University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Senior Clinical Research Nurse

The closing date is 17 November 2026

Job summary
We are seeking a motivated Band 6 Registered Nurse to join our team within a highly successful and nationally recognised research department.

This exciting role offers the opportunity to work within the STRIVE team across a diverse portfolio of studies including vaccine trials, primary care research, diabetes, endocrinology, dermatology, immunology, infection and Genitourinary Medicine (GUM). You will play a key role in co-ordinating the immunology portfolio including the delivery of research that improves patient outcomes, advances clinical practice and contributes to the future of healthcare.

This post is offered at 1 WTE (37.5 hours per week), worked over five days at 7.5 hours per day. Flexibility will be required to support the needs of the research portfolio and participating specialties.

In return, you will have the opportunity to build your research career within one of the UK's most successful research environments, supported by an experienced department, a collaborative team culture and a commitment to professional growth and excellence.

Expected interview date to be Friday 20th November 2026.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Main duties of the job
As a Senior Clinical Research Nurse, you will work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues, investigators and external partners to deliver studies safely and effectively. Your responsibilities will include feasibility and managing a portfolio of research trials, supporting your team to identify and recruit participants, obtain informed consent, undertake clinical assessments and study procedures, collecting and processing samples, maintaining accurate study documentation and supporting participants throughout their research journey.

The University Hospitals Plymouth Research & Development department is based at Plymouth Science Park across two buildings. Potential candidates need to be aware that there are distances they will need to be able to cover between the buildings and the different research clinics based in the main hospital site.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 216-LT-CO21505755
Job locations: 17 Research Way Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BT, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Responsible for the operational delivery of the clinical research team work-plan within the relevant specialties
• Manage research performance within the relevant specialty in relation to team activities and study timelines.
• Collaborate with other Trusts and organisations within the region to improve research delivery.
• Keep up to date with research management issues through liaison with other Research Specialists /Team leaders and link with national networks.
• Act as line manager for junior members of the research staff as applicable (e.g. Research Nurse/Practitioner, Research Assistant Practitioner, Research HCA, and Research Administrator). This will include clinical supervision and mentorship to members of staff and students.
• Ensure all staff within sphere of responsibility have access to essential training and achieve 100% compliance.
• Be responsible for the deployment of HR policies including proactively managing sickness and performance in line with the Trust policy.
• Ensure the health, safety and security of the clinical research team within sphere of responsibility
• Lead in the recruitment of Research Nurses/Practitioners within the relevant team.
• Assist the Team Lead with the training and development of clinical research practitioners and administrators to ensure retention of staff and workforce development where possible.

For further information please see attached job description and person specification

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse or Healthcare Professional, currently registered with UK regulatory body NMC/HPC
• Demonstrable mentorship experience/ qualification
• Proven Management/ Demonstrable leadership experience or Qualification

Desirable

• Research methodology training; Higher degree/study of research design /methodology in clinical or social care setting or equivalent;
• Teaching qualification/ demonstrable experience;
• Research Training (e.g. GCP, degree module, or other including informed consent

Knowledge/Experience
Essential

• Knowledge of the Research Governance Framework and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Pertinent clinical skills IT skills including proven ability to work with databases
• Proven ability to organise and prioritise own workload and work to tight deadlines
• Proven ability to make independent decisions
• Critical appraisal skills
• Broad and recent demonstrable clinical experience relevant to the post Proven demonstrable experience of managing teams.

Desirable

• Good leadership skills and proven managerial ability
• Demonstrable Line Management experience within the NHS Demonstrable experience of delivering commercial and academic research
• Demonstrable experience of clinical research within the NHS setting
• Proven record of meeting participant recruitment targets In depth knowledge of clinical trials & research methodologies
• In-depth knowledge of data collection and data entry for clinical trials

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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. 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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Research Nurse Specialist - STRIVE Team Lead, Eden Wildman, eden.wildman@nhs.net, 01752432849

Apply via the company portal