Job vacancy: CRDC Research Business Development Manager, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool

Job summary

Main area: Research and Development
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 382-R&D08-26

Employer: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Town: Blackpool
Salary: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 11/08/2026 23:59

CRDC Research Business Development Manager

NHS AfC: Band 7

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The CRDC Research Business Development Manager will support the development and delivery of the Trust’s commercial research strategy, leading on the coordination of the study feasibility process and supporting the Trust's designation as a Clinical Research and Delivery Centre (CRDC). The post holder will provide expert knowledge of the research environment, supporting investigators, industry partners, and research delivery teams to maximise site engagement and commercial study performance.

Key responsibilities include:

Managing and facilitating the clinical research feasibility process across the organisation.

Working with NIHR, life sciences industry partners, and contract research organisations (CROs) to coordinate study feasibility assessments and expressions of interest.

Identifying new research opportunities through horizon scanning and maintaining strong engagement with commercial sponsors.

Supporting the development and implementation of the commercial research strategy and reporting progress against key performance indicators (KPIs).

Maintaining accurate records and developing performance tracking systems for feasibility activity, capacity, recruitment delivery and site selection outcomes.

Liaising with investigators and departments to assess study capacity, capabilities, and challenges to delivery.

Providing oversight of study-related documentation, including non-disclosure agreements and feasibility questionnaires.

Offering troubleshooting support for studies facing recruitment or operational challenges.

Supervising administrative staff contributing to CRDC feasibility activity and research set-up.

Supporting the costing and financial oversight of commercial studies in collaboration with the JRMO finance team.

Representing the Research & Development Manager in external and internal meetings where appropriate.

Contributing to Trust-wide research performance monitoring and strategic growth through system-wide working across the Lancashire and South Cumbria region.

This is a pivotal role for an experienced research professional with excellent organisational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, and an in-depth understanding of the UK clinical research landscape.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential criteria

Degree level education or equivalent relevant experience

Desirable criteria

Relevant post graduate courses or equivalent professional development
ICH GCP training

Experience and Knowledge

Essential criteria

Extensive research management experience
Experience of R&D management processes including study setup process
Production and presentation of reports on key study metrics to senior staff
Data protection, confidentiality and Caldecott Guidelines.
Set up and delivery procedures for clinical research in the UK
NIHR and NHS’ research strategy and priorities
NIHR RRDN structure and process
Government’s vision for clinical research delivery in the UK
Research activity reporting requirements
Priorities and challenges of growing and delivering clinical research in the NHS.

Desirable criteria

Previous use of Research Management Software e.g. EDGE, CPMS, NIHR ODP
Marketing experience
Clinical research experience within the NHS
Clinical research operations experience in commercial life sciences industry
Line Management experience
ICH GCP and EU Clinical Trials Directive, Medicines for Human Use Regulations.
UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research
In-depth understanding of commercial contract research feasibility processes

Skills and Ability

Essential criteria

Proven organisational and time-management skills with the ability to think and plan creatively to manage, prioritise and deliver a range of tasks and projects to tight deadlines and in the face of competing demands.
Attention to detail and meticulous organisation and documentation skills.
Well-developed IT/computer skills- word procession, spreadsheets, relational databases and internet
Sound data manipulation, analytical and critical appraisal skills
Ability to analyse, interpret and utilise complex information for reporting, and planning purposes
Sound judgement in dealing with complex and sensitive issues
Able to adapt to change and a flexible approach to their role
Problem solving skills
Negotiation skills, particularly in working with senior managers, clinicians, academics and commercial life science partners
Excellent communication skills and able to work as a team player
Develop and deliver presentations and training
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to allow effective working with colleagues, partners and external stakeholders at all levels.
Well-developed influencing and relationship management skills necessary for working effectively with internal and external stakeholders/partners
Ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and simplified manner
Ability to write and disseminate information in a clear and precise manner.
Ability to write and disseminate information in a clear and precise manner.
Team player with the ability to work on own initiative
Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales
Able to work across professional team and organisational boundaries.
Enthusiastic and proactive approach to work.
Ability to work under pressure, within a dynamic environment.
Evidence of dynamic, continuous personal and professional development.
Willingness to work flexibly

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Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50.

You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.

Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.

DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.

The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.