Clinical Research Contracts: Development Partner - Research Strategy and Services - 105038 - Grade 8

Job Description

Position Details

Research Strategy and Services

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,485 to £55,295 with potential progression once in post to £62,098

Grade: 8

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 16th January 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.

Background

The University has an exciting vision to build on the success of REF2021, by continuing to transform its research performance across outputs, income, impact, and policy influence. Central to this ambition is the Research Strategy & Services Division (RSSD), a new Professional Services department that has been established to work in partnership with our academics across research strategy, operations, and partnerships.

Role Summary

The Clinical Research Contracts: Development Partner is an exciting role that offers the opportunity to support our world-leading clinical research within a dynamic health ecosystem. This encompasses the University, local NHS Trusts, Clinical Trials Units, Birmingham Health Partners, Industry collaborators, and our technology transfer company, UoB Enterprise.

A key part of the RSSD and University culture is developing staff in an inclusive environment that enables all colleagues to thrive. As Clinical Research Contracts: Development Partner, you will have the opportunity to mentor your own direct report, supporting their progression through the research support career path within the Division, while also being supported to continually enhance your own professional practice.

Main Duties

• Work in close collaboration with colleagues across the College Hub and the Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity (REGI) team to ensure the delivery of a cohesive and responsive support service for clinical contracting at Birmingham.
• Build strong and effective relationships with academics, external partners, UoB Enterprise, and other key stakeholders while providing expert advice on clinical trial contracts.
• Support our researchers to negotiate successful contracts with external partners.
• Ensure that research agreements align with our institutional policies and funder terms, and comply with UK and international regulations.
• Keep up to date with regulatory and policy changes that impact clinical research.
• Work closely with Research Support Managers to cultivate a supportive environment that enables teams to develop, negotiate, and finalise contracts effectively.
• With the Research Support Managers, maintain a regular oversight of the contracts portfolio across the College Hub.
• Develop positive and open lines of communication with senior academics and research leaders.
• Line manage a Research Support Officer.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus significant relevant practical experience.
• Proven experience in the negotiation and management of research agreements.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly for a variety of audiences.
• Proven understanding of issues that impact on University contracting.
• Experience of engaging, and collaborating, with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and management skills.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Highly proficient IT skills.
• High level of self-motivation and personal accountability.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Role context

Roles at this level provide authoritative professional advice and opinion across a range of activities. You will use your professional skills to resolve problems where the solution is not immediately apparent.

Core competencies/transferable skills

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the following core competencies/transferable skills in each of the areas shown below.

Informal enquiries to Sam Hickman, Head of Research Support for Medicine and Health, email: s.j.hickman@bham.ac.uk

View our staff values and behaviours here.