Go back Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research Facilitator
The closing date is 21 June 2026
The post holder will support the Clinical Director of R&D, Associate Director of R&D and R&D Governance Manager in delivering high-quality research activity across Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in line with national standards and regulatory requirements.
The role involves supporting the set-up and governance of research studies, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, research governance requirements, contractual obligations, ICH-GCP, the HRA approval process and the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research. This includes detailed review and tracking of study documentation through to confirmation that studies are ready to open.
The post holder will work closely with internal and external stakeholders including investigators, sponsors, research nurses, trial coordinators, clinicians and support services to facilitate timely and effective study set up and delivery. They will maintain accurate records of trust-wide research activity using agreed systems, prepare reports for the R&D management team, and support performance monitoring across clinical divisions and departments.
The post holder will also provide advice and guidance to researchers within the Trust and contribute to the wider work of the R&D Office, including sponsored research oversight, commercial partnerships, research strategy, study set up and research archiving.
Main duties of the job
Together with the Associate Director of R&D and R&D Governance Manager, be responsible for the delivering of the divisional R&D targets
Facilitate the research confirmation process and be responsible for obtaining required authorisations on behalf of researchers
Ensure studies run within the division are on time and to target
Assist with feasibility assessments and costing research
Job responsibilities
Study Management
Project identification and feasibility
- Identify NIHR Portfolio studies suitable for Trust participation and support identification of Principal Investigators.
- Work with clinicians to assess interest, scope, and barriers to participation.
- Lead feasibility assessments with external partners (NIHR, commercial, networks).
- Determine resource and staffing requirements and coordinate solutions across the Trust.
- Provide advice on funding, training, portfolio adoption, approvals, and systems (e.g. IRAS, EDGE).
Study Set up
- Support efficient study set up from expression of interest through to site opening.
- Ensure all studies are registered, documented, and compliant with Trust policy, HRA, ethical and legal requirements.
- Promote new study opportunities and support feasibility assessment.
- Coordinate approvals and amendments, including:
- Local feasibility review
- Contract and budget negotiation
- Compliance with legislation
- Assessment of research team capability
- Coordination with support services (pharmacy, pathology, radiology)
- Issuing Letters of Access/Honorary Contracts
- Maintain communication with researchers on study status.
- Liaise with R&D leadership to ensure workforce capacity for new and amended studies.
Study Support
- Support prioritisation and workload management to maintain timelines.
- Maintain EDGE as the central system for study tracking and activity recording.
- Monitor study progress, documentation, and set up workflows.
- Support recruitment initiatives within clinical departments.
- Collect and report recruitment data for internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide ongoing governance and reporting support to study teams.
- Facilitate MHRA inspections, including preparation, coordination, and follow up.
Person Specification Qualifications
- Educated to degree or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through any combination of alternative study, employment or voluntary work
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training within the last 2 years
- Experience of critical appraisal of research evidence/evidence based medicine
Knowledge
- An understanding of the systems and processes which are used to support the delivery of high quality clinical care
- An understanding of R&D issues in the NHS
- Understanding of governance and quality assurance systems to ensure safe systems for patients
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Personal research experience
- Commercial research experience
- Previous experience in using IRAS database for R&D applications
Skills
- Enthusiastic, resolute and flexible approach to work
- Extensive IT and IS skills including Microsoft Office
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to communicate with different professions, both internal and external
- Excellent presentation skills
- Critical appraisal and analytical skills for interpreting qualitative and quantitative information
- A high level of numeracy with the ability to interpret statistical and epidemiological data
- Knowledge of EDGE/ IRAS
- Experience of internet research
- Experience of delivering training
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.
Employer name
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum pro rata