Implementation Officer in Manchester

The HRA is a dynamic organisation, delivering excellent services through its committees, simplifying the health research process and championing research in the NHS. We hope that you are as enthused by our vision, our plans and our operations as we are. The HRA is a Non Departmental Public Body with the remit to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research. We do this by supporting and promoting a robust and efficient regulatory and governance framework in the UK. We provide the Research Ethics Service (RES), Confidentiality Advice function, assessments and assurances on behalf of the NHS, and learning, guidance and advice for the research community. Our ambition is to make the UK a great place to do research, where more money invested in research goes into carrying out relevant, good quality research.

Our purpose is to ensure that research involving NHS patients and members of the public is approved through a proportionate and robust system, that they are provided with the information they need to help them decide whether they wish to take part, and that their opportunity to do so is maximised by simplifying the processes by which high quality research is assessed. We have already delivered significant improvements by centralising and simplifying the approval of research in the NHS in England, and are undertaking a range of significant programmes to deliver further improvements.

The Approvals Service Directorate comprises distinct teams involved in the operational delivery of HRA Approval, including the Research Ethics Service in England and the Confidentiality Advice Team. It also incorporates the Technical Assurances, Approvals Support & Improvement and Coordination and Standardisation Teams. The Approvals Directorate teams work to deliver the UK-wide Research Ethics Service, aligned Four Nations operational policy and process and HRA involvement in government driven initiatives.

This post is critical in supporting the delivery of the HRA’s contribution to improvements and change in UK clinical research set-up and delivery. This supports the government’s pledge to cut the time it takes to get a clinical trial set up to 150 days or less. The aim is to help improve the set-up and delivery of clinical research and the experience of commercial sponsors and sites by reducing unnecessary duplication and facilitating increased consistency wherever possible.

The post holder will be working with the wider team to support the successful roll out, implementation and adoption of an enhanced Technical Assurances (TA) service. The post holder’s priority will be the administration of the process and engagement with the Technical Assurance reviewers to ensure a smooth and effective increase in registration of Technical Assurance reviewers whilst ensuring business continuity.

Main duties of the job

• Work with the Service Improvement Manager and Leads to register Pharmacy and Radiation professionals as reviewers across relevant NHS/HSC organisations, in line with existing requirements.
• Manage the end-to-end registration of new reviewers, following the defined process and escalating risks and issues.
• Support service improvement and redesign across Technical Assurance, Improvement, Operations and Coordination and Standardisation, implementing protocols to improve TA reviewer recruitment.
• Work with the Service Improvement Manager and Professional Experts ensuring they are connected to relevant meetings and national groups where potential reviewers will be identified to sign up to the reviewer pool.
• Log and respond to queries, liaising with relevant teams.
• Work with TA experts and approvals teams to resolve local recruitment issues.
• Support service improvement options appraisals by analysing complex data, comparing approaches, and outlining implications.
• Identify process risks and issues and report them to relevant leads to support improvement.
• Report rollout and progress against agreed deliverables to relevant managers.
• Provide verbal and written updates at HRA and UK-wide meetings, including guidance on registering as technical reviewers.

Working for our organisation

At the HRA, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive working environment where we actively invest in the development and empowerment of our staff, enabling them to perform at their best. We strive to promote a healthy workplace culture where wellbeing, collaboration, and professional growth are valued and encouraged.

Working at the HRA, we support flexible working, recognising that home based or hybrid arrangements provides us with the most productive environment to work well. Where possible, we’ll offer a working pattern that suits you. The HRA offers home based contracts for all locations. Newcastle, Manchester and Nottingham based staff can be office based and hybrid working arrangements are also possible. We encourage you to speak with us to explore how this could be accommodated.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

Important information

We are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement as we do not hold a sponsorship licence. Applications requiring sponsorship will not be considered. Applications that do not clearly demonstrate how the essential criteria outlined in the person specification are met will not be shortlisted. Only the information provided in the application form will be considered. CVs will not be reviewed. We do not accept applications via recruitment agencies or other third parties. The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.

Organisational structure and directorate overview

The HRA is made up of five directorates: Approvals, Chief Executive, Digital, Policy and Partnerships and Resources. This role is in the HRA Approvals Service directorate which consists of teams that work together, across the HRA and across the UK research landscape to provide the appropriate approvals for health and care research in England and, in some cases, across the UK, and to coordinate and standardise research regulation policy and practice across the UK.

This directorate issues HRA Approval, provides the research ethics service in England, supports the Confidentiality Advisory Group advising on the use of confidential patient information without consent; and coordinates technical assurances for pharmacy and radiation. We lead work to refine and maintain the systems and processes researchers need to follow to ensure a swift, robust and simple experience. We do this by working collaboratively with external partners and nearly 1000 committee volunteers to improve the research environment.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification or relevant portfolio of evidence/experience, with specialist knowledge of relevant procedures, demonstrating ability to work at this level in business or related fields.
• Commitment to maintaining and developing specialist knowledge through continuous professional development (CPD).
• Project management qualification or portfolio of evidence demonstrating project management experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Expertise

• Current knowledge of UK ecosystem for health and social care research including Technical Assurances, HRA Approval and site set up requirements.

Experience

• Experience of having developed and delivered training.

Interpersonal Skills

• Flexible working approach, willingness to travel to relevant meetings throughout the UK.

Knowledge, Skills and Expertise

• Ability to act with diplomacy and sensitivity, use negotiating and influencing skills, and an ability to work well and communicate orally and in written communication with others at all levels.

Experience

• Extensive experience of stakeholder engagement and management – including appropriate mode and pitch of communications at every stage.
• Significant delivery of change and ability to update effectively through reporting and verbal feedback/presentation.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills including ability to interpret feedback, use it in planning and prepare updates.

Interpersonal Skills

• Highly self‑motivated, confident, proactive, innovative, with ability to work independently and on own initiative. Adaptable to change with a commitment to team working and respect and consideration for the skills of others.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to communicate complex information in a diplomatic and effective manner.
• Excellent organisational skills.

Other

• Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity.

In return for your commitment, we offer excellent opportunities for personal development and a healthy work-life balance. The HRA is committed to promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality. We welcome and encourage applications, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity and gender expression, disability, race, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, sex or sexual orientation or any other personal circumstances. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can be made upon request, for candidates with a disability. The HRA welcomes applicants who are interested in flexible working including job share, part time work, secondments or home-based working. Please discuss any preferred flexibility at your interview.