Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Research & Innovation Partnerships Manager (Band 7) to join our Research & Innovation Division.This is a key role within the R&I Operations directorate, supporting The Christie's research ambitions through strong external partnerships, strategic collaboration, and the development of new opportunities. You will work across R&I and the wider Trust to build relationships, develop initiatives and ensure our partnerships deliver meaningful benefits for research and patient care.We are looking for an enthusiastic, proactive, and self-motivated individual who can build trusted relationships and influence effectively at all levels. You will be confident working with senior internal and external stakeholders, manage complex and competing priorities when working at pace, and skilled at turning strategic objectives into practical outcomes.This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a tangible contribution to the growth and development of research at one of the UK's leading cancer centres.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will support the delivery of R&I strategic objectives through leading and supporting a range of strategic partnerships, projects, and initiatives across the Division, ensuring activity is delivered effectively and contributes to divisional priorities.Key responsibilities will include developing and maintaining strong relationships with pharmaceutical companies, charities, academic institutions, NHS organisations and other external stakeholders, coordinating partnership activity and events, and identifying and progressing new collaboration and funding opportunities.The post holder will also lead and contribute to service improvement projects, supporting the development and implementation of new approaches to modernise research services and processes. They will provide advice to colleagues, coordinate activity across teams, and monitor progress against agreed objectives, timelines and benefits.The role will contribute to strategic and operational reporting, including the analysis and presentation of research activity and performance information for internal and external audiences. The post holder will be expected to communicate complex and sensitive information clearly and confidently, and to represent R&I professionally with a wide range of stakeholders.The role requires a high degree of autonomy, strong judgement and the ability to manage multiple priorities while working collaboratively across the Division and wider Trust.

About us
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.You will be working in a friendly and supportive team which works closely with colleagues across the division and wider Trust. This role will be a great opportunity to support our growth as a centre of excellence in research.

Job responsibilities
Development of key relationships and communications initiatives
Set up, build and maintain partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, charities, other NHS sites, and academic institutions
Identify and develop key partnership networks
Promote research internally within the Trust and externally with pharmaceutical companies, charities, other NHS sites, and academic institutions
Develop and implement communications strategies on research developments in consultation with the Christie Research Communications Manager
Produce a range of media and communication materials appropriate to a variety of stakeholder groups
Responsible for the R&I content on The Christie intranet and internet relating to partnerships
Advise on, and when appropriate, ensure the implementation of new practice/developments within the Division and across the Trust which may have an impact on the effective and efficient delivery of research
Work, liaise and communicate with colleagues across the Trust to improve the quality of research and research services
Provide and receive complex and sensitive information to colleagues and vendors
Support timely contract negotiations by liaising closely with business development and research teams
Communicate highly complex strategic information to groups of people at a variety of levels
Project management
Identify, plan and implement service improvements to modernise research services and practices within the Trust
Lead on key research partnerships and collaborations, ensuring that business activities are delivered to target and meet agreed timelines
Plan and organise a broad range of complex research activities ensuring all are completed on schedule and adjustments are made for any issues that arise
Progress the activities of key research strategy themes
Facilitate the development of strategic plans for research and the creation of business plans to support research and research service developments inline with Trust's strategic objectives
Liaise with the Business Planning Team, the Sponsor and the Research Teams to facilitate prompt contract negotiations
Identify opportunities to develop and pilot new research projects
Ensure that all research services are delivered meeting agreed deadlines and objectives within a strategic framework set by the NHS and/or the Trust
General project management duties include:

• Facilitate key partnership meetings as required
• Provide information and advice on appropriate collaborations, targeting of applications, dissemination of data and clinical trial implementation
• Monitor timelines for study set up key stakeholders
• Plan and organise own work to ensure delivery of corporate and directorate aims and objectives

