Deputy Service Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at The Christie in a key operational leadership role as Deputy Service Manager.

The CRF delivers early-phase and complex clinical trials across oncology including haematology, and is entering a period of significant planned growth and transformation. In 2026 we will undertake a major refurbishment of the unit, expand capacity, and transition towards a 24/7 operating model to support increasing trial complexity and activity. This role will be central to supporting the service through this change, ensuring strong operational delivery and excellent patient experience throughout.

The post holder will support the CRF Operational Lead and CRF Matron in providing high-quality, safe and efficient operational leadership across our three areas delivering day-case treatments, inpatient stays and outpatient clinics. They will manage a team of administrative and data management staff, work closely with multidisciplinary clinical teams, and deputise for the Operational Lead as required. The role will also contribute to NIHR Manchester CRF objectives and Trust-wide programmes, including work aligned with national research priorities and the UK Government's response to the O'Shaughnessy Review to increase commercial trial access and participation.

The Deputy Service Manager will support the CRF Operational Lead and CRF Matron in delivering high-quality, safe and efficient operational management across our research portfolio.

You will play a key part in the CRF's forthcoming transformation programme, including our planned refurbishment in 2026, expansion of research capacity and transition towards a 24/7 operating model. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, you will help implement new processes, support service redesign, and ensure the CRF is well-positioned to meet growing trial activity and national research ambitions.

Core responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations, managing the non-clinical staff, supporting delivery of NIHR and Trust objectives, analysing performance and activity data, managing budgets, and contributing to business cases and service development projects. The role also involves responding to operational challenges that affect trial delivery, coordinating improvement work, and representing the CRF at divisional and Trust meetings.

This is a key operational leadership role at the heart of the CRF as we undergo significant planned change. This is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is committed to improving research delivery for patients.

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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To support the CRF Operational Lead and CRF Matron in the management and development of a wide service portfolio and to deputise for the Operational Lead where necessary To support the delivery of high quality, cost effective services to the Trust and NIHR Provide managerial support to clinical services across CRF and the wider division, ensuring that performance targets for these services are effectively monitored and achieved.

This will include the identification of risks and actions required to mitigate such risks to ensure timely delivery of the objectives Interprets and analyses highly complex data in relation to performance management using Trust software to develop performance management reports Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require effective collaboration with others in department, division or Trust to enable a positive outcome Identify and undertake business development projects for specific services within the directorate, working across multidisciplinary teams to ensure service delivery and improved productivity is supported by robust business cases and options appraisals Provide teams with information about performance and ensure that such information is clearly understood to develop ownership and commitment to service delivery Maintain adequate controls on expenditure through the implementation of good budgetary practice for designated…