Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Clinical Research Team Lead

The closing date is 10 November 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, organised and enthusiastic ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, NURSE or CLINICAL RESEARCH PRACTITIONER to join Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as a full-time Senior (band 7) Clinical Research Team lead within the Research and Development Team.

Do you have proven leadership skills in overseeing the delivery of clinical research as a Clinical Research Practitioner or Research Nurse? Do you have extensive experience in Clinical Trial delivery including commercial Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products?

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly-skilled, motivated and enthusiastic research professional to come lead the Research and Development team. This is a pivotal role within our Research and Development team, focused on delivering high-quality clinical research studies. The successful candidate will be leading a team of Clinical Research Practitioners and Research Nurses to deliver a varied portfolio of interventional and non-interventional clinical research studies including Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products.

Work Pattern: Usually Mon-Fri 9-5 but some flexibility may be required. The post is fixed term for one year however applicants with continuous NHS experience more than 2 years will be offered a permanent role.

Main duties of the job

The Clinical Research Team lead will work with clinical services to support the integration of Research, through the successful delivery of clinical research as a core offering.

As a recognised expert in Research Delivery, the Clinical Research Team Lead will provide advice, care and support to patients entering clinical research and trials.

The role will take responsibility for the planning, development and implementation of the clinical research portfolio that reflects the patient population, the work and interests of the local clinical services.

The Clinical Research Team lead will provide expert advice and support to colleagues through the research study process, from feasibility, to clinical pathways, to study delivery and for all Research study types including Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products.

Working with the wider multidisciplinary team they will act as a professional role model, providing clinical care and teaching to colleagues across the Trust, research participants and patients.

Under the overall direction of the Lead Research Nurse, R&D operations manager and Head of Research and Development, you will be responsible for the development and management of the portfolio of studies, requiring you to develop strong and effective working relationships across speciality areas, divisions and organisations.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites

Details

Date posted

13 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CS310

Job locations

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • Extensive experience of supporting the delivery of Interventional and non-interventional Clinical Research in an NHS setting and delivering studies time to target
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills
  • Excellent management experience
  • Excellent IT skills
  • A strong understanding of Research Governance and Clinical Governance

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed. We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Kate Penhaligon on 07929 826780 or email: research@berkshire.nhs.uk, wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • Extensive experience of supporting the delivery of Interventional and non-interventional Clinical Research in an NHS setting and delivering studies time to target
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills
  • Excellent management experience
  • Excellent IT skills
  • A strong understanding of Research Governance and Clinical Governance

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed. We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Kate Penhaligon on 07929 826780 or email: research@berkshire.nhs.uk, wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS and TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • OR: Registered Healthcare Professional
  • OR: Qualified to degree level in relevant discipline
  • Postgraduate training or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • For non-registered healthcare professionals - Accredited Clinical Research Practitioner or working towards accreditation

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Essential

  • Knowledge and experience of working with patients with a variety of diagnoses (including mental health, dementia, neurodegenerative conditions and or community health conditions)
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills
  • Advanced IT skills
  • Experience of line management and development
  • Awareness of obligatory regulations and legal requirements of NHS research

Desirable

  • Awareness of obligatory regulations and legal requirements of NHS research
  • Demonstrable experience of working with Quality Improvement Systems

EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing, professional, and personal experience post qualification at Senior Level
  • Clinical experience of working in the NHS
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment
  • Experience of research in a healthcare setting

Desirable

  • Experience of working in community services and community mental health team settings.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential

  • Self-motivated
  • Flexibility and adaptability to ensure cover at all times on a wide range of research studies.
  • Proven ability to work confidently and autonomously, prioritising workload efficiently and effectively

Desirable

  • Strong motivation to work within the field of research
  • Proven compassionate approach to leadership.

MOBILITY AND TRAVEL

Essential

  • Ability to travel in a time efficient way across all areas supported by the Trust and at times in the local Clinical Research Network

Desirable

  • Ability to travel independently and attend conferences/training events outside the region.
Person Specification

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS and TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • OR: Registered Healthcare Professional
  • OR: Qualified to degree level in relevant discipline
  • Postgraduate training or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • For non-registered healthcare professionals - Accredited Clinical Research Practitioner or working towards accreditation

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Essential

  • Knowledge and experience of working with patients with a variety of diagnoses (including mental health, dementia, neurodegenerative conditions and or community health conditions)
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills
  • Advanced IT skills
  • Experience of line management and development
  • Awareness of obligatory regulations and legal requirements of NHS research

Desirable

  • Awareness of obligatory regulations and legal requirements of NHS research
  • Demonstrable experience of working with Quality Improvement Systems

EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing, professional, and personal experience post qualification at Senior Level
  • Clinical experience of working in the NHS
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment
  • Experience of research in a healthcare setting

Desirable

  • Experience of working in community services and community mental health team settings.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential

  • Self-motivated
  • Flexibility and adaptability to ensure cover at all times on a wide range of research studies.
  • Proven ability to work confidently and autonomously, prioritising workload efficiently and effectively

Desirable

  • Strong motivation to work within the field of research
  • Proven compassionate approach to leadership.

MOBILITY AND TRAVEL

Essential

  • Ability to travel in a time efficient way across all areas supported by the Trust and at times in the local Clinical Research Network

Desirable

  • Ability to travel independently and attend conferences/training events outside the region.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Research & Development

Kate Penhaligon

Kate.Penhaligon@berkshire.nhs.uk

07929826780

Details

Date posted

13 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CS310

Job locations

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Supporting documents

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