Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Agile Research Delivery Team Manager (Non Clinical) B7

The closing date is 10 March 2026

Job summary

Are you looking to develop new skills and contribute to improving patient care through research?If so, we'd love to hear from you.

You will play a key role in leading and managing research support for wider care settings supporting the set up and delivery of a diverse portfolio of Commercial and Non-Commercial research studies and clinical trials across the South East Research Delivery Network. This role will involve leading a team focussed on engaging with stakeholders to promote research activity, site identification, set up and associated governance across wider care settings.

This is an excellent opportunity for a leader with a healthcare background who is eager to continue to build a career in research with a focus on wider care settings.You'll work as part of a flexible, multidisciplinary team, supporting the set up and delivery of studies across multiple organisations and care environments, helping to make high quality research accessible to patients and participants across the region.The post is hosted by Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, with an operational base in Guildford, Surrey. There will be occasions where you will contribute to activities across the three counties to support wider network priorities and coherent team leadership.As this role involves travel, access to a car and a full driving licence is essential.Travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with the Trust's expenses policy.

Main duties of the job

The role involves leading a team of multi professionals to deliver National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) Portfolio studies across varied health and care settings.

As team manager you will be responsible for a team of regionally based, flexible, multi disciplinary staff who are deployed to support the delivery of NIHR RDN portfolio studies across a range of health and care specialties and settings.

As team leader you will be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of the NIHR RDN portfolio that reflects the community, with a focus on the health and social care issues of the population within the region.

This post has a dual function and the post holder will either manage and lead research delivery and/ or research support for wider care settings dependent upon regional need. This will include (but not limited to) delegation, supervision, provision of education and support, appraisals.

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.

The Team Manager will be responsible for delivering the NIHR ENRICH Network and providing an enhanced study support offering for social and wider care settings. The post holder will work closely with the Agile Research Delivery Team Manager(s) and be accountable to the Head of Research Delivery & Support for Wider Care Settings.

About us

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Date posted

25 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

384-AR-EMF19728

Job locations

RSCH

GU2 7XX

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the role.

The NIHR RRDNs have three key roles.

First, to provide support to research sites to enable the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England.

Second, to enable the strategic development of new and more effective research delivery capability and capacity. This includes bringing research to under-served regions and communities with major health and care needs.

Third, to work jointly with the Coordinating Centre in the strategic oversight of the NIHR RDN. This ensures that the Portfolio is maintained as a cohort of high-quality, fully-funded, viable and deliverable studies. It also ensures that the NIHR RDN as a whole serves the needs of researchers and R&D teams and is responsive to the changing domestic and global environment for health and care, life sciences and health research.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the role.

The NIHR RRDNs have three key roles.

First, to provide support to research sites to enable the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to or working towards postgraduate degree level in a science or health related discipline or in another field with experience of research trials or equivalent experience/training
Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Qualification (or working towards) in leadership and management

Desirable

Where appropriate: Registered Nurse or AHP on relevant part of the professional register (NMC / HCPC) or for CRPs on, or working towards accredited registration with the AHCS

Knowledge

Essential

Effective leadership skills with experience of line management of staff, including appraisals, in a health or care setting.
Good leadership skills with experience of line management of staff, including appraisals, in a health or care setting
Significant knowledge of the governance and legislative frameworks for conducting clinical research studies, including UK Policy Framework for Health and Care Research, UK Clinical Trials Regulations and Good Clinical Practice
Significant knowledge and experience of the clinical trial and health and care research lifecycle including experience of the set up of clinical research studies in a health and care setting
Extensive or significant experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studies
Understanding of personal accountability
Knowledge and experience of data interpretation, verification and reporting to local and national centres

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to or working towards postgraduate degree level in a science or health related discipline or in another field with experience of research trials or equivalent experience/training
Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Qualification (or working towards) in leadership and management

Desirable

Where appropriate: Registered Nurse or AHP on relevant part of the professional register (NMC / HCPC) or for CRPs on, or working towards accredited registration with the AHCS

Knowledge

Essential

Effective leadership skills with experience of line management of staff, including appraisals, in a health or care setting.
Good leadership skills with experience of line management of staff, including appraisals, in a health or care setting
Significant knowledge of the governance and legislative frameworks for conducting clinical research studies, including UK Policy Framework for Health and Care Research, UK Clinical Trials Regulations and Good Clinical Practice
Significant knowledge and experience of the clinical trial and health and care research lifecycle including experience of the set up of clinical research studies in a health and care setting
Extensive or significant experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studies
Understanding of personal accountability
Knowledge and experience of data interpretation, verification and reporting to local and national centres

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

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

RSCH

GU2 7XX

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

RSCH

GU2 7XX

Employer's website

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