Director of Operations - Research & Development

Go back Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation TrustDirector of Operations - Research & DevelopmentThe closing date is 29 August 2025The post holder is responsible for providing strategic and operational management and leadership for the Research & Development (R&D) portfolio of work across the organisation. As a key member of the Corporate team the post holder will liaise with and represent the Trust in external stakeholder forums to facilitate, promote and increase recruitment to research trials and take forward the Trust's research agenda.Main duties of the jobAs Director of Operations for Research & Development, the post holder will be responsible for developing strategy for Research & Development, ensuring implementation and that performance targets, strategic objectives are met. Working collaboratively with key partners, they will be responsible for compiling the Trust's business plan for R&D, ensuring this reflects the Trust's strategy for R&D, Improvement, Innovation and Clinical Outcomes (The 4Is Strategy) and fits with the organisation's overarching strategic aims. In partnership with speciality research leads, and the R&D Team (including R&D facilitators, data managers and finance), the post holder will ensure the management and administration of the relevant portfolio of research protocols is effective and efficient, complies with regulatory and quality standards and is delivered within agreed funding parameters. The post holder will work with speciality research groups to attain research key performance indicators.About usBirmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old.Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.Job responsibilitiesPlease refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.Person SpecificationQualificationsMaster's level specialist training in healthcare, research or management or equivalent experienceFormal leadership training/qualificationPHDKnowledge & Nature of ExperienceExtensive NHS experience in a management postProven track record of delivery against strategies and plansKnowledge of current local, regional, and national policy issues in quality (audit and effectiveness) and research and their governanceKnowledge of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research studies, including Good Clinical PracticeExperience of successfully managing in a large and complex multidisciplinary clinical organisationDemonstrable experience of the design, development and implementation of change managementDemonstrable experience of successful contract management.Experience of successfully managing teams and projectsDemonstrable experience in successfully improving team performance and meeting a range of key performance indicatorsExperience of preparing complex written bids and funding applications for research projects.Experience of developing commercial R&D proposals and increasing commercial income.Experience of working with Senior Clinical Staff, preferably in an academic medical centre.Previous experience of proposing and implementing departmental and Trust policies.Highly developed specialist knowledge within the fields of research management, underpinned by theory and experienceGood understanding of NHS R&D financial processes and proven experience of budget setting and management across a wide area of activity, including managing cost pressuresGood understanding of NHS R&D governance processes.Knowledge of the EU Clinical Trials Directive, Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information and other relevant legislation relating to dataDemonstrable ability to present and explain financial information that can be understood easily by nonfinancial managers.Ability to chair and contribute to all levels of meetingsExperience of managing innovation projectsAnalytical & Judgement SkillsAbility to plan, manage, adjust and deliver complex projects, involving multiple agencies and individuals and a broad range of activitiesAbility to plan and manage conflicting priorities to meet objectives and deadlinesAbility to analyse and interpret complex information, and ability to make good quality decisions based on the analysis of that informationAbility to analyse a range of highly complex management issues, to digest and interpret Department of Health policy/guidance/requirementsAnalytical Ability - proven analysis of business performance informationAble to use sound judgement in complex and sensitive situations within challenging timeframes, and communicate the outcome of such decisions appropriately.Demonstrable ability to analyse highly complex facts, interpret them and formulate a range of options on a variety of issues, including staffing.Professional/Managerial/Specialist KnowledgeCompetent in using database software for managing, analysing and presenting complex information.Comprehensive IT skills in Word, Excel, e-mail systems and Patient Administration systems.Experience in overseeing the implementation and maintenance of databases for research purposesEffective interpersonal, negotiating and influencing skillsHighly motivated, with the ability to influence and inspire othersPromote research through the TrustEngage with senior leaders across the trust to remove barriers to research and embed research across the whole organisationProvide colleagues across the organisation with expert advice around research set up and governance to actively engage and promote research at all levelsProactively develop relationships (at a senior level) with key external stakeholders such as RDN, BHP, topic research infrastructure networks, Universities, and other partner organisations to improve quality of research information and support positive performance relationships.Ability to formulate long term strategic plans, involving uncertainly, with consideration of their