Job summary
The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) is part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to support the country's world-class research system to deliver high-quality research that enables the best care for our population.
Our vision is that the UK is a global leader in the delivery of high quality, commercial and non-commercial research that is inclusive, accessible, and improves health and care. Our mission is to enable the health and care system to attract, optimise and deliver research across England. We do this as part of the NIHRs overall mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.
Are you looking for an opportunity to develop new skills and support our population to participate in research opportunities across community, residential, primary care, hospital and wider care settings?
We are seeking an enthusiastic and innovative individual to join our Agile Research Delivery Team as a Research Facilitator, to provide Research Support to Wider Care Settings. The primary purpose of this role is to engage with organisations in Wider Care Settings to promote research activity and to lead the setup of NIHR Portfolio studies across a variety of health and care settings. There is also scope for the post holder to learn the necessary skills and experience required to deliver NIHR Portfolio studies as a Clinical Research Practitioner.
Main duties of the job
Our Agile Research Delivery Team is a group of dedicated staff based in our Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) across England. They are skilled, multi-disciplinary staff who can work flexibly across a variety of different locations to support research setup and delivery in health and social care.
Our regional teams can support studies at various stages as needed. Examples include:
- Engagement of sites
- supporting the set-up of research
- helping with screening
- taking consent from participants
- recruitment to studies
- data management and follow-up
One of our key aims is to ensure that everyone across the country has the opportunity to take part in research that might be suitable for them. Delivering health and social care research in places where people already access a wide variety of services, helps us to do that.
Through our flexible and multi-disciplinary study support and Agile Research Delivery Team, we can help you deliver research in a wide range of settings. These include:
- GP surgeries
- hospices
- care homes
- sheltered accommodation
- schools
- community hubs
- places of worship
- prisons
- people's homes
- Interview Date Wednesday 12 November 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
The North East and North Cumbria Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) is hosted by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
We welcome applications from people who have experience in the setup of health and social care research and/or working with organisations in Wider Care settings.
This role will require regular travel between premises across the geographical footprint of the North East and North Cumbria RRDN, however the post holder will be based at either Regent Point in Gosforth or James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
The focus for this role is to lead the delivery and/or set up of National Institute for Health and Care Research Research Delivery Network (NIHR RDN) Portfolio studies across varied health and care settings. This will require flexible autonomous working across disciplines and the Regional RDN (RRDN) region. This post has a dual function and the post holder will either lead on research delivery and/or research support for wider care settings dependent upon regional need. Research delivery will involve the correct identification, recruitment, delivery and follow up for research participants according to the appropriate research protocols. Research support will involve engaging with stakeholders to promote research activity, site identification, set up and associated governance.
The post holder will need interpersonal and leadership skills to facilitate collaborative working relationships across a breadth of stakeholders to maximise engagement opportunities.
This post may contribute to line management for and leadership of a team of research delivery staff working autonomously in a variety of specialties and settings.
The role will work alongside different professions from multiple organisations involved in health and care research and will be an integral part of the Agile Research Delivery Team which sits within the RRDN core team. The post holder will also work closely with the Study Support Service and the Stakeholder and Engagement team. The post holder will be accountable to the Agile Research Delivery Team Manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The North East and North Cumbria Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) is hosted by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
We welcome applications from people who have experience in the setup of health and social care research and/or working with organisations in Wider Care settings.
This role will require regular travel between premises across the geographical footprint of the North East and North Cumbria RRDN, however the post holder will be based at either Regent Point in Gosforth or James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
The focus for this role is to lead the delivery and/or set up of National Institute for Health and Care Research Research Delivery Network (NIHR RDN) Portfolio studies across varied health and care settings. This will require flexible autonomous working across disciplines and the Regional RDN (RRDN) region. This post has a dual function and the post holder will either lead on research delivery and/or research support for wider care settings dependent upon regional need. Research delivery will involve the correct identification, recruitment, delivery and follow up for research participants according to the appropriate research protocols. Research support will involve engaging with stakeholders to promote research activity, site identification, set up and associated governance.
The post holder will need interpersonal and leadership skills to facilitate collaborative working relationships across a breadth of stakeholders to maximise engagement opportunities.
This post may contribute to line management for and leadership of a team of research delivery staff working autonomously in a variety of specialties and settings.
The role will work alongside different professions from multiple organisations involved in health and care research and will be an integral part of the Agile Research Delivery Team which sits within the RRDN core team. The post holder will also work closely with the Study Support Service and the Stakeholder and Engagement team. The post holder will be accountable to the Agile Research Delivery Team Manager.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in science or health related discipline or in another field with experience of research trials or equivalent relevant experience/training and educated or working towards postgraduate degree level
- CRPs should be on or working towards accredited registration with the AHCS
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- Has completed or is undertaking a course in management / leadership
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Leadership management experience in a health care setting
- Knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research studies, including UK Policy Framework for Health and Care Research, UK Clinical Trials Regulations
- Knowledge of the clinical trial and health and care research lifecycle including experience of the set up and delivery of clinical research studies in a health and care setting
- Experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studiesor a customer focussed role
- Knowledge and experience of data interpretation, verification and reporting to local and national centres
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Good IT skills, particularly in the use of Web applications, MS Office and/or Google Hub applications
- Excellent planning and organisational skills
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills
- Ability to work autonomously and to motivate self and others
- Ability to plan and coordinate multidisciplinary activities associated with the management of research study(ies) including, where relevant, work allocation, deployment and supervision of staff to ensure smooth running of the research study(ies)
- Ability to facilitate collaborative working relationships including with the public, research participants, carers and members of multidisciplinary teams
- Understanding of personal accountability
- Ability to travel for work
Desirable
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in science or health related discipline or in another field with experience of research trials or equivalent relevant experience/training and educated or working towards postgraduate degree level
- CRPs should be on or working towards accredited registration with the AHCS
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- Has completed or is undertaking a course in management / leadership
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Leadership management experience in a health care setting
- Knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research studies, including UK Policy Framework for Health and Care Research, UK Clinical Trials Regulations
- Knowledge of the clinical trial and health and care research lifecycle including experience of the set up and delivery of clinical research studies in a health and care setting
- Experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studiesor a customer focussed role
- Knowledge and experience of data interpretation, verification and reporting to local and national centres
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Good IT skills, particularly in the use of Web applications, MS Office and/or Google Hub applications
- Excellent planning and organisational skills
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills
- Ability to work autonomously and to motivate self and others
- Ability to plan and coordinate multidisciplinary activities associated with the management of research study(ies) including, where relevant, work allocation, deployment and supervision of staff to ensure smooth running of the research study(ies)
- Ability to facilitate collaborative working relationships including with the public, research participants, carers and members of multidisciplinary teams
- Understanding of personal accountability
- Ability to travel for work
Desirable
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).
