Head of Operations, Southampton Clinical Trials Unit

An exciting opportunity to join the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) core funded Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) in a senior leadership role as the Head of Operations.

Southampton CTU, within the University of Southampton, is located within the state-of-the-art Centre for Cancer Immunology building at Southampton General Hospital and is a UKCRC registered CTU.

Southampton CTU designs, conducts and publishes clinical trials and other well-designed studies. Managing a growing portfolio that covers the complete spectrum of clinical practice, from primary care through to tertiary referral medicine, including cancer care, experimental therapeutics, surgery, supportive care and prevention. Undertaking multi-centre early and late phase clinical trials, we work nationally and internationally to create the evidence for patient benefit that will directly influence routine clinical practice in the NHS and overseas.

As part of the NIHR and CRUK infrastructure we have close working relationships with our partners, including the Southampton CRUK Centre and Experimental Cancer Research Centre and NIHR partners across Wessex such as the NIHR Research Design Service, NIHR Clinical Research Network, Clinical Research Facility, Biomedical Research Centre, the Wessex Institute and University Hospital Southampton.

We currently have a vacancy for a Head of Operations following the retirement of the current position holder. As a member of the SCTU Directors Committee the Head of Operations will have a senior leadership role within SCTU, managing the SCTU Heads of Groups (trial management, data management, quality assurance, statistics and other financial, contractual and admin support staff). SCTU currently have 80 plus staff with the opportunity for further growth of the CTU as research opportunities arise.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for someone to oversee the operational delivery of the unit in close consultation with the SCTU Director and Associate Directors. This includes ensuring the effective management of all relevant financial activities, including delivery of grant renewal processes with key funders. Also including staffing, business planning, building and maintaining positive working relationship with key stakeholders and continual consideration for more efficient ways of working as SCTU enters a post-pandemic era.

The appointed person must have proven strategic management and managing change experience, knowledge of clinical trial methodology and regulatory requirements as well as skill level equivalent to achievement of a professional qualification or postgraduate degree (in science, business or other area relevant to the role).

Having worked within a UKCRC CTU is desirable but not essential.

This position is full time fixed term until 30/04/2024 (in the first instance as CTU core funding is on a 5 years basis with a future application for renewal).

The employing organisation is the University of Southampton which offers a competitive salary, pension scheme, generous holiday entitlement and other benefits.

For informal queries please contact Professor Gareth Griffiths, Director of Southampton CTU: gog1a13@soton.ac.uk

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.