Lead Manager for Research, Development and Innovation

Job Overview

The post holder will provide operational leadership for the R&D Department at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTH) working closely with the Director of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I), the Senior Research and Development (R&D) team, and over 80 research nurses and research active clinicians, as well as key stakeholders particularly academic and life science partners.

The post holder will oversee the successful running of the BTH R&D Department as well as BTH’s National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC). BTH R&D collaborates closely with the NIHR, DOH and commercial sponsors alongside our colleagues from the 35 partner CRDCs. This role will involve working closely with commercial sponsors, Contract Research Organisations (CROs) and the ABPI.

The post holder will also work with the NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network North-West (NIHR RRDN NW), the NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) hosted by Blackpool Council, and the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) as partners in their recent NIHR BRC bid.

To manage the successful delivery of research studies at BTH, planning and coordinating significant multi‑disciplinary research activities, and ensuring the right delivery team is available and in place. To manage the successful delivery of late‑phase commercial clinical research through the NIHR Blackpool CRDC including business development to ensure a robust pipeline of studies.

• Increase research income from all sources, including academic appointments and peer‑reviewed publications.
• Increase research capacity and capability in Trust employees.
• Review research delivery against agreed performance metrics, NIHR CRDC KPIs and NIHR high‑level objectives.
• Maximise patient recruitment to target, Trust research income and research patient and industry survey outcomes.
• Provide specialist advice and training on all aspects of research methodology and process, interpreting legislative and regulatory requirements, and offer methodological guidance to researchers.
• Work with the NIHR RRDN NW to secure recurring R&D funding and bid for increased NIHR budget.
• Lead, together with the Director of RD&I, in developing and managing Trust operational plans under the umbrella of the BTH Strategy, covering both Research and Innovation.
• Manage and support Trust "sponsored" research projects and service evaluation projects.
• Assist and advise researchers in funding projects and ensure project management is reported to the R&D Committee.
• Support, promote and manage implementation of the Trust Risk Management Strategy within the R&D department, including incident reporting, adverse incidents and management of complaints.
• Deputise for the Director of RD&I at certain meetings.
• Promote team effectiveness and innovation.
• Provide effective leadership and management of staff within the core R&D department, ensuring effective team communications, workforce planning, recruitment, performance, conduct, appraisals and ongoing development.
• Maintain high levels of individual and team engagement, attendance and innovation.
• Actively promote quality in the team by making clear standards, expectations, monitoring progress and taking action where standards fall short.
• Generate research income through increasing the number of commercially and charitably funded studies and through successful grant applications.
• Support the implementation of the National Contract Review Process (NCRP) nationally.
• Lead on the full costing of research projects, both academic and commercial, utilising all necessary tools and working with Finance colleagues to maximise recovery of costs from external funders.
• Manage research budgets across the Trust, working with Finance on appropriate policy development for successful management of such budgets.
• Ensure all R&D projects and reporting requirements meet quality and compliance standards as mandated locally and nationally in a timely manner.
• Promote the profile of Nursing and AHP research within the Trust, including the use of the Intern programmes currently run by HEE and other NIHR bodies.
• Take…