Research Partnership Manager: Sponsorship Available

The Christie NHS FT

Job summary

Research Partnership ManagerPlease note that this role is hybrid working, with an expected 2 days on site.We have an exciting opportunity for a Research & Innovation Partnerships Manager (Band 7) to join our Research & Innovation Division.This is a key role within the R&I Operations directorate, supporting The Christie’s research ambitions through strong external partnerships, strategic collaboration, and the development of new opportunities. You will work across R&I and the wider Trust to build relationships, develop initiatives and ensure our partnerships deliver meaningful benefits for research and patient care.We are looking for an enthusiastic, proactive, and self-motivated individual who can build trusted relationships and influence effectively at all levels. You will be confident working with senior internal and external stakeholders, manage complex and competing priorities when working at pace, and skilled at turning strategic objectives into practical outcomes.This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a tangible contribution to the growth and development of research at one of the UK’s leading cancer centres.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support the delivery of R&I strategic objectives through leading and supporting a range of strategic partnerships, projects, and initiatives across the Division, ensuring activity is delivered effectively and contributes to divisional priorities.Key responsibilities will include developing and maintaining strong relationships with pharmaceutical companies, charities, academic institutions, NHS organisations and other external stakeholders, coordinating partnership activity and events, and identifying and progressing new collaboration and funding opportunities.The post holder will also lead and contribute to service improvement projects, supporting the development and implementation of new approaches to modernise research services and processes. They will provide advice to colleagues, coordinate activity across teams, and monitor progress against agreed objectives, timelines and benefits.The role will contribute to strategic and operational reporting, including the analysis and presentation of research activity and performance information for internal and external audiences. The post holder will be expected to communicate complex and sensitive information clearly and confidently, and to represent R&I professionally with a wide range of stakeholders.The role requires a high degree of autonomy, strong judgement and the ability to manage multiple priorities while working collaboratively across the Division and wider Trust.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to postgraduate level

Desirable

  • Postgraduate qualification with significant research experience in a medical field (i.e. PhD)
  • Project management qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience working within a health, medical, clinical, or research environment
  • Significant stakeholder engagement/management experience, including developing engagement plans, coordinating stakeholder events, and implementing stakeholder feedback
  • Experience of working at pace in a dynamic environment
  • Experience in project management, including planning, risk management, progress reporting, and benefits evaluation

Desirable

  • Experience of developing and delivering research strategies
  • Experience of having undertaken or managed clinical research / clinical trials in an NHS, academic, or commercial setting
  • Experience of leading or supporting digital transformation projects
  • Experience of line management of staff

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and accessible way to different audiences
  • Able to handle difficult conversations and diffuse tensions with tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity
  • Strong negotiation, persuasion, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
  • Skilled in collating, analysing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-making and operational recommendations
  • Produce well-drafted reports and papers for a variety of boards and committees
  • Ability to deal effectively with individuals at different levels both within and outside the organisation
  • Ability to effectively coordinate and plan multiple projects with conflicting and demanding deadlines, maintaining strong attention to detail

Desirable

  • Ability to understand and interpret guidance and legislation
  • Ability to use strong judgement in giving advice, assessing options, and managing stakeholders

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of national R&D/life sciences priorities and ambitions within a changing landscape, and an understanding of their implications for NHS organisations and research delivery
  • Strong understanding of the NHS infrastructure, systems, and processes, and the role and delivery of research within the NHS
  • Knowledge of external partnership organisational structures such as NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and CRUK Centres of Excellence

Desirable

  • Understanding of clinical trial methodology and logistics
  • Knowledge of clinical research funding structures
  • Knowledge of a recognised project management methodology

Values

Essential

  • Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential

  • Self-motivated, proactive, with ability to work independently and on own initiative
  • Strong team player, adopting a collaborative approach towards supporting, and seeking support from, colleagues across teams
  • Flexible and adaptable, able to prioritise a busy workload at pace
  • Maintain confidentiality

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 22 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.