Job vacancy: Research Facilitator, Velindre University NHS Trust, Cardiff

Job summary

Main area: Administration
Grade: Band 6
Contract: 42 months (FIXED TERM)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 120-AC809-0725

Employer: Velindre University NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Velindre Cancer Centre
Town: Cardiff
Salary: £37,898 - £45,637 pa
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 27/07/2025 23:59

Research Facilitator

Band 6

Thank you for your interest in working for Velindre University NHS Trust, which is a committed equal opportunities employer. The Trust welcomes applications from people who share our vision;

Velindre University NHS Trust will be recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a renowned organisation of excellence for patient and donor care, education and research.

our values;

Caring
Respectful
Accountable

and who will complement our current experienced and specialist employees who are passionate about working in a Trust that has the ambition to provide world class services and care to patient and donors.

Velindre University NHS Trust holds a special place at the heart of healthcare in Wales. It is also an amazing organisation to work and to develop your career. The Trust comprises of two divisions, Velindre Cancer Centre and Welsh Blood Service. The Trust also hosts on behalf of the Welsh Government and NHS Wales, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) and Health Technology Wales (HTW).

Velindre University NHS Trust provides our employees with a favourable salary and reward / staff benefits & support package.

For more information on this vacancy please contact the recruiting manager, who will be pleased to discuss their employment opportunity with you.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

The Trust also reserves the right to close a vacancy early or withdraw an advertisement at any stage of the process, to enable internal staff requiring to be redeployed in suitable roles.

Posts may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and Professional Registration Check.

For more information on our Trust Employee Reward and Benefit’s Package please visit the Velindre University NHS Trust website.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour - £24,638 per annum.

This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2025/26 is confirmed

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential criteria

Post graduate degree, or equivalent educational qualification, or minimum of two years NHS experience, or other work related knowledge or experience.
Possess previous experience within the NHS, or the field of health research, or clinical trials / research studies.
Evidence of having undertaken International Council for Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) training within the last 2 years, or willingness to complete ICH GCP training within two months of appointment.
Possess and demonstrate a detailed knowledge of, and / or experience in, the ethical, research governance, and regulatory / legislative requirements for the set-up, delivery and ongoing management of clinical trials / research studies and associated processes.
Possess a knowledge of clinical trial / research study methodology.
Excellent communication and computer skills, including the use of Microsoft Office software packages.

Desirable criteria

Relevant management qualification
Working knowledge of quality systems and processes essential to the development, preparation, and maintenance of policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and work instructions.
Graduate in a health science or clinical research qualification.
Possess knowledge of Wales Clinical Portal (WCP) / Welsh Patient Administration System (WPAS) databases.
Possess the ability to prepare / generate reports, posters, and presentations, preferably using Microsoft Office software.
Possess further education / qualification in IT or project management.

Experience

Essential criteria

Several years’ experience of working in the clinical trials / research environment.
Evidence of continuing development
Previous experience of research processes and methodologies
Experienced in working to the ethical, research governance, and regulatory / legislative requirements for the set-up, delivery and ongoing management of clinical trials / research studies and associated processes.
Experience of coordinating regulatory inspections
Experience of working with databases and using reporting tools
Experience of the project management of non-staff and staff resources
IT literate and capable of developing, maintaining, and reporting information from large and / or complex databases (e.g. Local Portfolio Management System [LPMS])
Successful introduction of project management methodologies and associated best practice to inexperienced teams and individuals.
Experience of working in complex and pressured environment with conflicting demands on time.
Experience of communication and engaging with diverse stakeholder groups.

Desirable criteria

Supervisory or line management experience.
Experience of reviewing research studies for ethical, financial, legal and data protection issues.
Understanding of medical and research terminology and concepts.
Experience of working within a Research & Development [R&D] support service environment.
Understanding of project budgets.

Skills and Attributes

Essential criteria

Innovative and adaptive skills for interpreting changes in the UK and European research regulations and legislation
Excellent computer skills for inputting data into and extracting information from databases.
Well-developed and proven organisational ability, with the ability to multi-task and to prioritise workload.
Proven application of decision making and analytical skills.
Excellent communication skills (written & oral), excellent presentation and people skills.
The ability to train individuals and groups of people with a range of skills.
Able to develop staff – setting objectives and appraisals.
Able to inform, negotiate and influence others.
Extensive knowledge of: o ICH Good Clinical Practice [GCP] o European Union Directives for Clinical Trials o UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research o The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations o The Human Tissue Act o UK General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] and Data Protection Act
A working knowledge of financial systems and budget management.
Knowledge of “the rules governing medicinal products in the European Union”: o Volume 9A – Guidelines on Pharmacovigilance for Medicinal Products for Human Use o Volume 10 – Clinical Trials
A good understanding of the NHS clinical environment.
Extensive knowledge of research governance.
The ability to demonstrate effective partnerships, working both within and outside of the organisation.

Desirable criteria

Experience of using Microsoft Office.
Proven ability to take the lead in development of processes / systems in a complex regulatory environment.
Knowledge of regulatory authority inspection systems and processes.
Demonstrable Team management skills.

Other

Desirable criteria

Welsh Speaker (Level 1) or willingness to work towards
Tactful and firm.
Enthusiastic, motivated, and reliable with an ability to motivate others.
Flexible approach to work.
Relates well to staff at all levels and capable of working in a team.
Good negotiator.
Willingness to participate in additional clinical governance activities.
Willingness to continue own development.
Willingness to travel throughout the UK.

It is essential that your application demonstrates how you meet the job description / person specification for this post.

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK. If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.