Job summary
- Main area
- Research and Development
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent: per annum
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 216-LT-CO7986894
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Research Office
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 Per Annum Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Junior Research Facilitator
NHS AfC: Band 3
Job overview
The Research & Development (R&D) Office oversees and supports the setup of all research projects undertaken within University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. From initial introduction and feasibility to study setup and close.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Junior Research Facilitator to join the R&D Operations Team, supporting the administrative processes involved in setting up and managing the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust portfolio of clinical trials.
Research Support Facilitators play a key role providing essential administrative support across a diverse and active research portfolio.
Consideration will be given where appropriate to a Band 2 trainee wishing to develop knowledge and experience of research pathways and processes within a large acute hospital setting, with progression to the Band 3 role upon completion of key competencies.
For further information and to know more about what is involved please contact:
Elinor Pegg
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01752 431977
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
The R&D office facilitates the management of all R&D projects within the Trust – from first conception, through approvals, to active recruitment, follow-up and finally trial closure and archive. At any one time, there are in excess of 500 active research projects on-going in the Trust, 60+ projects in set up at any one time and an archive of approximately 200+ completed projects.
The role of a Junior Research Support Facilitator is to provide administrative and data management support for all aspects of trial organisation, as an integrated member of the Research and Development Office.
The role is a very busy one, requiring excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise accordingly.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To act as a first point of contact for researchers, receiving queries by telephone, e-mail and in person with an ability to guide them clearly to the appropriate person for guidance through the complicated R&D application processes. Researchers may be very experienced or may be attempting their first forays into research - the ability to target and adapt communication style is therefore crucial.
- To become proficient in the use of our web-based electronic research database such as EDGE to enter, update and retrieve project information, to be able to use the web-based systems eg: NIHR operating data platform ODP .
- Liaise with and support investigators, research nurses, trial co-ordinators, Clinical Research Network, Staff, and external Clinical Research Associates to ensure full trial documentation sets are available and in place before authorisation of R&D Confirmation of Capacity and Capability. The completion of applications must be organised in a timely and efficient manner.
- Provide effective and timely communication with ethics committees, R&D offices, investigators and the multi-disciplinary teams, pharmaceutical companies and other research organisations such as the Universities.
- Liaise with the R&D Finance team to ensure that Clinical Trials Agreements are in place and the studies are fully costed before approval is given. Making the R&D Finance team aware of any potential study delays.
- To learn to identify the different types of R&D projects (Clinical Trial of an Investigational Medicinal Product [CTIMPs] and non-CTIMPs, device studies, genetics, Phase I, commercial and academic), in order to make appropriate and accurate judgements concerning their approval and governance requirements.
- To be aware of and deliver studies to national and local targets and timelines, whilst also being sensitive to the wider research environment and understanding the possible impact on a delivery team’s other commitments to research.
For further information please see attached job description
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NVQ level 3 in related subject, or equivalent demonstrable experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Excellent IT skills, using Microsoft Office and web-based databases.
- Good telephone skills
- Previous demonstrable experience in a similar role
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of medical terminology
- An understanding of medical research processes
- Demonstrable experience of working in an large clinical setting
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Elinor Pegg
- Job title
- R&D Operations Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 431977
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