About the Role
You’ll work alongside exceptional clinical teams, Higher Education Institutions, NIHR partners, and national research networks to drive forward a culture of research excellence. The Lead Nurse for Academic Research is a senior, high‑impact leadership role at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. You will provide strategic and operational leadership to the Academic Research Nursing workforce, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, safe, and effective research activity across the organisation. You will foster a culture of academic excellence, strengthen partnerships with NIHR and Higher Education Institutions, and support the integration of research into clinical practice.
Responsibilities
* Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Academic Research Nursing workforce.
* Develop and deliver a Trust‑wide Academic Research Nursing strategy aligned with national and local priorities.
* Foster a culture of research and academic excellence, integrating research into everyday clinical practice.
* Represent The Christie at local, regional, and national forums, including academic and research networks.
* Build and maintain strategic partnerships with HEIs, NIHR, and key research stakeholders.
* Support the Associate Chief Nurse with the implementation of the national SORT tool.
* Provide visible, professional leadership to academic research staff.
* Oversee the delivery of high‑quality research studies, ensuring compliance with GCP, governance, and regulatory standards.
* Lead on workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and development; manage resources effectively, including budget oversight and business case development.
* Lead the development of education and training programmes for academic research staff.
* Support competency frameworks (NIHR, HEE) and promote academic career pathways.
* Facilitate mentorship, supervision, and appraisal processes.
* Lead and support the design, delivery, and dissemination of academic research projects.
* Identify funding opportunities and contribute to grant applications and publications.
* Act as PI or Co‑I on funded research, ensuring delivery to time, budget, and quality.
* Promote patient and public involvement (PPIE) and ensure inclusivity in research activity.
Qualifications
* Registered Nurse (NMC) with a degree in nursing or related subject.
* Master’s degree (or working towards).
* GCP training.
* Significant senior management experience in clinical or academic research.
* Advanced leadership, communication, and change management skills.
* In‑depth knowledge of research governance, NHS policy, and academic research frameworks.
* Leading on own research portfolio.
* Disability Confident: a Disability Confident employer offers an interview to any applicant with a disability that meets the minimum criteria.
About The Christie
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year, and serves a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire. It is internationally recognised for pioneering clinical and academic research, delivering cutting‑edge treatments, and improving outcomes for patients worldwide. The Christie hosts one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world, operates chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals, and provides highly specialised surgery for complex and rare cancer. It also runs one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year and is officially ranked as having the best cancer research in the UK.
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