Job Description

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to join our Research & Innovation (R&I) Division as Service Manager. This senior leadership role will provide strategic and operational oversight for the Research & Innovation Office, driving excellence in clinical research delivery across one of Europe's largest and most advanced cancer centres.



You will play a pivotal role in achieving our ambition to double the number of clinical trials by 2030 and meet national targets for clinical trial set-up, including the UK's 150-day benchmark. Working closely with our Divisional Manager and senior leadership team, you'll ensure our systems, processes, and people enable world-class research performance and a culture of innovation.



We're looking for an experienced NHS or NIHR research leader who can bring energy, vision and credibility to a highly skilled multidisciplinary team. You will have a proven record of improving research delivery, implementing digital transformation, managing complex stakeholder relationships and leading large teams through change.



This is an exciting opportunity to make a measurable impact on cancer research and patient outcomes, helping to shape the future of research delivery at The Christie and beyond.



You will lead the R&I Office, providing strategic direction and operational management of the Income & Costing Teams and Hosted Site Teams. The role involves:



Ensuring timely, efficient clinical trial set-up in line with national 150-day performance targets.

Leading the implementation of digital research systems including EDGE and electronic Trial Master File solutions.

Leading workforce development and service transformation initiatives to enhance capacity and capability.

Fostering collaboration across investigators, research teams, sponsors, and regional partners to deliver high-quality research.

Driving continuous improvement, innovation, and a culture of empowerment across the R&I Office.



You will represent the R&I Division at senior governance groups including the Executive Research & Innovation Group (ERIG), contributing to strategic priorities, policy implementation, and organisational performance.



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



Leadership and Management



Provides leadership and direction for departmental managers within Research and Innovation, ensuring clear communication of policy, business objectives and agreed targets.



To develop plans to implement the Trust's HR Strategies including the effective attraction, recruitment and retention of staff.



To generate a culture which promotes empowerment and ensures that decision-making is allocated to appropriate levels, allowing staff to feel they make a valuable contribution.



To engender an environment where all staff are constantly seeking to make service improvements and deliver to agreed individual and group targets.



Ensure staff have access to appropriate training, support, and development opportunities.



Foster and role model a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement.



Champion a culture of digital adoption and innovation across the R&I Office, ensuring teams are confident in using new systems and maximising the benefits of technology-enabled working.



To fully encourage and participate in organisational and management development activities designed to enhance R&I Office and individual capacity and capability.



Service Delivery



To participate in the strategic planning process within the R&I Office, R&I Division and our Trust.



To ensure teams within the R&I Office utilise available performance information to facilitate the monitoring of performance and opportunities for improvements, agreeing plans to improve service efficiency and quality, with a specific focus on 150-day national target for Set up of Clinical Trials.



To ensure the service area is kept up to date with legislative and policy changes and developments with specific reference to Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and Transforming the UK Clinical Research System (DHSC, 2025).



To be responsible for implementing service changes when required, ensuring effective implementation and management of agreed service changes with measurable outcomes and to agreed timescales.



Be part of the Executive Research and Innovation Group (ERIG) and other relevant governance groups within the Research and Innovation Division.



Ensures that regular reports including AAA report for the R&I Office are produced and submitted to ERIG.



Lead the digital transformation journey within R&I Office, embedding EDGE (Local Performance Management System) and an electronic Trial Master File solution. Ensure systems are fully optimised to deliver measurable improvements in trial set-up times and performance monitoring.



Develop and foster a collaborative working relationships with investigators and study teams, problem solving and using influencing skills to negotiate solutions, sometimes in difficult situations.



Be responsible for the maintenance and updating of R&I Office Business Continuity Plan on an annual basis.



Financial Management and Business Planning



Uses and analyses financial information systems to ensure robust systems for financial monitoring, forecasting of clinical trial income, budgetary performance, management of aged debt and appropriate distribution of commercial trial income across the Division.



Using contractually agreed performance indicators, monitor and oversee service provision of our external service providers in the delivery of Clinical Trials.



Takes responsibility for and manages service budgets.



Ensures that services work to achieve organisational effectiveness and deliver services within available resources.



Oversee, in conjunction with the Head of Finance R&I, the relevant external reporting of our financial performance to NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network and National Institute of Health Social Care Research.



Prepares robust business cases to enable services to remain financially stable and responsive to the demands placed upon them. Performs highly detailed and complex option appraisals to inform decision making process, to include redesign of services, capital projects.



In liaison with the Divisional Manager and the R&I Head of Financial Planning contributes to budget setting for all services within area of responsibility.



People Management



Lead, coach and manage the performance in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed



Foster a culture of collaboration and accountability within the team, ensuring high standards of service, responsiveness and advice to internal stakeholders and external collaborators.



Implement Trust strategy and policies for HR management including but not limited to recruitment & selection policy, discipline, grievance, performance appraisals and the adoption of flexible working practices that achieve a fair balance between the preferences of individual members of staff and the needs of the service.



Review skill mix at regular intervals to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation and operational resilience, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date



Promote the provision of professional development and education and ensure all roles within the R&I Office have access to training and education resources that meet regulatory requirements, skill mix development, career progression and succession planning requirements and are equipped to meet evolving standards/requirements/technology advances



Promote a culture where staff feel empowered to influence, engage and support quality improvement.



Communication



Communicates highly complex and sensitive information on compliance with performance targets, strategic objectives resources, staffing and service related information, with senior managers and directors within Trust and across other external organisations and agencies.



Presents Business cases to committees across the Trust as required as part of the Trust Business Case process.



Negotiates influences, persuades and reconciles conflicting views in a challenging environment in a manner that ensures corporate credibility and fosters effective and lasting relationships with colleagues, staff, patients and other stakeholders.



Develops and implements processes that support good communications within service areas and the division.



Ensures effective communications and engagement with other divisions within Trust, promoting the interests of the Research and Innovation Division using negotiating and influencing skills to ensure that services managed are considered in the planning and development processes of other clinical groups.



Undertakes presentations to staff groups and the public.



Professional Development



Maintaining and developing knowledge of national and local clinical and quality compliance and research governance initiatives.



Participate in the Trust's annual appraisal process and in conjunction with line manager identify and develop objectives.



Ensure annual development plan is met.



Ensure own professional knowledge is regularly updated and keep abreast of relevant developments, making effective use of learning opportunities and actively promoting the workplace as a learning environment.



Actively seek mentorship / supervision / coaching to enable reflection and own personal development within the role.