Sponsorship Governance Facilitator

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Governance and Management

To be a sponsorship specialist for an allocated portfolio of Trust research studies and as such have significant discretion and freedom to act.

Provide guidance to investigators on the requirements for Christie sponsorship.

Advise and support investigators and Research Managers in ensuring appropriate costings are included in studies; to provide resource for sponsorship responsibilities at the grant application stage of agreeing provisional sponsorship or when initially presented with an internally funded study.

Support investigators with compiling documentation for regulatory submissions; Health Research Authority (HRA) including HRA assessment, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Research Ethics Committee (REC), Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) and site requirements by advising and reviewing documentation.

Review all study related documentation to ensure it is of high standard, consistent with current regulatory requirements and advisory guidance and meets Trust sponsor obligations such as adequate peer review, risk assessment and data management. Ensuring data management plans are in place and that assurances are obtained to verify that the databases are fit for purpose.

Ensure the provision of Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP), placebo or devices as appropriate from approved providers to cover the duration of the trial.

Collaborate with the contracts team to assess and advise on contracts required and provide template documents for the necessary contractual requirements of the study. Review responsibilities, liaise with third parties as required and obtain appropriate authorisations for contracts, sponsorship agreements and study vendors.

Conduct sponsor review of study amendments, ensuring implications are assessed communication and functional areas involved as necessary prior to and changes being actioned.

Implement and follow sponsorship related SOPs.

Contribute to the development maintenance of sponsorship related SOPs and ensure their compliance with regulatory and Trust requirements. Implement changes to policy, and relevant SOPs, when national guidance changes within the sponsorship arena.

To contribute and assist in the preparation for external audit, monitoring and regulatory inspection by external agencies such as the MHRA.

Co-ordinating remedial action and ensuring completion of tasks in relation to CAPA planned following monitoring, audit. Inspection or incident/deviation related issues.

Portfolio Oversight

Work within sponsorship team to ensure routine processes implemented to meet sponsor obligations during study set-up, green-light (including other sites), regulatory reporting (e.g. progress reports and end of study reports), study closure and study results and publications.

Work to ensure activities are well planned and organised and tracked due to the varied nature of specific studies and the unpredictable workload involved.

Provide oversight of the management of Trust sponsored studies. Ensuring Trial Management Group meetings take place and attend where required, ensuring Trial Steering Committees and Data Management Committees are in place as required. Ensuring Clinical Trials Units, or other vendors, undertake their delegated contractual duties appropriately and in a timely fashion. Ensure Study Initiation Visits (SIVs) have taken place when required.

Receive and review progress reports as determined by the study risk management plan escalating any concerns as necessary.

Manage to resolution issues identified through the Trust monitoring and audit programme, which are the sponsors responsibility to action and oversee.

Information Management

Maintain precise and accurate records that document the decisions made on behalf of the sponsor for the lifetime of the study.

Responsible for the operation of sponsor information systems (project planning tools and trackers) managing and maintaining the data within and developing where required for the Trust.

Finance

Contribute to the oversight of study budgets by working with the R&I grants and income and costing functions.

Work with project teams and cross functional teams to ensure that study budgets are reconciled in a timely manner at the end of the study.

Communication

Engage actively with investigators, academic collaborators, clinical research fellows, nurses, support departments, academic departments and external organisations to ensure they receive appropriate and tailored support.

Ensure all stakeholders are informed and involved at every level of sponsorship reviews.

Provide investigators with the necessary information on NIHR, HRA, MHRA and Trust processes. This may include multidisciplinary meetings, website and producing and maintaining other information materials.

Answer queries relating to legislation and the conduct of research from research staff promptly and efficiently. This information may be complex in nature, so good communication skills are required to make the information understandable to varying levels of staff. Acknowledging all communication from investigators and key stakeholders and ensuring an efficient flow of information.

Ensure there is good internal communication, with members of R&I infrastructure staff, of decision making and sponsorship pathway progress. Tact and sensitivity will need to be used when delivering negative news to recipients.

When communicating with external organisations, such as CTUs or other vendors, professionalism, persuasion, negotiation and assertiveness will be required to ensure the Trust receives the services required. There may also be a need to discuss shortcomings of the service being delivered where necessary in conjunction with other members of the R&I team.

Human Resources Management

Provide effective leadership on sponsorship matters and know when to escalate to sponsorship manager.

Participate in recruitment of staff to the R&I central office and act as supervisor/mentor as required.

Qualifications

Essential

• Post graduate diploma level in a scientific discipline or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working within clinical research setting
• Experience of writing procedural/patient documentation
• Experience of working to deadlines

Skills

Essential

• Ability to assess and interpret complicated and conflicting information and use judgement where appropriate
• Ability to listen to others and use critical questioning techniques to identify core issues/risks within proposals
• Organisational and time management skills
• Interpersonal skills - Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure to tight timelines

Desirable

• Ability to use spreadsheets
• Ability to create PowerPoint presentations and other Microsoft office applications
• Advanced computer literacy and ability to adapt and learn new computer applications

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of research sponsorship responsibilities
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of standards and legislation that govern research practice in the NHS
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of NHS research governance processes, including amendments
• Knowledge of regulatory issues surrounding the conduct of clinical research
• Awareness of research within the NHS and legislative framework within the UK

Desirable

• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
• Understanding of clinical trial protocol requirements
• Understanding of study data management systems
• Knowledge of international research, and conduct

VALUES

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

OTHER

Essential

• Able to work and act independently
• Ability to work across functional and organisational boundaries
• Good attention to detail
• Positive approach
• Flexible and motivated team player

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).