impact on the organisationEvidence of successfully managing service/organisational change and leading service improvement initiatives, including leading communications and changes where this may be contentious.Deliver the 4Is Strategy alongside the Director of Research and DevelopmentAbility to manage, review and continuously improve comprehensive research management information systems for the Trust that enables advanced monitoring of all research performance targets and standards. This process includes: . Assessing and judging highly complex information relating to financial, operational, and Trust performance against all aspects of the research management framework. Monitoring research trends and initiating detailed discussions with Research and Development Directors, Executive Directors, research management teams, principle investigators, academics and senior clinicians where variations occur. At a senior level, ensure rectification plans and improvement strategies are developed which achieve the standards and targets required. Working with Executive Directors, develop and refine research performance indicators which accurately and fairly reflect the intended strategic direction of the Trust and summarise the research performance of Trust services.Manage performance across the Trust's research portfolio in terms of recruitment targets and timescalesTo analyse highly complex information, investigate the causes of underperformance and initiate rectification plans.Prepare comprehensive briefing reports for Executive Directors, Research Advisory Groups, the Chief Executive and the Board of Directors, summarising research performance and highlighting exceptional areas where management action is required.Develop and maintain highly effective relationships with heads of departments in corporate functions including Informatics, HR, Finance, and Research Governance Teams. Ensure all relationships promote effectively the research agenda and ensure all data and regulatory requirements are understood and delivered.People Management/Leadership/Resources Experience in people management, including sound implementation of HR processesDemonstrable ability to effectively manage geographically dispersed teamsExperience of successfully managing budgets and Standard Financial Instructions (SFIs).In collaboration with the Lead Nurse Workforce lead an annual review of nursing and midwifery and associated roles within the Division so that new and expanded responsibilities are developed where appropriate and skill mix changes implemented as required, to ensure appropriate transformation of the workforce linked to local and national initiatives.As an experienced senior manager and drawing on knowledge and expertise be able to: . Provide professional advice to all staff within the division and as required outside of the Division . Act as a Mentor in a professional capacity . Provide guidance and emotional support to all staff with confidential issues/problems . Promote a culture of support and trust in order that all staff feel able to share confidential issues with the senior nursing team . Recognise and respond to individual staff needs using counselling skills and facilitating coping mechanisms when the need is apparent. Respond promptly at times of crisis/serious clinical incident to ensure that staff are fully supported throughout the immediate and post event period. Refer to appropriate outside agencies if appropriate to ensure continued supportResponsible for the recruitment, management, supervision, motivation, appraisal and development of staff within the Research and Development Team. Ensure all relevant employment policies are applied and ensure all team members have effective personal development and review sessions and that staff are provided with appropriate learning opportunities.Responsible for the budgetary management of the Research and Development Team.Take responsibility for own development needsPersonal Skills/Abilities and AttributesCommunication/Relationship skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with demonstrable ability to receive sensitive and provide complex information with ability to persuade motivate and negotiateAbility to undertake presentations to large groups of staff or members of the public presenting complex, sensitive or contentious information.Proven interpersonal skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisationsTo undertake regular horizon scanning and ensure that the consequences of any future local or national issues are known and any impact to research strategy is quantified, risk assessed, and action taken if necessary. To develop a personal and department network to ensure the Trust receives the latest and most sensitive intelligence in this regard. To report any significant issues or consequences as part of the monthly performance reports up to Board level.To ensure that Trust research procedures relating to clinical trials, including, but not restricted to, sponsorship, indemnity and contracts, are maintained and that these are subject to periodical audit.To ensure that all Trust clinical trials comply with procedures relating to the registration of clinical trialsTo ensure that information is available for the Board of Directors, Chief Executive, and other Executive Directors to be forewarned of organisational research performance issues/risks. This involves giving early warning of any potential areas of concern through systematic research performance review and monitoring ensuring that these are reported in an appropriate and timely mannerOther RequirementsThe post requires sitting at a computer/desk for lengthy periods.Ability to concentrate for long periods, and with frequent interruptionsAbility to travel to different sites across the Trust and to attend external meetings.Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-08-22