Job summary
The NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) brings together world-leading research expertise and NIHR-funded infrastructure located in UK universities and NHS Trusts.
Phase 1 of the Mental Health Mission (MHM) is a £42.7m investment into MH research, which will be delivered via the MH-TRC.
The Clinical Trials Operations Lead will: identify barriers to recruiting to time and target in UK MH research trials; and, develop solutions to speed up trials.
This National role is based within the OH NHS FT R&D team, as part of the MHM central management team. It will work with all MHM workstreams and Demonstrator sites.
This is a new and developing role and whilst the duties described below reflect the current requirements, it is anticipated that the role holder will contribute to the development of the role to reflect the evolving needs of the MHM.
Main duties of the job
Working as part of MHM central management team, this role will work at the intersection between Universities, NHS Trusts, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Department of Health and Social Care. The post-holder will have strong communication and interpersonal skills to work with individuals at all levels to establish productive, collaborative working relationships.
The role requires working closely with:
- The MH-TRC leadership team.
- The MHM management team.
- The MHM Operational team including the Industry Working Group
- This role is complementary to, and will work closely with the Governance and Contracting lead.
- Academics and Clinical academics within the MHM workstreams and demonstrator sites.
- Other stakeholders including senior scientists and clinical academics working in mental health research from across the UK, charities, industry and other collaborators to the MHM.
About us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
The appointee will feel at ease juggling multiple tasks and tight deadlines within a high workload. They will be a proactive, self-motivated, flexible and enthusiastic team player who can work independently and as part of a team.
This is a senior post with real potential for national and international impact and would suit an ambitious and skilled individual who wants to join us in transforming mental health research.
The Clinical Trials Operations lead will be based in the Oxford Health NHS FT R&D team but is anticipated to work across multiple sites, both remotely and face-to-face as required. The post holder will report to Dr Vanessa Raymont, R&D Director Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, with a dotted line responsibility to the MH-TRC leadership team.
Responsibilities
- Working with the MHM central management team, the MHM workstreams, and the Birmingham and Liverpool demonstrator sites and MH-TRC, to lead on the alignment of and implementation measures to ensure trials (including industry trials) recruit to time and target.
- Gain a detailed understanding of the early phase translational/experimental medicine trial operations landscape, including barriers and opportunities within it
- Utilize UK coordinated MHM resources to speed up clinical and research trials and enable precision medicine and disease interception trials in mental health
- Co-ordinate across the MHM Work Streams and demonstrator sites, and related MH-TRC infrastructure to build clinical trial capability
- Key capacity building elements include:
- Identification of blocking staffing/capacity issues to overcome for the effective delivery of research and identification of the key skills that require recruitment/development such as lack of methodologists, clinical triallists, research nursing staff etc. for a sustainable workforce
- plans for training the workforce to achieve the required capacity and critical mass including research delivery staff and plans for developing attractive research career options
- Explore a decentralised trials approach to speed approvals for industry partners https://mdgroup.com/blog/why-decentralisation-is-the-future-of-clinical-trials/-and support optimal selection of clinical trials design.
- Distinct scoping work on trial design including regulatory and methodological perspective and identify pinch-points in the system and develop solutions, working with the OLS Dementia MHM to avoid any duplication of efforts. Support innovative trial design and delivery across the MHM rather than in single locations where appropriate.
- Work with NIHR Clinical Research Network Infrastructure to identify areas for streamlined processes and link early stage translation into the CRF network. Examine current regulators standard practice that needs to change to enable swift opening of studies and delivery of trials
- Use the learnings and outputs from the MHM to inform and support decision making within the NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure.
- Plan and lead the implementation of strategic initiatives in collaboration with the MHM team.
- Support the delivery of clinical studies across the MHM
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The appointee will feel at ease juggling multiple tasks and tight deadlines within a high workload. They will be a proactive, self-motivated, flexible and enthusiastic team player who can work independently and as part of a team.
This is a senior post with real potential for national and international impact and would suit an ambitious and skilled individual who wants to join us in transforming mental health research.
