviewing, evaluating and approving research site delivery plans, and have delegated responsibility for periodically performance monitoring against those plans to ensure that RDN funding is being used appropriately and effectively within specific specialties and settings
Please view the attached job description for full details of the role and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification (eg. Postgraduate Diploma) in a relevant subject or equivalent level of experience.
Experience
Essential
- Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients
- Specialist knowledge of RDN Portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR)
- Project management experience, working as part of a team to deliver complex projects involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines
Desirable
- Experience of direct line management and managing colleagues to deliver clear objectives and performance targets
Skills
Essential
- Strong problem-solving skills, including a proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential future issues
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification (eg. Postgraduate Diploma) in a relevant subject or equivalent level of experience.
Experience
Essential
- Comprehensive understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients
- Specialist knowledge of RDN Portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR)
- Project management experience, working as part of a team to deliver complex projects involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines
Desirable
- Experience of direct line management and managing colleagues to deliver clear objectives and performance targets
Skills
Essential
- Strong problem-solving skills, including a proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential future issues
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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).
