Research Contracts Manager
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has identified excellence in research for the benefit of patients as a core component of its corporate vision. In order to realize this vision, the Trust has formed a close research partnership with the University of Nottingham (UoN), with a common research strategy and an integrated system of research management and governance. This partnership has been awarded the prestigious National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre and HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) and has been outstandingly successful in other major NIHR competitions. NUH therefore expects to be at the forefront of research and innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill health and in the translation of advances in basic biomedical research into benefits for patients.
The Research Contracts Manager will provide legal advice to the NUH R&I by drafting, negotiating, facilitating, reviewing and amending a wide range of research and innovation‑related contracts connected to biomedical research carried out at NUH, including commercial and non‑commercial research, confidentiality agreements, data protection and service level agreements. The post‑holder will be responsible for the ongoing monitoring, tracking and updating of the research contracts database and for ensuring a robust contracts management system is upheld.
Key responsibilities include:
- Review, draft and negotiate a variety of research and innovation‑related contracts, such as confidentiality agreements, clinical trial agreements, collaboration agreements, service agreements and material transfer agreements, to ensure that appropriate contracts are in place before the beginning of all research projects and that they reflect NUH’s interests.
- Manage and prioritise a substantial, varied and complex workload, handling conflicting expectations of internal and external parties, whilst responding sensitively to the requirements of all relevant parties.
- Liaise with and negotiate contractual terms on contracts with senior research staff (external and internal), academic and non‑commercial collaborators, pharmaceutical companies (both domestic and foreign) and Contract Research Organisations (CROs).
- Develop relationships with NUH clinical researchers and external research contracts specialists and/or legal advisors at non‑commercial and commercial stakeholders, to facilitate effective working relationships to ensure an efficient contracts management process.
- Use initiative, judgment, creativity and pragmatism in negotiating agreements to facilitate the efficient opening of research projects, ensuring the contract is signed on terms that are fair and reasonable for all parties, whilst protecting the interests of NUH.
- Contribute towards the development and implementation of effective procedures and systems relating to the research contracting activity of NUH, including developing and maintaining standard documentation, SOPs and contract templates.
- Work with Research & Innovation teams, including Pre Award, Post Award, Research Governance and Research Finance, to deliver a timely, customer‑focused and integrated research contracts service.
- Escalate contract terms that are outside NUH’s standard contracting obligations to the R&I Legal Services Manager or members of the R&I Senior Leadership Team.
- Keep researchers, investigators and external stakeholders updated on the progress and status of their respective contracts and ensure Principal Investigators/research staff are aware of their responsibilities under the agreements and of any contractual and/or financial terms relevant to their research.
- Keep abreast of new developments related to clinical research and general contract law, including changes in relevant policy and legislation.
- Ensure appropriate contracts are fully executed, recorded and stored for all new projects.
- Protect NUH’s interests by mitigating risk and identifying and reducing any potential liabilities under research and development contracts.
- Ensure any Trust obligations under any research and development contract are clearly documented, monitored and followed up accordingly.
- Identify and highlight potential legal issues that may arise in research studies according to the Clinical Trials Directive, Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, Human Tissue Act 1998 and UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.
- Engage in training programmes that are consistent with the Research Contracts Manager’s needs and aspirations and those of NUH Research and Innovation.
- Assist the R&I Legal Services Manager where required.
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
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