Job summary
- Main area
- Research and Innovation
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Fixed term: 2 years (Cross-site at Frimley, Wexham and Heatherwood)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 151-LC312
- Employer
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Frimley Park Hospital
- Town
- Frimley, Surrey
- Salary
- £55,877 - £62,626 per annum including HCP
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Lead Research Nurse
Band 8a
Job overview
Lead Research Nurse
Department: Research and Innovation (R&I)
An exciting opportunity to shape the future of clinical research at Frimley Health.
Are you a passionate and experienced registered nurse with a strong background in clinical research and leadership? Are you ready to take the next step in your career and make a real impact on patient outcomes and research excellence?
We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Lead Research Nurse to join our expanding Research and Innovation department at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. This cross-site leadership role is ideal for someone who thrives on challenge, champions best practice, and wants to play a key role in the continued growth and success of our research portfolio.
Working alongside a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals, you will help deliver high-quality clinical research across the Trust. You will be instrumental in driving forward our research strategy, leading and mentoring research staff, and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and innovative care to patients participating in research studies.
Main duties of the job
Working alongside a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals, you will help deliver high-quality clinical research across the Trust. You will be instrumental in driving forward our research strategy, leading and mentoring research staff, and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and innovative care to patients participating in research studies.
We welcome applications from experienced senior registered nurses who:
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Are confident leaders with proven management experience in a research setting.
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Possess excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
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Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and a commitment to quality improvement.
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Are passionate about research and its potential to transform care.
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Have a strong working knowledge of research governance and clinical trial delivery.
Working for our organisation
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.
Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.
We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Research Leadership
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Provide expert oversight and operational leadership of clinical research studies across a range of specialties.
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Lead the implementation of the Trust’s research strategy, including the Organisational Readiness Tool (SORT) and feasibility assessments.
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Offer specialist guidance in ICH-GCP, study design, set-up, recruitment, and delivery.
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Work collaboratively with the NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), commercial sponsors, and investigators to ensure research is viable, efficient, and patient-centred.
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Contribute to the development of SOPs, strategy documents, and business plans to shape the future of research at FHFT.
People & Performance Management
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Provide professional and compassionate leadership to senior research nurses and the wider research delivery team.
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Support recruitment, induction, training, and mentorship of research delivery staff.
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Promote digital innovation by encouraging use of research management tools such as EDGE and EPIC.
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Actively manage workforce performance, compliance, and development in line with Trust policies.
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Oversee study delivery and ensure compliance with national frameworks and Trust governance.
Education, Training & Engagement
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Lead and support continuous professional development for research staff.
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Work with the R&I training lead to implement tailored training plans and development pathways.
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Play an active role in increasing awareness and engagement in research across the Trust.
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Champion Patient, Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) initiatives.
Clinical Excellence
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Maintain a visible clinical presence across specialties, acting as a role model and expert practitioner.
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Support safe, effective delivery of clinical trials in accordance with NMC code and ICH-GCP principles.
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Deliver compassionate care to patients participating in trials, providing specialist support and information.
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Monitor patient safety, administer treatments, and manage trial protocols as needed.
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Ensure meticulous documentation and data quality in line with study and regulatory requirements.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NMC Registration
- Master’s level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
- ICH-GCP certification
Desirable criteria
- Managerial qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience as Research Nurse in the management of research teams at Band 7 or above
- Experience of commercial and academic research.
- Extensive knowledge of the requirements of the UK policy framework for health and social care research and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Comprehensive understanding of the research process
- Extensive experience of clinical research within various NHS settings and specialties
- Computer literacy (including all MS Office packages & Internet skills)
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience of audit, monitoring, quality and evaluation
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Swapna Thomas
- Job title
- Head of Research
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07584385489
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