Senior Research Nurse in Northampton

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Senior Research Nurse to lead and support the delivery of commercially funded clinical research within our organisation. Northampton General Hospital is a spoke of the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC). CRDCs were established in 2025 to enhance the UK's position in the global clinical research landscape.

The main objectives of CRDCs are to increase participation and retention into commercial trials, to enhance the speed and efficiency of commercial research set up and delivery and to increase inclusion in research by enabling delivery in community settings and ensuring all communities have access to research opportunities.This role will be instrumental in driving research growth and performance within the Trust, while building on and strengthening collaboration with CRDC partners to enhance patient access to research and promote greater inclusivity.

You will have good organisational and communication skills, have proven experience of working in the field of clinical research, a team orientated approach and the ability to plan and undertake work in an accurate, methodical and efficient manner. A good eye for detail is essential, as are excellent administrative and IT skills, alongside excellent clinical skills.

We would welcome an informal visit prior to interview.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Research Nurse (B6) is expected to support the management and leadership of the research nurse team and administrative staff within the research team. They will have knowledge and understanding of the regulatory and legal frameworks related to the planning, undertaking and closure of clinical research studies, including Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products and therefore acts as a resource for staff, researchers, research participants and patients.

They will take a lead in ensuring the safe and effective delivery of a designated number of clinical research studies and contribute to maximising patient recruitment to those studies.

About us

Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Job responsibilities

Unit Management

Manage a designated number of research studies

Maintain a safe environment, for patients, staff and visitors, ensuring that all control measures comply with NGH current policies and procedures, and any statutory requirements, including all Health and Safety and Clinical Governance arrangements

Use judgement in relation to competing demands for funding, staff and teamresources

Contribute to the control of the research unit budget ensuring that adequatemeasures exist for delivery of the research studies

Respond to change in line with the needs of service provision

Responsible for the development and updating of teams policies and procedures

Ensure that all record keeping within the department is appropriate, timely and clearly understood for the purpose of patient care, safety and data integrity

Education

• Identify own learning needs and proactively seek educational opportunities to fulfil them
• Develop skills in accordance with the NIHR CRN Competency Framework for research delivery staff appropriate to the Band 6 role

Strategic Role

Be a champion of clinical research

Support and influence the embedding of clinical research within the Trust

Foster good relationships with key division research leads / support departments /Institutes and partners to promote the efficient running of clinical trials and develop the Trust research portfolio

Contribute to the development and updating of research policies and procedures within NGH

Take an active role in the activities of professional forums and networks

Disseminate the results of research into clinical nursing practice

Staff Management

Maintain standards of practice in accordance with the legal rules and statutory regulations set out by the NMC or appropriate professional body

Support the professional and educational development of research teams nursing,allied health professional and administrative staff, assisting in identifying needs and finding solutions

Support the training and ensure the appropriate supervision of research teams staff, contributing to their mentorship and monitoring

Line manage research nurses and A&C staff within the team as and when agreed

Assist with the recruitment, selection, induction and orientation for new research nursing, allied health professional and administrative staff

Facilitate the team working effectively and cohesively together, developing the relevant clinical skills, delivering studies to time and target

Provide day to day management of the research team in the absence of the Clinical Research Managers, ensuring all staff and activities comply with trust policies and guidelines

To act as a role model in establishing good practice and establishing standards of care and management that should be adhered to 24hrs a day

Responsible for effective communication within the nursing teams ensuring that all members are well briefed on key departmental and corporate issues

Promote an approach to patients focussed on care and compassion, ensuring courtesy and respect at all times

Ensure that standard operating procedures are followed by all members of the research team

Instigate and oversee Quality Improvement projects in Research & Innovation

Study Set Up

Ensure all elements of set up are completed in accordance with UK and EU legal requirements, Trust policies and ICH-GCP or IS0 14155, as appropriate, whether conducted personally or through appropriate delegation

Signpost to advice and guidance on matters relating to research ethics and governance and in preparing submissions for regulatory and trust approval.

Have a detailed knowledge and understanding of research design and methodology

Contribute to the assessment of study protocols and advise on any safety, regulatory and logistical issues

Provide oversight for the set-up of a designated number of research studies within the team, acting as point of contact for R&I in the feasibility process

Project manage study set up with colleagues from around the Trust (support departments, finance etc.) and within the University of Northampton

Study Conduct

Support local Principal Investigators in meeting their responsibilities outlined in regulatory and legal frameworks

Support colleagues and researchers through the research study process, including the delivery of clinical aspects associated with the research study

Ensure that processes and procedures for ensuring participant confidentiality are developed and adhered to in compliance with the Data Protection Act and Caldicott regulations.

Identify & screen appropriate study participants, in accordance with the protocol, & in conjunction with other members of the clinical & research teams

Receive informed consent for designated research studies as agreed within the protocol

Provide knowledge and demonstrate accurate attention to detail in documentationtasks, to include:

o CRF completion

Contribute to the auditing and monitoring of research studies; respond to recommendations ensuring outcomes are shared within the division and wider UHN research community as appropriate.

Act as a resource to PIs in ensuring all Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events are reported in line with ICH-GCP, ISO 14155 and UHN Adverse Events Reporting policy

Where appropriate, liaise with the R&I department in identifying any barriers to recruitment and the running of the study; support the study team in developing strategies to mitigate them

Support the study team in ensuring all reporting to regulatory bodies, R&I and Research Networks (if applicable) is completed in a timely manner

Support the study team to ensure that all equipment used is appropriately checked and calibrated with supporting documentation retained

Liaise with Sponsors to ensure all arrangements for research governance for each study are in place

Study End

Ensure all data clarification issues are resolved quickly

Manage the archiving of study related documentation in line with the Trial Agreement and ICH-GCP / Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations/ISO 14155 as appropriate.

Where appropriate, ensure a smooth transition from the research pathway back to the conventional treatment pathway

Person Specification

Educations, Training and Qualifications

• Educated to Postgraduate level (or by equivalent experience) in Nursing, Science or Health related discipline level or equivalent level of education, training or experience.
• Registered Nurse level 1 (Adult) with current NMC registration
• ICH GCP training
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Teaching qualification

Knowledge and Experience

• Broad knowledge and experience of clinical nursing practice within an acute hospital environment
• Knowledge of the regulatory and legal frameworks related to undertaking clinical research
• Clinical, organizational and management experience
• Knowledge of Data Protection Act 1984 and Caldicott principles
• Knowledge of research design and methodology

Skills

• Broad range of clinical nursing skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Evidence of good teamwork skills
• Budgetary and resource management skills
• Good report writing, a focus on accuracy and meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise ensuring effective and efficient workload completion
• Ability to work flexibly according to role need
• Enthusiasm for and desire to embed research within clinical practice

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£39,959 to £48,117 a yearpro rata per annum