Events management
Organise research events on behalf of the division including workshops and symposia aimed at a range of different audiences
Host key partners such as pharmaceutical companies and charity representatives on tours of research facilities to raise the profile of the organisation
Arrange for appropriate personnel to take part in discussions with external organisations and stakeholders on local, regional and national committees
Management of key metrics for reporting purposes
Assist in ensuring that performance and other board/service reports on the Trust's research activities are produced in a timely manner for Division board, other performance committees and to external bodies as required
Collate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data for the Trust's annual reports such as academic publications, trials recruitment and research grant income
Assist in the development of new systems for streamlining operational reporting
Maintain databases and other records systems
Finance and research grant management
Regularly ensure all potential partnership funding opportunities are identified and disseminated to the appropriate staff within the Trust in a timely manner
Facilitate key grant applications to enhance the Trusts research income portfolio (i.e. provide medical writing support and collate business cases)
Support with ensuring that service contracts are in place with external service providers for the delivery of research services by the Trust
Development of operational processes
Regularly maintain a high level strategy for R&I within the Trust that meets local, regional and national priorities and requirements
Maintain a clear understanding of local, regional and national policies relevant to clinical research in the NHS and uphold the Trusts standards
Implement SOPs to improve working practices
Regularly ensure that systems are established for the organisation and management of research activities under coherent programmes and themes
Other key skills
Strong IT skills using various software packages including MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook
Good presentation skills to deliver information to a variety of audiences
Strong scientific background and knowledge of academic and industry research processes to understand and progress complex experimental ideas
Excellent time-management, attention to detail and medical/scientific writing skills to produce detailed accurate reports within tight timeframes
Continuing professional development
Undertake continuing personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job and satisfy the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework requirements relating to the job
Attend and participate in meetings and training courses as identified and/or agreed by the line manager and division
Develop core leadership skills with a view to providing future management to an expanding team
Freedom to Act
The post holder will be guided by precedent and clearly defined occupational policies, protocols, procedures or codes of conduct. Work will be managed, rather than supervised and results outcomes will be assessed at agreed intervals by the individuals the post is accountable to. Perform any other duties within the range of skills and abilities of the post holder, as required Work unsupervised and autonomously within the range of skills and abilities of the post holder, as required while adhering to the Trusts policies and procedures This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role and commensurate with the level and responsibilities of the post. Duties may be reviewed and amended from time to time in response to the changing needs and priorities of the service.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to postgraduate level

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification with significant research experience in a medical field (i.e. PhD)
• Project management qualification

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience working within a health, medical, clinical, or research environment
• Significant stakeholder engagement/management experience, including developing engagement plans, coordinating stakeholder events, and implementing stakeholder feedback
• Experience of working at pace in a dynamic environment
• Experience in project management, including planning, risk management, progress reporting, and benefits evaluation

Desirable

• Experience of developing and delivering research strategies
• Experience of having undertaken or managed clinical research / clinical trials in an NHS, academic, or commercial setting
• Experience of leading or supporting digital transformation projects
• Experience of line management of staff

Skills
Essential

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and accessible way to different audiences
• Able to handle difficult conversations and diffuse tensions with tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity
• Strong negotiation, persuasion, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Skilled in collating, analysing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-making and operational recommendations
• Produce well-drafted reports and papers for a variety of boards and committees
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals at different levels both within and outside the organisation
• Ability to effectively coordinate and plan multiple projects with conflicting and demanding deadlines, maintaining strong attention to detail

Desirable

• Ability to understand and interpret guidance and legislation
• Ability to use strong judgement in giving advice, assessing options, and managing stakeholders

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of national R&D/life sciences priorities and ambitions within a changing landscape, and an understanding of their implications for NHS organisations and research delivery
• Strong understanding of the NHS infrastructure, systems, and processes, and the role and delivery of research within the NHS
• Knowledge of external partnership organisational structures such as NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and CRUK Centres of Excellence

Desirable

• Understanding of clinical trial methodology and logistics
• Knowledge of clinical research funding structures
• Knowledge of a recognised project management methodology

Values
Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other
Essential

• Self-motivated, proactive, with ability to work independently and on own initiative
• Strong team player, adopting a collaborative approach towards supporting, and seeking support from, colleagues across teams
• Flexible and adaptable, able to prioritise a busy workload at pace
• Maintain confidentiality

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).