Faculty of Medicine and Health s1

Faculty of Medicine and Health

School of Medicine

Leeds Institute of Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Medicine

Section of Clinical Musculoskeletal Medicine

Rheumatology Clinical Research Co-ordinator

Fixed term for 2 years

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and motivated individual wishing to develop a career in a clinical research management setting.

As a leading, research-intensive Russell Group institution, the University of Leeds is seeking to recruit a dynamic, pro-active individual to develop their knowledge of the clinical research environment to become a key manager to a senior post within the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine (LIRMM).

Located within the Section of Clinical Musculoskeletal Medicine, and working closely with the Head of the Section and the Director of LIRMM and the NIHR Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit (LMBRU) you will provide strategic vision for the inflammatory arthritis research portfolio.

This post is pivotal in growing and developing the inflammatory research strategy. As the Rheumatology Clinical Research Co-ordinator you will work closely with leading inflammatory arthritis researchers both within and outside of Leeds to contribute to the development and implementation of an integrated portfolio of research: These activities will be across the Section of Clinical Rheumatology working closely with the LMBRU and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. In addition, you will liaise with external stakeholders, policy makers and funding bodies to gather strategic intelligence and develop a research programme which aligns both with the University of Leeds/School of Medicine strategy and with national and international perspective.

You must be educated to degree level in a relevant subject area and have experience of a coordination or management role in a research environment. Excellent organisational skills demonstrated by a proven ability to support a range of different projects simultaneously is required.

This is an exciting new role in the area of Rheumatology which is being advertised as a grade 7, however for the right person there is scope for the post holder to develop and grow the role into a strategic leading post.

The University of Leeds is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offers a range of family friendly policies (http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/homepage/4/policies). The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN and holds the Bronze award. The School of Medicine gained the Bronze award in 2013. We are committed to being an inclusive medical school that values all staff, and we are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees.

Informal enquiries regarding the post should be directed to Dr Anne-Maree Keenan, Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, tel: +44 (0)113 392 4946, email:

If you have any specific enquiries about your online application please contact Gayle Iype,

tel: +44 (0)113 392 4884, email:

Job Ref: MHLRM1007 Closing Date: 23 January 2015

Purpose of the post

Reporting to Dr Keenan, the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Co-ordinator will be a key member of the LMBRU research team and deliver a number of priority projects in inflammatory arthritis, whilst supporting the team in its work. In particular, you will co-ordinate and deliver specific initiatives relating to the Disease Continuum Project, which is support by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)’s LMBRU. You will take responsibility for leading on specific areas of work, ensuring key project work are initiated and completed successfully in line with planned timelines. In addition, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining channels of regular communication with both the internal and external academic clinical research communities.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Project support

You will work proactively with external stakeholders (e.g. NIHR, Clinical Trials Units, research collaborators), colleagues within the LMBRU and other members of the team and to ensure successful delivery of project work and initiatives. Examples of projects planned to be undertaken by the team in the next 12 months, and for which you would ensure delivery, include:

·  In collaboration with our LTHT and partners, overseeing the research governance and clinical organisation of the Disease Continuum Research clinics

·  Organise periodic reviews of the Disease Continuum

Inflammatory Arthritis Clinical Trial Support:

·  Together with the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group, assist in the development of clinical trial study protocols for inflammatory arthritis

·  With the Clinical Trials Co-ordinator, oversee the administrative management for inflammatory arthritis studies

·  In conjunction with primary researcher, oversee the compliance of inflammatory arthritis clinical trials with Clinical Trials Regulations, including ICH GCP, Ethics, and MHRA applications and approval, Research Governance and Data Protection

The following general roles will be required as part of the project support function:

·  Monitoring project activity against planned timelines, identifying any issues potentially affecting planned delivery, identifying and implement solutions, ensuring issues are reported in a timely manner

·  Direct and contribute to the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group relating to project planning and review

·  Establish and co-ordinate the meetings of relevant project working groups with external stakeholders such as the NIHR, Arthritis Research UK, UKCRC, Department of Health, Clinical Trials Units, UKCRN and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust Research and Development Unit.

·  Independently deal with project-related queries, or resolving queries through liaison with appropriate subject experts, to ensure responses are dealt with promptly and accurately

·  Preparation of reports, briefing papers and articles to inform relevant groups and audiences of project progress and outcomes as required

Communication

·  Advise the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group in developing and establishing good working links between the LMBRU groups

·  Updating the content of the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group Trials accrual information and ensuring that changes advised are dealt with promptly and working proactively with Registered Clinical Trials Units to ensure information is checked and updated regularly

·  Compile and distribute communications as required to the academic clinical research community (including LMBRU, Arthritis Research UK etc.) on relevant Inflammatory Arthritis projects and initiatives

General

·  Maintaining a good up to date awareness of clinical trial-related issues, particularly issues impacting on clinical research and management of inflammatory clinical trials

·  Develop and maintain an awareness and understanding of the key activities of the LMBRU and Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group

·  Undertaking any ad hoc initiatives as required by the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group

Career Development

For the right candidate there is the opportunity to develop this role, taking on a higher level of responsibility at a strategic level. You will be given a detailed probation plan to support you in this and if after successful completion of the probation plan the post has been developed sufficiently to a grade 8 level, you would be supported to apply for a promotion through the University’s promotion procedure.

Relationships

While Dr Keenan will supervise you, you will report to (a) the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group and the Director of the Institute, Professor Paul Emery on a regular basis.

