Research Partnerships Manager

Job Summary

We have an exciting role within the R&I office for a Research Partnership Manager (Band 7). This post is an integral part of the R&I Division's core function which exists to provide an efficient support service for the research delivery teams and sponsors as well as other internal and external stakeholders enabling the Trust to deliver its research ambitions.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to support oncology research undertaken within The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The prime purpose of the role is to support the strategic management within the Trust. As part of this, the role will also have an element of setting up and maintaining partnerships with Pharmaceutical companies, other NHS sites, academia, and wider research organisations. The position will also be responsible for promoting research both internally within the Trust and externally to outside organisations.

Please note that this post is offered at 37.5 h/week. Whilst this job is advertised as a full-time post, we encourage applications from candidates who are looking to work part-time.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this role is to ensure the effective delivery of Christie Research objectives, with a particular focus on setting up and maintaining relationships with key partners to the Trust such as pharmaceutical companies, charities, other NHS sites, and academic institutions. The post holder will plan, implement and manage various initiatives to deliver against important divisional objectives, facilitate translational research processes and support contractual negotiations with the partners.

The Research Partnership Manager will also be required to manage a number of key relationships with our partners, identify promotional initiatives and monitor and report on the division's performance to all key partner targets. They will be expected to support the management of our research facilities and core R&D operations as well as communicating complex technical, scientific, and sensitive information to colleagues.

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. You will be working in a friendly and supportive team which works closely with colleagues across the division and wider Trust. This role will be a great opportunity to support our growth as a centre of excellence in research.

Date posted

14 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

413-91711-RI-AK

Job locations

R&D Office - Q01552, Manchester, M20 4BX

Job Description

Job responsibilities

Development of key relationships and communications initiatives

• Set up, build and maintain partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, charities, other NHS sites, and academic institutions.
• Identify and develop key partnership networks.
• Promote research internally within the Trust and externally with pharmaceutical companies, charities, other NHS sites, and academic institutions.
• Develop and implement communications strategies on research developments in consultation with the Christie Research Communications Manager.
• Ensure that the Communications Manager is regularly briefed on all major developments and initiatives concerning the partner relationships and promotional activities.
• Produce a range of media and communication materials appropriate to a variety of stakeholder groups, including writing press releases and website articles as requested.
• Brief and manage the activities of advertising, market research, print/production and public relations agencies as required.
• Responsible for the R&D content on The Christie intranet and internet relating to partnerships.
• Advise on, and when appropriate, ensure the implementation of new practice/developments within the Division and across the Trust which may have an impact on the effective and efficient delivery of research.
• Work, liaise and communicate with colleagues across the Trust to improve the quality of research and research services.
• Provide and receive complex and sensitive information to colleagues and vendors.
• Facilitate timely contract negotiations by liaising closely with business development and research teams.
• Communicate highly complex strategic information to groups of people at a variety of levels.

Project management

• Identify, plan and implement service improvements to modernise research services and practices within the Trust.
• Lead on key research partnerships and collaborations, ensuring that business activities are delivered to target and meet agreed timelines.
• Plan and organise a broad range of complex research activities ensuring all are completed on schedule and adjustments are made for any issues that arise.
• Progress the activities of key research strategy themes.
• Facilitate the development of strategic plans for research and the creation of business plans to support research and research service developments in-line with Trust's strategic objectives.
• Liaise with the Business Planning Team, the Sponsor and the Research Teams to facilitate prompt contract negotiations.
• Identify opportunities to develop and pilot new research projects.
• Ensure that all research services are delivered meeting agreed deadlines and objectives within a strategic framework set by the NHS and/or the Trust.
• General project management duties include:
• Facilitate key partnership meetings as required.
• Provide information and advice on appropriate collaborations, targeting of applications, dissemination of data and clinical trial implementation.
• Monitor timelines for study set up key stakeholders.
• Monitor feasibilities and contract negotiations.
• Plan and organise own work to ensure delivery of corporate and directorate aims and objectives.

Events management

• Organise research events on behalf of the division including workshops and symposia aimed at a range of different audiences.
• Host key partners such as pharmaceutical companies and charity representatives on tours of research facilities to raise the profile of the organisation.
• Manage more formal events such as External Scientific Advisory Board (ESAB) reviews.
• Arrange for appropriate personnel to take part in discussions with external organisations and stakeholders on local, regional and national committees.