The Clinical Trials Operations lead will be based in the Oxford Health NHS FT R&D team but is anticipated to work across multiple sites, both remotely and face-to-face as required. The post holder will report to Dr Vanessa Raymont, R&D Director Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, with a dotted line responsibility to the MH-TRC leadership team.
Responsibilities
- Working with the MHM central management team, the MHM workstreams, and the Birmingham and Liverpool demonstrator sites and MH-TRC, to lead on the alignment of and implementation measures to ensure trials (including industry trials) recruit to time and target.
- Gain a detailed understanding of the early phase translational/experimental medicine trial operations landscape, including barriers and opportunities within it
- Utilize UK coordinated MHM resources to speed up clinical and research trials and enable precision medicine and disease interception trials in mental health
- Co-ordinate across the MHM Work Streams and demonstrator sites, and related MH-TRC infrastructure to build clinical trial capability
- Key capacity building elements include:
- Identification of blocking staffing/capacity issues to overcome for the effective delivery of research and identification of the key skills that require recruitment/development such as lack of methodologists, clinical triallists, research nursing staff etc. for a sustainable workforce
- plans for training the workforce to achieve the required capacity and critical mass including research delivery staff and plans for developing attractive research career options
- Explore a decentralised trials approach to speed approvals for industry partners https://mdgroup.com/blog/why-decentralisation-is-the-future-of-clinical-trials/-and support optimal selection of clinical trials design.
- Distinct scoping work on trial design including regulatory and methodological perspective and identify pinch-points in the system and develop solutions, working with the OLS Dementia MHM to avoid any duplication of efforts. Support innovative trial design and delivery across the MHM rather than in single locations where appropriate.
- Work with NIHR Clinical Research Network Infrastructure to identify areas for streamlined processes and link early stage translation into the CRF network. Examine current regulators standard practice that needs to change to enable swift opening of studies and delivery of trials
- Use the learnings and outputs from the MHM to inform and support decision making within the NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure.
- Plan and lead the implementation of strategic initiatives in collaboration with the MHM team.
- Support the delivery of clinical studies across the MHM
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications - Academic/Skills/Professional
Essential
- Hold a higher degree, or equivalent qualification, in a biomedical discipline.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrated ability to engage the NHS, academic, regulatory and industry stakeholders.
- Senior project management experience, with evidence of delivering project outputs.
- Proven experience of working at strategic level with academic research collaborations, commercial partners, and/or research funders.
- Understanding and experience of research study and clinical trials management within the NHS.
- Demonstrable and strong analytical skills.
Desirable
- Experience of working in either a higher education or research institution, a large research funder or a biomedical or other research active company in the private sector.
- Experience of strategic research management across large and complex organisations.
- Prior involvement with mental health research.
Further Training or Job Related Aptitude and Skills
Essential
- An excellent standard of written and communication skills.
- Excellent presentational skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, team working and networking skills with significant work experience at senior level.
- An ability to think strategically combined with a willingness to undertake small tasks.
- An ability to work with care and precision and with meticulous attention to detail.
- Self-motivated, resourceful and proactive.
Contractual Requirements
Essential
- Able to work across multiple sites to drive a national research collaboration.
Person Specification
Qualifications - Academic/Skills/Professional
Essential
- Hold a higher degree, or equivalent qualification, in a biomedical discipline.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrated ability to engage the NHS, academic, regulatory and industry stakeholders.
- Senior project management experience, with evidence of delivering project outputs.
- Proven experience of working at strategic level with academic research collaborations, commercial partners, and/or research funders.
- Understanding and experience of research study and clinical trials management within the NHS.
- Demonstrable and strong analytical skills.
Desirable
- Experience of working in either a higher education or research institution, a large research funder or a biomedical or other research active company in the private sector.
- Experience of strategic research management across large and complex organisations.
- Prior involvement with mental health research.
Further Training or Job Related Aptitude and Skills
Essential
- An excellent standard of written and communication skills.
- Excellent presentational skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, team working and networking skills with significant work experience at senior level.
- An ability to think strategically combined with a willingness to undertake small tasks.
- An ability to work with care and precision and with meticulous attention to detail.
- Self-motivated, resourceful and proactive.
Contractual Requirements
Essential
- Able to work across multiple sites to drive a national research collaboration.
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
