We’re looking for an experienced and motivated leader to join us as our Research & Innovation Operations Manager . This is a key role for our Trust—ensuring our research activity runs effectively day to day, while also supporting the continued growth, development and reach of research across our patient population.
You’ll work closely with our Clinical Research Nurse Manager and Clinical Research Development Lead , overseeing the full research pathway from study set-up and delivery through to the development of new, locally led and commercial research opportunities.
You will play a central role in coordinating activity across governance, delivery and support functions, ensuring high-quality, compliant research delivery while maximising opportunities for patients to access research studies.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and strengthen a high-performing research service and make a real difference to patient care through research.
You’ll lead the operational running of our Research & Innovation service, ensuring studies are set up efficiently, deliver to target, and meet the standards expected of a high-performing organisation.
Alongside this, you’ll play a key role in growing our research portfolio—supporting the development of new studies, strengthening locally led research, and expanding our commercial activity.
In practice, this includes:
Leading the Research Support Office and day-to-day operational delivery of the service
Working with clinical teams to ensure studies are set up efficiently and recruit to time and target
Partnering with the Clinical Research Development Lead to develop and deliver locally led, grant-funded research
Supporting growth in the Trust’s commercial research portfolio
Overseeing governance, finance, contracts and performance across the research portfolio
Working with NIHR and external partners to maximise research opportunities
Driving continuous service improvement and building a strong, high-performing team
Working for our organisation
You’ll bring experience of working in research or R&D at a senior level, along with a strong understanding of how research operates within the NHS—across both delivery and development.
Just as important is how you work. We’re looking for someone who:
Builds strong relationships and works effectively in partnership
Can lead operationally while maintaining a clear strategic perspective
Is confident managing complexity and driving continuous improvement
Is motivated by increasing access to research for patients and staff
Why this role matters
We’re ambitious about research at ELHT. We want more patients to have the opportunity to take part, more staff to get involved, and more studies led from within the Trust.
We are also strengthening our position as a high-performing research organisation—growing both our commercial and locally led portfolio, and building towards a more ambitious future for research.
This role is central to that ambition, providing the operational leadership needed to deliver, develop and sustain research at scale.
The Research and Innovation Operations Manager provides operational leadership for the Trust’s research service, overseeing governance, study set-up, delivery, performance and income recovery. The role is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, coordinating research activity across clinical and support services, and maintaining a balanced and deliverable portfolio of commercial and non-commercial studies.
The post-holder leads the Research Support Office, manages workforce capacity and performance, and works collaboratively with clinical and research leads to maximise study delivery, recruitment and income. The role also has oversight of research finance, ensuring robust cost recovery and financial management, and contributes to service improvement, partnerships and strategic development of research across the Trust.
