The Christie NHS FT

Research Imaging Service Manager

The closing date is 03 March 2026

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and dynamic Research Imaging Service Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across Radiology and Nuclear Medicine research delivery teams. This will include the exciting new Total-Body PET CT research facility.

This senior role is responsible for leading across two multidisciplinary research imaging teams, overseeing the full lifecycle of clinical trials from feasibility to close-out, and ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, and patient-centred research. You will play a key role in driving departmental research objectives with regarding to imaging, managing workforce development, financial planning, governance, and performance against local and national research targets.

Working closely with clinical, academic, and corporate partners, you will contribute to the Trust's Research & Innovation strategy, develop sustainable business plans, and promote a strong culture of research engagement, quality improvement, and continuous learning. The post holder will act as a Trust representative at internal and external forums and support the ongoing growth and profile of imaging-led research at a regional and national level.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated leader with expert knowledge of clinical research delivery, strong financial and people-management skills, and a passion for improving patient experience through research excellence.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for leadership and management of designated clinical research delivery teams.

Within designated teams, the post holder will also have responsibility for:

o Implementation of divisional strategic objectives

o Workforce development

o Financial planning and management

o Ensuring safe and effect research practices

o Maximizing opportunities for excellent patient experience

o Monitoring of quality standards and escalation of identified risks/sharing best practice

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Details

Date posted

17 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

413-103464-RI-SD

Job locations

Radiology Research - Q01558

Wilmslow Road

Manchester

M20 4BX


Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Management and Leadership

Provide professional and management leadership to support the development of clinical research activity for defined research recruitment and delivery teams.

Ensure appropriate processes are in place to oversee and influence performance of teams including ensuring local and national research targets are met.

Conduct trial feasibility to assess the impact on workload in defined research groups and the Trust to establish whether there are adequate resources available to meet clinical trial activity.

To have full oversight of clinical trial submission process within Radiology and CMPE and overall responsibility from feasibility through to close out of a team portfolio of clinical trials.

Provide divisional representation on relevant trust wide committees relating to governance structures and operational management, where appropriate.

Work autonomously in all areas of practice relating to clinical research.

Take a proactive approach in ensuring local and national performance and recruitment metrics are adhered to and met.

Work with Trust R&I department and research staff to ensure regulatory and governance frameworks are adhered to.

Delegation of appropriate trial related activities to members of the research team.

Identify strategies for recruiting patients to clinical trials and support team members in implementing these strategies.

Identify workforce requirements to meet the team objectives and have overall responsibility for the recruitment processes within defined area of responsibility.

Ensure all Trust-wide policies and practices are adhered to and implemented within teams.

Strategic Development

Contribute to the development and implementation of the R&I strategy and objectives.

Contribute to and implement relevant strategies within the trust including the Radiology and CMPE strategy.

Foster strategic links and work in close partnership with appropriate key stakeholders to ensure all local, corporate, and national initiatives and targets are met.

Financial & Business Management

Manage and negotiate research budgets for both the Radiology and CMPE, ensuring oversight of all invoicing and income.

Work with the research income and costings team in forecasting projected income to secure funding for the retention and expansion of Clinical trial team nursing and administration posts.

Develop business plans to secure funding for the provision of resources as required

Research Performance

Oversee the management, implementation, and facilitation of clinical trial delivery.

Set up processes/patient pathways in specialist research areas to promote a costeffective timely service for individual protocols (including specialist clinics)

Assimilate complex information relating to clinical trials and communicate this information to patients and staff at a level appropriate to their understanding.

Promote and adhere to the EU directive and ICH/GCP.

Demonstration of expert knowledge in specialist area to maintain clinical excellence

Education and Training

To design and/or participate in National and Regional study days.

To support educational development through ensuring all members of staff have access to relevant and required training within the field of research and ensure staff work towards relevant competencies.

Ensure educational opportunities are available to all staff and ensure all have personnel development plans as part of the PDR process.

Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, ensuring all staff make effective use of learning opportunities.

To develop and facilitate educational programs to meet the competencies of the Clinical research nursing and administration teams.

