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Job summary

Main area
Trial Manager
Grade
Band 7
Contract
12 months (This post is fixed-term for 12 months with an annual review subject to funding, until July 2029.)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
351-CS2763-CL
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Academic Research
Town
Preston
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Trial Manager

Band 7

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

•    Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
•    Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
•    Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and experienced Trial Manager to join the Research & Development team at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. This role offers the chance to lead the operational delivery of the Mouth Matters in Mental Health trial, a multi-centre, NIHR-funded study evaluating an innovative intervention to support people with serious mental health difficulties in accessing dental care.

We are seeking a motivated individual with a passion for clinical research and mental health equity. The post-holder will work closely with the Chief Investigator, site Principal Investigators, and Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre to manage all aspects of trial delivery, including team leadership, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and performance monitoring.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-impact trial that bridges mental and oral health, and to shape research that is co-produced with service users and community partners. The successful candidate will be supported by experienced clinical academics and will have access to excellent professional development opportunities.

This post is full-time and fixed-term for 12 months with an annual review subject to funding, until July 2029. The role is based at the Lantern Centre, Preston, with agile working across Lancashire and South Cumbria and other trial sites. 

Main duties of the job

The Trial Manager will support the management of the Mouth Matters in Mental Health Trial, a multicentre randomised controlled trial evaluating an intervention for helping people with serious mental health difficulties (e.g. psychosis, bipolar mood swings) to find and attend a dentist. The project will involve joint work across Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and Lancaster University. 

The postholder will be the responsible lead for supporting the Chief Investigator and site Principal Investigators in the management of the trial including line management of the trial team, preparing study monitoring reports for funders and regulatory bodies and day to day management of the trial, including performance and financial management. The Trial Manager will work closely with Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre (LCTC), all co-applicants, researchers, clinicians and patient and public involvement representatives, ensuring that the research is properly conducted according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the Research Governance Framework. 

The post should be attractive to people wishing to further a career in trial management, applied clinical research, and/or mental health research. The post-holder will receive supervision, support, and training from experienced clinical academics and there will be excellent opportunities for continuous professional development.  

 

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.


The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.


Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Masters in a relevant field or equivalent knowledge/ experience.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Extensive knowledge of the design, set-up, costing, management and delivery of clinical trials.
  • Understanding of clinical trial methodology and logistics.
  • In-depth working knowledge of research governance and good clinical practice.
  • GCP trained.
  • Excellent working knowledge of the major regulatory frameworks and governance guidelines relating to clinical trials.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of clinical trial management.
  • Experience of research in Mental Health.
  • Experience of research budget management.
  • Experience of chairing/facilitating meetings
  • Experience of people and performance management.

Skills and abilities

Essential criteria
  • Excellent organisational skills including the ability to prioritise workload and plan ahead.
  • Excellent interpersonal, management and leadership skills with ability to self-manage and work effectively as part of a team.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to communicate with tact and sensitivity with multi-disciplinary staff at all levels across different organisations.
  • Ability to present complex information in a concise and user-friendly way.
  • Negotiation skills and ability to gain confidence of wide range of professionals.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. You are therefore advised to consider applying for this vacancy as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Farah Lunat
Job title
Research Operations Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07790387718
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