ARDT Research Officer

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

ARDT Research Officer The closing date is 17 February 2026

Job summary The NIHR Research Delivery Network East Midlands (RDN:EM), hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, supports high-quality research in the NHS and social care across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, and Northamptonshire. We provide the infrastructure that enables research to benefit patients, carers and the public through improved care and treatments.

We are seeking a motivated and organised individual to join the Agile Research Delivery Team. This role supports the set up and delivery of NIHR Portfolio studies across wider care settings, including GP and Dental practices. The post holder will contribute to both research delivery and to engaging stakeholders, assisting with site identification, study set up and governance aligned with regional priorities.

As part of the Agile Research Delivery Team you will build collaborative relationships to promote engagement, maximise research opportunities and ensure high quality study delivery. You will work closely with the Study Support Service, Stakeholder and Engagement Team and colleagues across the RDN, reporting to the Research Facilitator. The post holder will specifically support the Leicester/Leicestershire/Rutland locality. This is a fixed term post for 24 months.

Previous applicants need not apply. We require a face to face interview to appoint to this role.

Main duties of the job This role supports the Agile Research Delivery Team within the Research Delivery Network (RDN) by ensuring smooth, efficient, compliant delivery of research studies across wider care settings.

• Act as a liaison between stakeholders (sponsors, funders, investigators, care organisations) to ensure clear communication, alignment of objectives and customer focused service delivery.
• Manage and safeguard data, ensuring integrity, quality, compliance with governance standards and accurate portfolio reporting (including cost attribution, study tracking and recruitment data).
• Support digital innovation, using tools such as dashboards and recruitment platforms to aid study planning, decision making and performance monitoring.
• Ensure compliance with policies, standards and NIHR requirements, helping stakeholders understand and meet their roles and responsibilities.
• Provide operational and administrative support.
• Enable effective study delivery: facilitate study set up, feasibility/capability assessments, monitor progress and support sponsors with recruitment and data submission.
• Contribute to service improvement and training, identifying opportunities to optimise processes and share knowledge and best practices across the network.
• Collaborate internally and externally to address challenges, align initiatives and ensure consistent, high quality service delivery that contributes to national research goals.

About us Our strategy, developed with support and feedback from colleagues, patients and partners, is our compass for the next seven years ().

• High quality care for all
• Being a great place to work
• Partnerships for impact
• Research and education excellence

We embed health equality in all we do, taking active steps to reduce avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

• Compassionate
• Proud
• Inclusive
• One team

For more information, visit the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust website:

Under current UK immigration rules Band 5 roles do not meet the salary or skills requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship by the Trust. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

Job description Responsibilities include maintaining data integrity, supporting study set up and delivery, contributing to service improvement, stakeholder engagement and developing innovative approaches to research delivery. The role requires excellent communication skills, strong analytical ability and a proactive, problem solving approach.

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Act as a liaison to ensure effective communication and alignment of objectives.
• Work in accordance with governance frameworks, regulatory requirements and professional standards. (e.g. Good Clinical Practice, Data Protection).
• Escalate risks appropriately and contribute to corporate governance processes.

Information Management & Administration

• Analyse and interpret complex information to support research delivery decisions.
• Ensure data quality and integrity in RDN portfolio systems, addressing issues proactively.
• Support implementation of Information Governance best practice.
• Contribute to digital innovations, including dashboards and recruitment tools.

Operational Management

• Support efficient study set up, acting as the main NIHR Network contact where required.
• Monitor study progress, supporting stakeholders to resolve issues and meet agreed targets.
• Facilitate feasibility and capacity assessments to ensure timely delivery.
• Provide training, administrative support and project management for research initiatives.

Service Improvement & Development

• Identify and contribute to service improvement opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement projects to optimise processes and stakeholder experience.
• Help organise communities of practice and knowledge sharing events.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build strong relationships with sponsors, funders, investigators and research sites.
• Support engagement with research design sites to widen access to research opportunities.
• Ensure inclusive communication with participants, carers and the public, respecting diverse needs.
• Promote patient, carer and public involvement in research design, delivery and dissemination.

Financial & Performance Management

• Support cost attribution and allocation processes for studies.
• Contribute to performance monitoring, reporting and delivery against KPIs.
• Collaborate with colleagues to align with the national RDN Performance and Operating Framework.

Life Sciences & Industry Engagement

• Support business development activity with life sciences partners, signposting expertise and knowledge to enable high quality research delivery.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to work flexibly and occasionally travel across the RDN region, including occasional evenings or weekends, in line with service demands.
• Commitment to delivering a high standard of care to research participants.

Person Specification Education and Qualification - Essential

• Educated to degree level in science or health related discipline or in another field with experience of delivering clinical research trials or equivalent experience/training.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Knowledge and Experience - Essential

• Knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical research studies, including ICH Good Clinical Practice.
• Knowledge of the clinical trial and health and care research lifecycle, including experience of the set up and delivery of research studies in a health and care setting.
• Experience of the care of patients/participants enrolled in research studies or a customer focused role.
• Knowledge and experience of data systems, data entry, data interpretation, verification and reporting to local and national centres.
• Experience of supporting research in primary care/wider care settings.

Skills and Abilities - Essential

• Good IT skills, particularly in the use of web applications, MS Office and/or Google Hub applications.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Ability to plan and coordinate multidisciplinary activities associated with the management and delivery of research study(ies).
• Understanding of personal accountability.
• Ability to travel for work.
• Current driving licence.

Value and Personal Qualities - Essential

• Team player.
• Adaptable/flexible approach to work.
• Integrity.
• Organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work calmly, effectively and independently under pressure.
• Desire to maintain competence level through continuous learning.

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 . click apply for full job details