Maintain professional development whilst evaluating own specialist knowledge and practice through a process of appraisal, revalidation, and personal development planning.

Ensure own knowledge is regularly updated and be aware of relevant developments that may impact on service provision

Quality

Lead development of SOPs and associated documents to guide practice within delivery teams and ensure they are reviewed as appropriate

Ensure that all research activity is conducted within the relevant governance frameworks and according to local SOPs.

Lead on and participate in service improvement projects and development programmes that contribute to excellent patient experience.

Promote a culture of effective collaboration and continuous improvement by implementing the quality strategy and objectives.

Information Management

Can use a variety of clinical research related information systems including CWP, CRIS, R-PEAK or similar systems.

Produce and utilize reports to manage team performance, including, but not limited to, HR, Financial, patient recruitment, and other KPIs.

Ensure teams are involved with, and influences trust Digital strategies in relation to the requirement of the Radiology department and in line with the R&I division Communication and Engagement

Represent the Imaging Departments and Trust at specialist research forums or consultative groups in relation to clinical research.

Process highly complex, scientific and sometimes sensitive patient information and when required, communicate this to a wide range of multi-disciplinary staff groups

Promote a culture and environment of research engagement and integration across the trust.

Ensure that there is effective communication, across all organisational boundaries in relation to clinical trial activities

Ensure the interests of the Imaging departments are considered in the planning and development of new systems and processes within the R&I Division.

To raise the profile of clinical research nursing locally and nationally.

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Management and Leadership

Provide professional and management leadership to support the development of clinical research activity for defined research recruitment and delivery teams.

Ensure appropriate processes are in place to oversee and influence performance of teams including ensuring local and national research targets are met.

Conduct trial feasibility to assess the impact on workload in defined research groups and the Trust to establish whether there are adequate resources available to meet clinical trial activity.

To have full oversight of clinical trial submission process within Radiology and CMPE and overall responsibility from feasibility through to close out of a team portfolio of clinical trials.

Provide divisional representation on relevant trust wide committees relating to governance structures and operational management, where appropriate.

Work autonomously in all areas of practice relating to clinical research.

Take a proactive approach in ensuring local and national performance and recruitment metrics are adhered to and met.

Work with Trust R&I department and research staff to ensure regulatory and governance frameworks are adhered to.

Delegation of appropriate trial related activities to members of the research team.

Identify strategies for recruiting patients to clinical trials and support team members in implementing these strategies.

Identify workforce requirements to meet the team objectives and have overall responsibility for the recruitment processes within defined area of responsibility.

Ensure all Trust-wide policies and practices are adhered to and implemented within teams.

Strategic Development

Contribute to the development and implementation of the R&I strategy and objectives.

Contribute to and implement relevant strategies within the trust including the Radiology and CMPE strategy.

Foster strategic links and work in close partnership with appropriate key stakeholders to ensure all local, corporate, and national initiatives and targets are met.

Financial & Business Management

Manage and negotiate research budgets for both the Radiology and CMPE, ensuring oversight of all invoicing and income.

Work with the research income and costings team in forecasting projected income to secure funding for the retention and expansion of Clinical trial team nursing and administration posts.

Develop business plans to secure funding for the provision of resources as required

Research Performance

Oversee the management, implementation, and facilitation of clinical trial delivery.

Set up processes/patient pathways in specialist research areas to promote a costeffective timely service for individual protocols (including specialist clinics)

Assimilate complex information relating to clinical trials and communicate this information to patients and staff at a level appropriate to their understanding.

Promote and adhere to the EU directive and ICH/GCP.

Demonstration of expert knowledge in specialist area to maintain clinical excellence

Education and Training

To design and/or participate in National and Regional study days.

To support educational development through ensuring all members of staff have access to relevant and required training within the field of research and ensure staff work towards relevant competencies.

Ensure educational opportunities are available to all staff and ensure all have personnel development plans as part of the PDR process.

Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, ensuring all staff make effective use of learning opportunities.

To develop and facilitate educational programs to meet the competencies of the Clinical research nursing and administration teams.