Management of key metrics for reporting purposes

• Assist in ensuring that performance and other board/service reports on the Trust's research activities are produced in a timely manner for Division board, other performance committees and to external bodies as required.
• Collate and analyse key metrics for the Trust's annual reports such as academic publications, trials recruitment and research grant income.
• Assist in the development of new systems for streamlining operational reporting.
• Maintain databases and other records systems (i.e. mailing lists, bids/ business cases).

Finance and research grant management

• Regularly ensure all potential partnership funding opportunities are identified and disseminated to the appropriate staff within the Trust in a timely manner.
• Facilitate key grant applications to enhance the Trusts research income portfolio (i.e. provide medical writing support and collate business cases).
• Ensure that service contracts are in place with external service providers for the delivery of research services by the Trust.

Development of operational processes

• Regularly maintain a high level strategy for R&D within the Trust that meets local, regional and national priorities and requirements.
• Maintain a clear understanding of local, regional and national policies relevant to clinical research in the NHS and uphold the Trusts standards.
• Implement SOPs to improve working practices.
• Regularly ensure that systems are established for the organisation and management of research activities under coherent programmes and themes.

Development of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) initiatives

• Enhance professional infrastructure to establish PPIE groups across various research themes within the Trust.
• Promote collaborative research ideation activities between research teams and PPIE groups to address unmet needs along the patient pathway.
• Promote partnerships with sponsors to increase industry participation in PPIE activities.
• Develop methods for capturing data on PPIE activities for inclusion in the Trusts annual reports.
• Improve and increase dissemination of research findings to the public.
• Promote Christie research within local communities to increase awareness of research activity.

Other Key Skills

• Strong IT skills using various software packages including MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
• Good presentation skills to deliver information to a variety of audiences.
• Strong scientific background and knowledge of academic and industry research processes to understand and progress complex experimental ideas.
• Excellent time-management, attention to detail and medical/scientific writing skills to produce detailed accurate reports within tight timeframes.

Continuing professional development

• Undertake continuing personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job and satisfy the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework requirements relating to the job.
• Attend and participate in meetings and training courses as identified and/or agreed by the line manager and division.
• Develop core leadership skills with a view to providing future management to an expanding team.

Freedom to Act

• The post holder will be guided by precedent and clearly defined occupational policies, protocols, procedures or codes of conduct. Work will be managed, rather than supervised and results outcomes will be assessed at agreed intervals by the individuals the post is accountable to.
• Perform any other duties within the range of skills and abilities of the post holder, as required.
• Work unsupervised and autonomously within the range of skills and abilities of the post holder, as required while adhering to the Trust's policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to postgraduate level.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification with significant research experience in a medical field (i.e. PhD).
• Project management qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of producing and disseminating research communications within a medical discipline to both professional and lay audiences (i.e. Medical writing experience).
• Grant writing experience.
• Experience of multidisciplinary working across complex academic, commercial and NHS organisations.
• Significant formal training or research in a relevant field. Highly developed specialist knowledge underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant experience.
• Experience in project management and able to independently deliver projects on target.
• Experience of delivering PPIE research initiatives.

Desirable

• Experience of developing and delivering research strategies.
• Experience of having undertaken or managed clinical research / clinical trials in the NHS, academic and/or commercial setting.
• Experience of developing and maintaining systems and administrative procedures.
• Management of staff within a research environment.
• Experience of managing research events.
• Experience of web content management.
• Experience of collating research metrics for annual reporting purposes.

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills - ability to negotiate, influence in difficult and contentious situations.
• Report writing and able to produce board papers within tight timeframes.
• Able to understand the principles of research projects covering a wide range of scientific subject areas.
• Ability to communicate confidently and deal effectively with individuals at different levels both within and outside the organisation.
• Ability to effectively coordinate and plan multiple projects with conflicting and demanding deadlines.

Desirable

• IT and information and project management skills.
• Organisational and time management skills.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of GCP guidelines.
• Proven expertise in good clinical practice (ICH-GCP) and knowledge of R&D regulations.
• Knowledge of external partnership organisational structures such as NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and CRUK Centres of Excellence.

Desirable

• An understanding of clinical trial methodology and logistics.
• Knowledge of clinical research funding.
• Understanding of cancer and cancer research.
• Understanding of Home Office licensing requirements for conducting preclinical research.

Values

Essential

• Strong leadership.
• Innovative and positive approach.
• Tenacity.

Other

Essential

• Ability to work and act independently.
• Flexible working hours and arrangements.
• Flexible and motivated team player.
• Ability to manage simultaneously a wide variety of issues and projects.
• Maintain confidentiality.