Job summary
The Study Support Service Facilitator is responsible for supporting the delivery of services within the NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Study Support Service and facilitating the effective delivery of studies through the system while enhancing strategic capacity and capability.
You will be responsible for engaging with multiple partners across the region, fostering collaboration and coordination through the facilitation of communities and events. You should be able to be proficient in research costs and attribution tools and supporting regional organisations with their data requirements. The coordination and expertise of the post holder will contribute significantly to the overarching goals of the RDN.
- Interview Date Thursday 20 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
Main duties of the job
The post holder will act as a liaison between various stakeholders to ensure effective communication and alignment of objectives.
The role will require the ability to understand and interpret complex information, data and situations to make decisions and recommendations on plans. This may include communicating and presenting to a variety of audiences.
The post holder will provide support for the delivery of the Study Support Services in line with national standards and effectively lead study set-up, acting as the 'Main NIHR Network Contact' for the purpose of performance monitoring, tracking and assisting activities related to effective study conduct and delivery. In addition, you will assist stakeholders to undertake feasibility, capability and capacity evaluations so organisations can deliver studies in a timely manner and support sponsors to undertake accurate and timely uploading of recruitment data to national portfolio systems.
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 role will line manage a Study Support Service Officer. Line management of staff members will include undertaking staff reviews to identify training and development needs, and establishing how those needs will be met, and managing performance against agreedobjectives. The postholder will ensure the same review processes take place for all staff with the defined function via appropriate line management arrangements and that skills and capabilities exist to meet current and future business needs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role will line manage a Study Support Service Officer. Line management of staff members will include undertaking staff reviews to identify training and development needs, and establishing how those needs will be met, and managing performance against agreedobjectives. The postholder will ensure the same review processes take place for all staff with the defined function via appropriate line management arrangements and that skills and capabilities exist to meet current and future business needs.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate Diploma or specialist training relevant to the role
- Degree
- Evidence of continual professional development
Desirable
- Degree in health or science discipline
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients
- Understanding of key RDN customers and their needs
- Understanding of governance and legislative framework for clinical research in the NHS
- Knowledge of scientific, research and medical terms commonly used in health and care research
- Knowledge of the research study lifecycle
- Specialist knowledge of RDN Portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR)
- Experience of working in a health and care research environment
- Experience of administration within an organisational environment, including administering and servicing meetings
- Experience of supporting the delivery of health and care research support services
- Experience of using data systems in understanding and supporting performance
- Experience of providing high quality customer centric services
- Experience of working as part of effective collaborations and partnerships
- Experience of supporting with the management of projects and programmes
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating continuous improvement projects
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate clearly with multi-disciplinary staff at all levels and across organisations
- Ability to work independently in accordance with SOPs, while supporting the broader activities of a team
- Logical approach to problem solving and ability to be objective
- Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and reports to a high standard
- Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information
- Ability to coordinate and meet targets for project management
- Excellent IT skills, particularly in the use of web applications, Google Workspace and Microsoft Office
- Ability to be tactful and diplomatic
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate Diploma or specialist training relevant to the role
- Degree
- Evidence of continual professional development
Desirable
- Degree in health or science discipline
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Understanding of research, the NHS and the wider health and care system including associated responsibilities to the public and patients
- Understanding of key RDN customers and their needs
- Understanding of governance and legislative framework for clinical research in the NHS
- Knowledge of scientific, research and medical terms commonly used in health and care research
- Knowledge of the research study lifecycle
- Specialist knowledge of RDN Portfolio eligibility (including terms and conditions) and of cost attribution (ACoRD, SoECATs, NCVR)
- Experience of working in a health and care research environment
- Experience of administration within an organisational environment, including administering and servicing meetings
- Experience of supporting the delivery of health and care research support services
- Experience of using data systems in understanding and supporting performance
- Experience of providing high quality customer centric services
- Experience of working as part of effective collaborations and partnerships
- Experience of supporting with the management of projects and programmes
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating continuous improvement projects
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate clearly with multi-disciplinary staff at all levels and across organisations
- Ability to work independently in accordance with SOPs, while supporting the broader activities of a team
- Logical approach to problem solving and ability to be objective
- Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and reports to a high standard
- Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information
- Ability to coordinate and meet targets for project management
- Excellent IT skills, particularly in the use of web applications, Google Workspace and Microsoft Office
- Ability to be tactful and diplomatic
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).