Maintain professional development whilst evaluating own specialist knowledge and practice through a process of appraisal, revalidation, and personal development planning.

Ensure own knowledge is regularly updated and be aware of relevant developments that may impact on service provision

Quality

Lead development of SOPs and associated documents to guide practice within delivery teams and ensure they are reviewed as appropriate

Ensure that all research activity is conducted within the relevant governance frameworks and according to local SOPs.

Lead on and participate in service improvement projects and development programmes that contribute to excellent patient experience.

Promote a culture of effective collaboration and continuous improvement by implementing the quality strategy and objectives.

Information Management

Can use a variety of clinical research related information systems including CWP, CRIS, R-PEAK or similar systems.

Produce and utilize reports to manage team performance, including, but not limited to, HR, Financial, patient recruitment, and other KPIs.

Ensure teams are involved with, and influences trust Digital strategies in relation to the requirement of the Radiology department and in line with the R&I division Communication and Engagement

Represent the Imaging Departments and Trust at specialist research forums or consultative groups in relation to clinical research.

Process highly complex, scientific and sometimes sensitive patient information and when required, communicate this to a wide range of multi-disciplinary staff groups

Promote a culture and environment of research engagement and integration across the trust.

Ensure that there is effective communication, across all organisational boundaries in relation to clinical trial activities

Ensure the interests of the Imaging departments are considered in the planning and development of new systems and processes within the R&I Division.

To raise the profile of clinical research nursing locally and nationally.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level education

Desirable

  • Master's degree or evidence of post graduate study

Experience

Essential

  • oSignificant experience undertaking, coordinating and managing clinical research
  • oExperience of developing and working within multidisciplinary teams and cross organisational working
  • oAbility to organize and prioritize own workload and that of a large team
  • oEvidence of management/ leadership

Desirable

  • oTeaching/training experience
  • oOncology or NHS experience

Skills

Essential

  • oExcellent communication skills
  • oEffective team working across professional and organisational boundaries
  • oDemonstrate broad range of management skills
  • oCapable of leading and initiating change
  • oWorking knowledge of officebased packages

Desirable

  • Capable of presenting research related information to a wide audience

Knowledge

Essential

  • ?Expert knowledge of clinical trials process and regulatory frameworks
  • ?Working knowledge of national research agenda and national research organisations
  • ?Working knowledge of professional and NHS issues and policy

VALUES

Essential

  • Ability to demonstrate organizational values and behaviors

OTHER

Essential

  • oCapacity to deal with complexity of issues
  • oFlexible working
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level education

Desirable

  • Master's degree or evidence of post graduate study

Experience

Essential

  • oSignificant experience undertaking, coordinating and managing clinical research
  • oExperience of developing and working within multidisciplinary teams and cross organisational working
  • oAbility to organize and prioritize own workload and that of a large team
  • oEvidence of management/ leadership

Desirable

  • oTeaching/training experience
  • oOncology or NHS experience

Skills

Essential

  • oExcellent communication skills
  • oEffective team working across professional and organisational boundaries
  • oDemonstrate broad range of management skills
  • oCapable of leading and initiating change
  • oWorking knowledge of officebased packages

Desirable

  • Capable of presenting research related information to a wide audience

Knowledge

Essential

  • ?Expert knowledge of clinical trials process and regulatory frameworks
  • ?Working knowledge of national research agenda and national research organisations
  • ?Working knowledge of professional and NHS issues and policy

VALUES

Essential

  • Ability to demonstrate organizational values and behaviors

OTHER

Essential

  • oCapacity to deal with complexity of issues
  • oFlexible working

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

The Christie NHS FT

Address

Radiology Research - Q01558

Wilmslow Road

Manchester

M20 4BX


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

The Christie NHS FT

Address

Radiology Research - Q01558

Wilmslow Road

Manchester

M20 4BX


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Radiology Services Manager

Sarah O'Connell

sarah.oconnell@nhs.net

01619188243

Details

Date posted

17 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

413-103464-RI-SD

Job locations

Radiology Research - Q01558

Wilmslow Road

Manchester

M20 4BX


Supporting documents

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