CRDC Research Business Development Manager

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining a healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

The Research Business Development Manager will be key to providing local expertise, knowledge and business intelligence to support the development and growth of clinical research activity across the Trust. This will include timely and accurate data analysis and reporting against key performance indicators. The post holder will be responsible for managing and monitoring the clinical research feasibility service by disseminating study feasibility requests from external stakeholders, identifying investigators and research groups with specific research interests to take on studies and ensuring expressions of interest are completed and submitted in a timely manner. The post holder will also monitor the recruitment to studies and support in troubleshooting challenges to ensure maximum potential to meet the recruitment target and successfully deliver on the Trust’s commitment. The post holder will assist the Research & Development Manager to deliver on the commercial research strategy, identifying areas for growth and improvement and provide administrative support to the Research & Development Manager and Research Operations Manager where required.

Main duties of the job:

• Leading the operational management of the commercial research feasibility process across the organisation.
• Working closely with NIHR, life sciences industry partners, and external sponsors to coordinate expressions of interest and study start-up activity.
• Identifying research opportunities through horizon scanning and promoting Blackpool Teaching Hospitals as a high-performing research site.
• Supporting investigators and research teams in assessing study requirements, including non-disclosure agreements and feasibility questionnaires.
• Monitoring recruitment performance and helping address delivery challenges to ensure research targets are met.
• Developing and maintaining internal systems to track research capacity, performance metrics, and site selection outcomes.
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with commercial sponsors, contract research organisations (CROs), and internal support departments.
• Supporting the implementation and reporting of the Trust’s commercial research strategy, including growth opportunities.
• Supervising administrative support staff involved in the set-up and coordination of CRDC research activity.
• Supporting research-related financial management, including accurate invoicing and effective use of commercial income.
• Contributing to the development of operational policies and procedures to support the efficient delivery of the research business function.

This is a pivotal role for an experienced research professional with excellent organisational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, and an in-depth understanding of the UK clinical research landscape.

Person specification:

• Degree level education or equivalent relevant experience.
• Relevant post graduate courses or equivalent professional development.
• ICH GCP training.
• Extensive research management experience.
• Experience of R&D management processes including study setup process.
• Production and presentation of reports on key study metrics to senior staff.
• Data protection, confidentiality and Caldecott Guidelines.
• Set up and delivery procedures for clinical research in the UK.
• NIHR and NHS’ research strategy and priorities.
• NIHR RRDN structure and process.
• Government’s vision for clinical research delivery in the UK.
• Research activity reporting requirements.
• Priorities and challenges of growing and delivering clinical research in the NHS.
• Previous use of Research Management Software e.g. EDGE, CPMS, NIHR ODP.
• Marketing experience.
• Clinical research experience within the NHS.
• Clinical research operations experience in commercial life sciences industry.
• ICH GCP and EU Clinical Trials Directive, Medicines for Human Use Regulations.
• UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.
• In-depth understanding of commercial contract research feasibility processes.

Skills and Ability:

• Proven organisational and time-management skills with the ability to think and plan creatively to manage, prioritise and deliver a range of tasks and projects to tight deadlines and in the face of competing demands.
• Attention to detail and meticulous organisation and documentation skills.
• Well-developed IT/computer skills - word processing, spreadsheets, relational databases and internet.
• Sound data manipulation, analytical and critical appraisal skills.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and utilise complex information for reporting, and planning purposes.
• Sound judgement in dealing with complex and sensitive issues.
• Able to adapt to change and a flexible approach to their role.
• Negotiation skills, particularly in working with senior managers, clinicians, academics and commercial life science partners.
• Excellent communication skills and able to work as a team player.
• Develop and deliver presentations and training.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to allow effective working with colleagues, partners and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Well-developed influencing and relationship management skills necessary for working effectively with internal and external stakeholders/partners.
• Ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and simplified manner.
• Ability to write and disseminate information in a clear and precise manner.
• Team player with the ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Able to work across professional team and organisational boundaries.
• Enthusiastic and proactive approach to work.
• Ability to work under pressure, within a dynamic environment.
• Evidence of dynamic, continuous personal and professional development.