LHP SPARK Contracts Officer Band 7

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Reporting to the Head of LHP SPARK you will be responsible for:

The provision of expert contractual and legal advice to clinical, academic and professional services colleagues in the current LHP partner NHS and HEI Trusts.

Leading negotiations with external clients of the Trusts and HEI in order to resolve contractual issues in collaboration with relevant LHP members.

Drafting contracts to a high professional standard to support the provision of research or research related funding into LHP, LHP Trust and HEI organisations and LHP SPARK or the provision of services from the LHP organisations.

Play a key role in drafting template agreements and contracts for the use of LHP SPARK and LHP organisations and key stakeholders.

Supporting colleagues in drafting and reviewing appropriate legal documentation to identify and protect intellectual property rights in which the Trusts’ have an interest.

Working collaboratively across the NHS and HEI Trusts in line with any agreements, policies and procedures related to LHP.

Undertaking the development of policies and protocols geared towards service development and improvement.

The creation and maintenance of necessary databases in collaboration with the LHP SPARK team and LHP member organisations.

Act as facilitator to ensure LHP SPARK with LHP member organisations have a harmonised approach to contract negotiation and utilisation of LHP SPARK contract templates.

To have a thorough understanding of current regulations and guidelines in relation to clinical research. The post-holder will translate such knowledge to ensure all contracts involving LHP member organisations is undertaken in compliance with such regulatory requirements.

Ensure that LHP SPARK Standard operating procedure (SOP) are followed at all times and fit for purpose, in particular in relation to contracts. Where required, take the lead writing new LHP SPARK SOPs or associated documentation and highlighting any necessary amendments if and when they are required.

Undertake programmes of continual quality improvement to streamline the contracts process. Lead or participate in working groups / task and finish groups as required for the development of new or improved processes and systems related to research contracts.

Maintain effective systems for reporting compliance and ensuring these are escalated as required and followed-up and actioned accordingly

Undertaking presentations as required to represent LHP.

Working in close collaboration with the LHP SPARK Strategic Operations Manager, SPARK Pillar Leads, SPARK Team members and LHP member organisations to ensure correct contracts are in place for studies in set-up.

Provide data and produce reports relating to LHP SPARK research activity as required for team meetings and meetings within the LHP SPARK governance structure. Production of reports as required by LHP SPARK and LHP Trusts/HEI Organisations and LHP.

Ensuring Data Protection procedures are adhered to, and providing Data Protection documentation for researchers, to facilitate approval in compliance with the Data Protection Act.

Liaison with external commercial, non-commercial and academic partner organisations, particularly in relation to clinical trials.

The post holder may need to provide ad hoc contracts support for wider LHP departments in non-research contract negotiations (e.g. the 5 yearly renewal contract for LHP in kind funding support for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration NWC; collaboration agreements on strategic projects etc.).

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

Relevant experience of the wide range of contractual issues which arise between NHS Trusts, HEIs and external partners/stakeholders.

Ability to be pro-active and take the leading role in negotiations with local partners and external clients.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Demonstrable experience of working under pressure, to strict deadlines and managing competing priorities.

Knowledge and experience of issues relating to intellectual property.

Maintaining LHP SPARK office security.

MANAGERIAL / LEADERSHIP

Reports to and works under the direction of the Head of LHP SPARK and ensures LHP SPARK activity meets the requirements of national regulations and guidelines as well as LHP SPARK and member organisations policies and procedures.

An understanding of clinical research including issues on ethics, law, drug development and management in clinical issues.

An understanding of the Human Tissue Act.

An understanding of GDPR and Data Protection Act.

An understanding of Good Clinical Practice.

Be aware of the process for submissions to research ethics committees.

An awareness of the organisation and management of research in progress.

Good project management skills.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Provide specialist training to the LHP SPARK team on contracts as required.

Maintain own professional development through personal appraisal and a Personal Development Plan. To attend courses, research network meetings, conferences and study days in order to remain up to date with all relevant aspects of clinical research and legislation.

Manage team development needs and/or ability to meet work demands.

Encourage innovation and quality improvement from within the LHP SPARK team and apply ideas as appropriate. Post holder needs to be innovative in their own approach too in order to ensure continuous streamlined and efficient ways of working.

Support the development of the LHP wide OD programme.

To have essential computer skills for the handling and management of computerised data.

To be aware of relevant medical literature, developments in clinical research methodology, monitoring and local regulatory and ethical requirements.

To have an understanding to the relevance of research to health care delivery and to be aware of research problems with the speciality.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

Compliance with ICH GCP

Compliance with the GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 and the Computer Misuse Act 1990

Compliance with other Regulatory Requirements as required.

This job description is by no means exhaustive and is intended as a guide to the post holder. It may be altered in the light of working experience, at the discretion of, and in liaison with the LHP Director of Research and Infrastructure

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Negotiating commercial or business-related contracts in a clinical research setting.
• Negotiating and drafting research-related contracts in a NHS Trust-University context.
• Drafting commercial or business-related related contracts in a clinical research setting.
• Understanding of intellectual property issues that arise in a research context.

Desirable

• Negotiating and drafting licence agreements in support of exploitation of intellectual property.
• Understanding and knowledge of company formation agreements.
• Experience of working with Clinical Trials Units.
• Experience of working with Industry.
• Experience of the NHS, HEI cross working and contracts.

Qualifications

Essential

• Legal qualification and / or degree in a relevant subject or equivalent.
• Post graduate qualification or equivalent in relevant area of expertise.

Other

Essential

• Ability to be pro-active and take initiative.
• Attention to detail.
• Influencing skills.
• Organised, professional approach.
• Team player.

Desirable

• Political and commercial awareness in the context of working across a number of NHS Trusts in a collaborative setting.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent IT skills.

Desirable

• Understanding and knowledge of the patent process.
• Experience of working in a large and complex organisation.
• Understanding of the regulatory environment of clinical research from a national and international perspective.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Address

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Thomas Drive

Liverpool

Merseyside

L14 3PE

Employer's website

https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)