UK-KXS Clinical Partnerships Scout

Job Purpose

A major goal of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy is to establish the UK as a global hub for clinical research and medical innovation, through novel and efficient partnerships between industry, the NHS, academia, charities and research funders. Critical to achieving this ambition is improved Knowledge Exchange (KE), which has to date suffered from limited bi-directional (or even unidirectional) flow of information; intra-sectoral competition; and a lack of clarity on mechanisms for multi-disciplinary approaches and shared rewards. To address this challenge, HEFCE’s Connecting Capability Fund (CCF) is supporting the establishment of a national network of collaborators to consolidate UK capabilities and accelerate impact by pooling the expertise, resources, and infrastructures of 3 HEIs (Universities of Oxford, Birmingham and Dundee) – the UK Knowledge Exchange Spine (UK-KXS).

Within this wider framework, we have chosen an exemplar project for collaboration. One of the biggest healthcare challenges facing the UK and indeed the world is to improve therapeutics for the elderly and to reduce the impact of many age-related comorbidities. We have initiated a national network of collaborators, linking the core HEI partners with the Medicines Discovery Catapult and The Francis Crick Institute. Together we will create the tools, ideas/ knowledge, and pathways for developing new therapeutics for diseases linked with ageing, help industry exploit them, work with investors to create new companies and associated jobs, and embrace the NHS as co-creators as well as adopters of innovation. This ambitious project will provide core proof of principle and insight aligned to our wider HEFCE CCF framework of KE and open innovation between not only the core partners but the wider UK academic, clinical, charitable and industry landscape.

The post holder will take a key role in leading and developing the network of NHS partners involved in the initiative, and in how the partnership approaches national interactions with patient cohorts and tissue biobanks, as well as informing and reinforcing good practice in the development, curation and support for aligned initiatives directly associated with UK-KXS. They will provide strategic oversight and operational management for the initiative’s partnership activity specifically aligned to patients and the NHS, supporting the work of the UK-KXS partners in the delivery of their strategic objectives. They will support the development of new strategic partnership opportunities, including project management, quality assurance oversight and approval, including working with the various university and NHS partner’s research and development teams. The post-holder will take a direct role in the oversight and management (where appropriate) of the UK-KXS’s initiatives, and will be responsible for the day to day coordination and administration. The post-holder will build significant links to internal and external collaborators, and provide an efficient and effective central point of contact and responsibility. This will involve leading and maintaining up to date communications with various stakeholders, reports, budgetary oversight, databases, leading the organisation and coordination of meetings, dissemination events and leading in the planning of future activities.The post-holder will be based in Birmingham as part of the College of Medical & Dental Sciences (MDS) Research and Knowledge Transfer Office, and will work closely with the partners of the UK-KXS. The post holder will work closely as part of Birmingham Health Partners, which is a strategic alliance between University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, University of Birmingham and Birmingham Women & Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. This post will be based in the Institute of Translational Medicine in Birmingham. The post holder will also be expected to maintain close links with the various stakeholders of the UK-KXS and support appropriate informed advice for interactions between these institutions that are of mutual benefit, helping to drive a wider national programme of learning and knowledge exchange

Person Specification

Main duties

• To manage a portfolio of NHS partner institutions, biobanks and relevant cohort information providing strategic oversight and ensuring alignment with the UK-KXS’s objectives. This portfolio will be maintained in accordance with the partners’ relevant governance requirements.
• To support the development of new strategic NHS partnership opportunities, as well as links with relevant academic/clinical/administrative leads for biobanks and patient cohorts, by working with the relevant Leads for UK-KXS, and all its Senior Managers, and the Academic Departments and Professional Services teams across the Universities of Birmingham, Dundee and Oxford, including Finance and Communications and External Relations, to follow-up on new initiatives.
• To assess new UK and international partnership opportunities and oversee any relevant approval processes, including due diligence, financial modelling and institutional level approval.
• To have oversight of the development and maintenance of partnership agreements as required, including reporting to University senior staff and Academic Departments.
• To provide advice and guidance to partner institutions regarding NHS regulations, policy and procedures, and to offer support and guidance to partner institutions in the development of their own arrangements for the management of clinical research studies.
• To provide advice and support to the UK-KXS’s lead partners on the operation of policy and procedure relating to partnerships activity, drawing on expertise from across the Universities.
• To act as Secretary to formal partnership meetings as required, including their organisation as well as preparation of policy papers, agenda and minutes.
• To provide support to the UK-KXS Leads, representing them as appropriate.
• To ensure that records are maintained as required for internal and external quality audit purposes, initiating and maintaining robust systems for maintaining active, sustainable and accurate records.
• To provide leadership to direct reports, being responsible for effective recruitment, induction, training, management and ongoing development.
• To be a source of expertise internally and externally on effective working with the NHS as well as national and international biobanks and major patient cohorts, providing advice to senior managers and other colleagues; influencing developments; and maintaining awareness of external developments and representing the University as necessary.
• To take an active role in the development of new research proposals with the UK-KXSS NHS partners.
• Proactively liaise where appropriate with the Project partners, administrative groups, academic members, the wider R&KT Office team and any other appropriate stakeholders to coordinate, and in particular deal with challenges faced by the UK-KXS and provide solutions or recommendations to resolve matters, as well as advice on budget and conduct of meetings and institutional visits.
• Develop and implement communications strategy for the UK-KXS to help develop its internal and external profile to NHS partners, including public engagement and patient involvement approaches and news stories. This will involve a focus on our web presence, including updating and managing the website relating to the Unit and providing a clear coordinated point of contact and driving force for continued delivery of relevant content.
• Coordinate the organisation of conferences/meetings/workshops/dissemination events and any training programmes (including postgraduate taught/research programmes where applicable) etc. in relation to projects with NHS partners
• Work with the UK-KXSs colleagues to develop coherent and achievable strategies relating to internal development and external funding; assist with the identification of appropriate funding opportunities and inform the preparation of both major and routine funding applications.
• Provide assistance to other relevant ongoing activity within the Research & Knowledge Transfer Office and UK-KXS as required.
• Duties and responsibilities within the post and the obligations placed upon post holders may vary and develop over time. Any resulting changes will be subject to consultation with the post holder and line manager, through the agreed annual review process.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• A graduate with a good honours degree with experience in health care and/or the education sector.
• Proven relevant administrative skills with experience of coordinating and management support of projects with the NHS
• Proven experience of grant management including compiling expenditure reports and annual reports to funders
• Experience of successful external funding proposal development
• Clear and articulate communication and high level interpersonal skills are an essential part of the role in order to establish the necessary key relationships both internally and externally
• Experience of external communications, particularly producing promotional material; web-based and conventional
• Experience working alongside academics to promote research.
• Detailed awareness of the funding environment for research and knowledge transfer.
• Ability to interpret and provide advice on complex guidelines, legal requirements and financial regulations.
• Excellent office management and organisational skills, including relevant practical experience of setting up project meetings, conferences and events
• Excellent IT skills, particularly in spreadsheets and database management, and the ability to develop and implement sophisticated output and outcome monitoring and reporting systems
• Good attention to detail and methodical approach to work with an ability prioritise workloads in order to meet deadlines, and have demonstrable problem solving skills