Job Description

Position Details

Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health


Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK


Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36,130 to 45,413 with potential progression once in post to 48,149


Grade: 7


Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2028


Closing date: 29th June 2025


UK and International travel may be required for this role.

'Open House' Drop In Session:

We will be holding an 'open house' drop in session at the University's Exchange building, in Centenary Square, Birmingham, between 10am and 5pm on Friday 6th June 2025. If you're interested in working at the University of Birmingham and perhaps have a few questions, this is an opportunity to meet colleagues in the Recruitment team. It will be a relaxed and informal event - you can drop in at any time.

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.


The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.


We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.


We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.


Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.


The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.


Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Role Summary

The key responsibility of the Senior Monitor is to ensure appropriate on-site monitoring of the CRCTU trials portfolio (covering both adult and paediatric phase I-IV trials) is performed throughout the UK and other countries, thereby ensuring that a trial is run following the trial protocol and in accordance with current regulatory, ethical and quality standards. This will include overseeing the day-to-day management of a team of Monitors. The Senior Monitor is also actively involved in setting up and managing the monitoring of international trials to the appropriate quality standards.

Main Duties

Manage CRCTU's portfolio of trials with respect to on-site monitoring; maintain oversight of trials in development to allow for workload forecast, provide costings for on-site monitoring at the grant proposal stage and ensure Quality Management Plans (QMPs), covering the degree of on-site monitoring scheduled for a trial) are appropriately set up and are followed within the Quality Management Team throughout the duration of the trials. Manage the monitoring of international trials where the CRCTU has taken on the Sponsor duty for overseeing monitoring. For this, the post holder will have specialist knowledge in the field of monitoring, including international quality standards relating to monitoring. During trial set up and throughout the trial, assess abilities of the coordinating centres based outside the UK (national coordinating centres) with regards to in-house and on-site monitoring, identify discrepancies against the CRCTU Quality Management System (QMS) and ensure discrepancies are dealt with, e.g. by developing and providing national coordinating centres with relevant tools/processes to ensure quality standards are of same level across all participating countries. Provide ongoing training on on-site monitoring procedures to national coordinating centre staff. Review on-site monitoring visit reports, and action on any issues that have not been dealt with appropriately by the national coordinating centre. Feedback to the CRCTU Trial Management Team and other stakeholders with regards to performance of the national coordinating centres. Managerial responsibility for junior staff (Monitors) with respect to day-to-day management, motivation and support of the staff, including supervision, work allocation, problem solving (this will require a full understanding of the CRCTU monitoring procedures in order to provide clarification to other staff) and monitoring performance. Recruit, train and take responsibility for the Monitors. Provide feedback to Team Leader with regards to planning projects across the Monitors, taking into account workload, abilities and personal development of individual Monitors. Focussing on the complex trials and/or trial sites, prepare, perform and follow up on on-site monitoring visits following the CRCTU Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to assess patient recruitment and compliance with trial procedures and the quality and timelines of the data collection. Identify issues (e.g. protocol or Good Clinical Practice (GCP) non-compliance) and suggest corrective action to site personnel. Prepare formal reports detailing issues and actions to be taken. Contribute in the assessment of suspected major and/or critical findings or serious breaches of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and/or protocol and assist, and when required take a lead, in reporting serious breaches to the MHRA. Liaise with members of the Trial Management Group to share any recurrent trial related errors and issues and suggest ways of dealing with any issues raised at sites. Assist in set-up and initiation of trials and participating sites, including review of trial specific documents, including protocol and Case Report Form, performing initiation assessments and providing on-site training where required on trial procedures and completion of trial documents. Periodically conduct monitor visits alongside the Monitors to review their progress/training needs or where additional experience is needed. Contribute to the development of monitoring strategies and their implementation in the CRCTU. Collaborate on relevant projects with colleagues outside the CRCTU (e.g. within the University of Birmingham, CR UK or other UK Clinical Trials Units). Ensure that new skills, knowledge and best practice are disseminated appropriately internally and externally. This will involve presentations, working group membership and provision of training. Provide expert in-house up to date answers to day-to-day queries from CRCTU staff members regarding trial quality management, in-house and on-site monitoring and provide cover for the Quality Assurance Manager. Be able to use own initiative to solve trial quality management and staffing problems. In relation to monitoring the post holder would be expected to review procedures, taking action in amending any procedures that are no longer fit for purpose, recommending, developing and implementing new procedures, and training all staff in new procedures. To be responsible for future evaluations and validation processes. Be proactive in further developing ways to improve the quality of trials. Report frequently occurring issues related to regulations, ethics and quality standards to Trial Coordinators, the Quality Assurance Manager and other senior staff (as appropriate), and suggest ways of dealing with the issues. Identify and report any major or critical findings or suspicion of fraud or misbehaviour as per CRCTU procedures. Responsible for keeping abreast with current legal requirements, internationally accepted standards and developments in the professional field. Undertake training as required for the post, at the discretion of the Quality Assurance Manager. Help to further develop and maintain the CRCTU QMS by being a member of appropriate SOP Writing/Review Groups, performing training on relevant SOPs and related documents. Assist the Quality Assurance Manager (where required) to prepare formal reports on audits and inspections (e.g. MHRA inspection dossier, CR UK Progress reports). Conduct audit checks following pre-defined audit plans and as per CRCTU SOPs to assess CRCTU staff's adherence to regulations and CRCTU SOPs, prepare reports and provide feedback to the relevant CRCTU staff. Any other duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Maintain confidentiality. Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture. Support the delivery of clinical research in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the Declaration of Helsinki, applicable legislation (including, but not limited to, the Medicines for Human Use Clinical Trials Regulations, Data Protection Act 1998, Human Tissue Act), the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, Caldicott principals, and applicable NHS Trust and University policies and procedures, (including, but not limited to the University's Data Protection Policy, Information Security Policy and Code of Practice for Research) in order to protect the research subject and the quality of each study.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

Knowledge and Skills

Proven knowledge of the international guidelines that govern clinical trials specifically with regard to monitoring. Effective communication, negotiation, presentation, time management and interpersonal skills. Ability to meet the travel needs of the post in the UK and further afield on occasion. Overnight stays between visits are required sporadically (2-3 times per year) and on occasion trips may include longer stays (up to 4 nights, Monday-Friday only). Ability to work on own initiative and problem solve. Capable of taking own decisions to organise the work of a professional team under management guidance. Demonstrate a critical and intelligent attention to detail and high standards of accuracy. Proven ability to work to strict deadlines. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team. Office management and clerical skills that include excellent word processing and document layout. Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Qualifications and Experience

A higher degree in a relevant biomedical or associated subject or a graduate with extensive experience within a clinical trial environment. Experience of in-house and on-site monitoring of clinical trials. Previous experience of audit would be an advantage. Experience supervising staff members.

Further particulars can be found here


Informal enquiries to Charlotte Chapman, email: c.d.chapman@bham.ac.uk


View our staff values and behaviours here

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone

on our website

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