Job description

We are excited to be offering this opportunity for an enthusiastic Project Manager to join The Cancer Research UK & King’s College London Cancer Prevention Trials Unit (CPTU). The successful candidate will be a key member of the NHS-Galleri trial team. The trial is the largest-ever study of a multi-cancer early detection test and has enrolled over 140,000 volunteers across England. NHS-Galleri has set a new standard in the speed of set-up and recruitment to clinical trials.  You will support the ongoing delivery of this trial in close coordination with key stakeholders including GRAIL Bio UK Ltd, NHS England and NHS Improvement and regional Cancer Alliances.   

 

The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of relevant experience in project management with a strong record of successful clinical trial delivery. You will be passionate about making an impact to early cancer detection in the UK. Working in a collaborative environment, you will have exceptional communication skills and lead on the project management of clinical research services required for the NHS-Galleri trial. 

 

You will have strong interest and experience of delivering health research projects and vendor management. 

 

You will have excellent organisational, planning skills with an intrinsic interest in improving the health and well-being of communities through translational research and evidence-based innovation.  

 

Integral to project delivery, is the successful management of a range of clinical research support services including:  

• National mobile research site and phlebotomy provision   

• Call centre operations supporting participant communications  

• Web Applications supporting those services 

The post-holder will ensure that these services are managed according to contractual specifications, research governance best practice and project milestones. 
You will:  

• Act as the main study focal point for logistics related to clinical research services, managing the effective delivery of the trial across multiple regions in England   

• line manage coordinators/administrators to deliver on participant retention targets whilst following research regulations and good practice  

• work with clinical input from the trial’s clinical research nursing team, oversee the team responsible for participant communications, scheduling, and follow-up  

• act as on-the-ground managerial contact for research sites recruiting participants at mobile units including for facilities troubleshooting and participant well-being issues  

• analyse and review performance targets, and other deliverables and take relevant action to achieve study milestone 

The postholder will be expected to work to King’s College London hybrid working policies 

 

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 24 months in the first instance 

 

This is a full-time post

 

Key responsibilities

•        Develop and maintain key relationships with project partners and third-party service providers in a high-profile national research study in cancer screening  

•        Monitor key performance indicators to advise and adapt retention strategies used by third parties  

•        Oversee the support services required to manage participants’ appointment booking activities and participant follow up, acting as primary liaison with external third parties involved in the delivery of the research including call centre and mobile health care providers 

•        Provide updates regarding the mobile phlebotomy units movements in collaboration with the cancer alliance regions and mobile unit third party provider 

•        Lead on query and issue resolution associated with all of the clinical research support services 

•        Ensure trial timelines are monitored and kept to schedule  

•        Develop written procedures for trial processes where appropriate 

•        Proactively and reactively liaise with third-parties to manage the locations of mobile units based on the trial needs 

•        Provide expert advice to Clinical project manager and academics/clinical/non-clinical and external collaborators on logistics management. 

•        Contribute to collaborative decision-making, planning and short and long-term objective setting 

•        Problem solve and respond to queries both from within and external to the unit 

•        Coordinate workloads of the team and ensure delivery of research support services is conducted in a timely manner and prioritise elements where necessary 

•        Participate in project meetings and produce reports within the context of trial collaborations 

•        Develop and disseminate data and analysis relating to recruitment targets and delivery using relevant trial databases and electronic reporting tools 

•        Assess training needs of different project teams and design appropriate training programmes or recommend external training as appropriate 

•        Monitor performance of the trial team and give guidance and feedback where necessary 

•        Create project management policies and oversee their implementation 

•        Any other duties appropriate to the grade as directed by the supervisors 

•        Ensure confidentiality on all matters and information obtained during the course of employment 

 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1.       Educated to degree level – or relevant experience in the field                                     

2.       Experience of project managing large-scale health or public sector-related projects with defined targets and performance milestones 

3.       Experience of monitoring third parties to contractual key performance indicators 

4.       Experience of stakeholder management and senior-level communication  

5.       Highly numerate and ability to show attention to detail and high standards of accuracy in all aspects of work 

6.       Strong delegation skills and ability to develop and implement robust procedures to support individuals within the full capacity of their role 

7.       Ability to produce high-impact project plans to predict, identify and resolve problems that are critical to the running of the project and plan strategically to avoid them 

8.       Experience of developing written procedures and implement them  

9.       Ability to work on own initiative and prioritise own schedule without supervision 

10.    Excellent verbal and written communication skills, particularly in the context of scientific writing, reports and good telephone manner. Ability to persuade and deliver information effectively through presentations.   

 

Desirable criteria

1.       Formal qualification in project management  

2.       Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice, Data Protection Act and the regulations governing the research use of in vitro diagnostics 

3.       Experience of third-party oversight in clinical research projects/clinical trials 

4.       Previous line management experience