You will be expected to work closely with other staff based within the LMBRU and LIRM, in particular, other members of the Inflammatory Arthritis Research Group. In addition, you will be expected to develop good external working links with staff in Clinical Trials Team, the wider Inflammatory Arthritis research community, the Department of Health and relevant professional bodies and organisations.

University Values

All staff are expected to operate in line with the university’s values and standards, which work as an integral part of our strategy and set out the principles of how we work together. More information about the university’s strategy and values is available at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/strategy/

Person Specification

The LMBRU is a complex, diverse and ambitious development. Candidates must have excellent organisation and communication skills, be effective team players and be willing to work in a flexible and dynamic environment. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the ability to think imaginatively, a capacity to innovate, skills in supporting the delivery of projects effectively, and a willingness to actively engage and contribute to project plans and their implementation.

Specifically you need to be able to demonstrate the following experience and competencies, or their equivalents in other fields.

Essential

·  Educated to degree level in a relevant subject area

·  Have experience of a coordinating or managing role in a clinical/rheumatology research environment including applying for Ethics/IRAS

·  Effective organisational skills demonstrated by a proven ability to support a range of different projects simultaneously with an ability to retain a clear focus on outcomes along with delivering good results

·  Ability to clearly and confidently communicate complex and sensitive information in both written and verbally in individual and group situations

·  Highly developed facilitation skills, providing structure and process so high-quality decisions can be made

·  Ability to work effectively both independently with limited direction and in a team, prioritising work and manage time effectively

·  Relevant working experience of the Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

·  The ability to interact with a wide range of professionals, including senior staff, across a range of organisations

·  Motivation to maintain up-to-date knowledge of clinical research environment

·  An enthusiastic and flexible approach to working in a dynamic and diverse national organisation

Desirable

·  Experience of clinical trials management within an academic environment

·  Experience of preparing grant applications and scientific/research papers

·  Experience of establishing and maintaining Access databases

·  Experience of website content management

·  Knowledge of the Human Tissue Act and MHRA Regulations

·  Postgraduate Research qualification

·  Demonstration of willingness to support team members, share experience and develop good practice

Faculty Information

With more than 6,000 students, 1,600 staff and annual research income of £50m, the Faculty of Medicine and Health at Leeds is bigger than some universities. Leeds has one of the largest medical and bioscience research bases in the UK, and is an acknowledged world leader in cancer, cardiovascular, psychiatric, genetic, musculoskeletal and health services research. Treatments developed in Leeds are transforming the lives of people around the world living with conditions such as HIV, TB, diabetes and malaria.

The School of Medicine

The School of Medicine at the University of Leeds is a major international centre for research and education. Our ambition is to improve health and reduce health inequalities, locally and globally, through excellent scientific research and the translation of that research into healthcare practice, and through the education of future scientific and clinical leaders who will advocate and practise an evidence-based approach. Our major strategic aims are to:

·  Deliver outstanding research including basic discovery science through to applied health research that makes a significant difference to health.

·  Produce exceptional graduates, clinicians, educators, doctoral and post-doctoral fellows whose learning has been informed and inspired by our research excellence and who will form the next generation of academic and clinical leaders.

·  Develop and support knowledge transfer activities that flow from our academic activities.

·  Create and maintain an efficient and sustainable environment for research and teaching within an organisational culture and management style that enacts and supports the university’s core values of community, inclusiveness, integrity and professionalism.

The School of Medicine is organised into seven Institutes. All are committed to high quality research-led teaching, through their training of postgraduate research students, delivery of postgraduate taught courses, and its leadership in undergraduate teaching. The School works closely with the local NHS, having a number of jointly funded clinical posts to ensure this relationship is effective and strong for both research and student education.

Leeds Institute of Genetics Health & Therapeutics (LIGHT), Director: Professor Mark Gilthorpe)

LIGHT integrates basic and clinical scientists with a common goal of understanding the mechanisms underpinning common chronic diseases of human health and developing new approaches to treating patients at an individual and population level. At the heart of LIGHTs philosophy is a vibrant multidisciplinary approach to science that provides a platform to deliver internationally competitive translational research and teaching in disorders including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases) our key aim is to improve the lives of our patients and the experience of our students.

Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS) Director: Professor Tim Ensor

LIHS delivers problem-driven research that supports decisions about the content or delivery of healthcare. Our interdisciplinary approach incorporates expertise in applied health research designs, health implementation sciences, social sciences, health economics, informatics and statistics, as well as skills in communicating with basic scientists, policy makers, healthcare providers, public and patients. We conduct research at the individual, population and organisational level.

Leeds Institute of Medical Education (LIME) Director: Professor Trudie Roberts

LIME provides the administrative support, co-ordination and leadership for the School of Medicine’s undergraduate medical degree, including admissions, curriculum development, assessment, student support and clinical placement liaison. It provides the technology-enhanced learning and innovation support for the School of Medicine. LIME also has a very active scholarship programme of research and innovation in medical education and uses its expertise to influence medical education policy and practice nationally and internationally. To achieve this it works with a range of stakeholders including the academic community, the profession, the public, regulators and policy makers.

The Leeds Institute of Cancer And Pathology (LICAP) Director: Professor Tim Bishop

The Leeds Institute of Cancer Studies and Pathology addresses both laboratory based and clinical research into cancer with a major focus on translational science. LICAP is one of the largest cancer Institutes in the country and has major financial support from the cancer charities. The laboratories and clinical research are all based on the St James’s site with laboratory activities being located in the Wellcome Trust Brenner Building and adjacent buildings while the clinical work is based within Bexley Wing. The Institute consists of seven Sections with the following interests:

Leeds Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (LIBACS) Director: Professor Philip Hopkins