Job summary
- Main area
- Research
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- 2 years (Fixed term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 151-SF151
- Employer
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Frimley Park Hospital
- Town
- Frimley, Surrey
- Salary
- £59,798 - £67,020 per annum incl HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Research & Innovation Manager
Band 8a
Job overview
Shape the future of research and innovation across one of the NHS's leading research-active Trusts.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Research & Innovation (R&I) Manager to provide senior operational leadership for our Research & Innovation service. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of high-quality research, driving innovation, and ensuring excellence in research governance across our Trust.
Working closely with the Associate Medical Director for Research & Innovation, Head of Research & Innovation, Lead Research Nurse and Quality Assurance Manager, you will help deliver the Trust's research strategy, strengthen research infrastructure, and ensure compliance with national research standards and regulatory requirements.
Main duties of the job
As Research & Innovation Manager, you will provide operational leadership across a diverse and growing research portfolio, ensuring effective service delivery, robust governance arrangements, strong performance management, and continuous quality improvement.
You will:
- Lead the day-to-day management and development of the Research & Innovation service.
- Monitor and drive performance against NIHR and local research objectives and metrics.
- Provide expert advice on research governance, regulatory compliance and research approvals.
- Develop and implement policies, standard operating procedures and systems that support safe, efficient and compliant research delivery.
- Support inspection readiness and coordinate responses to external inspections and reviews.
- Lead on operational performance reporting, data quality and continuous service improvement.
- Contribute to workforce planning, staff development and the leadership of a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
- Support the financial sustainability of the research portfolio through effective costing, income management and resource planning.
Working for our organisation
Visa Sponsorship:
This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract.
Why Join Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust?
At Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, our people are at the heart of everything we do.
As a Disability Confident Employer and recipient of the Gold Award in the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme, we actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to build rewarding careers within the NHS.
We also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance. By supporting flexible working arrangements wherever possible, we enable our colleagues to balance their professional and personal commitments while continuing to deliver outstanding care to our patients. Whether flexibility means adjusted hours, part-time working, hybrid arrangements or alternative working patterns, we work in partnership with our staff to meet both individual and service needs.
Join Us
Whether you're at the start of your career or looking for your next challenge, Frimley Health offers the opportunity to be part of a inclusive, forward-thinking organisation that is committed to excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare and make a real difference to the lives of the communities we serve.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details on working for Frimley Health Foundation Trust
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Relevant university degree in Life Science or Clinical Sciences/ Health care related professional qualification or equivalent level.
- Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
- ICH-GCP Certification
Desirable criteria
- Project Management qualification
- PhD or equivalent professional experience
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience in a management role in either NHS or academic research environment.
- Extensive experience of research governance management in the NHS, academia or pharmaceutical industry.
- Extensive knowledge of research project lifecycle from set up to archiving
- Experience of working with research contracts and legal agreements, in particular the review, drafting and amendment of such agreements
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An excellent understanding and extensive experience of research governance and other relevant regulations relating to clinical research including, but not limited to, UK Framework for Health and Social Care research Human Tissue Act, ICH-GCP, Data Protection/GDPR, MHRA
- In depth knowledge of non-commercial funding and application processes for clinical research.
- An understanding of commercial research in the NHS and academia
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Swapna Thomas
- Job title
- Head of Research and Innovation
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07584385489
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