Job Overview
Lead Research Nurse
Department: Research and Innovation (R&I)
An exciting opportunity to shape the future of clinical research at Frimley Health.
Are you a passionate and experienced registered nurse with a strong background in clinical research and leadership? Are you ready to take the next step in your career and make a real impact on patient outcomes and research excellence?
We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Lead Research Nurse to join our expanding Research and Innovation department at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. This cross-site leadership role is ideal for someone who thrives on challenge, champions best practice, and wants to play a key role in the continued growth and success of our research portfolio.
Working alongside a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals, you will help deliver high-quality clinical research across the Trust. You will be instrumental in driving forward our research strategy, leading and mentoring research staff, and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and innovative care to patients participating in research studies.
This role is cross site and the successful candidate has the option to choose either Wexham Park Hospital or Frimley Park Hospital as a base location.
Main duties of the job
Working alongside a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals, you will help deliver high-quality clinical research across the Trust. You will be instrumental in driving forward our research strategy, leading and mentoring research staff, and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and innovative care to patients participating in research studies.
We Welcome Applications From Experienced Senior Registered Nurses Who
* Are confident leaders with proven management experience in a research setting.
* Possess excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
* Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and a commitment to quality improvement.
* Are passionate about research and its potential to transform care.
* Have a strong working knowledge of research governance and clinical trial delivery.
Working for our organisation
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.
Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.
We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.
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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Research Leadership
* Provide expert oversight and operational leadership of clinical research studies across a range of specialties.
* Lead the implementation of the Trust's research strategy, including the Organisational Readiness Tool (SORT) and feasibility assessments.
* Offer specialist guidance in ICH-GCP, study design, set-up, recruitment, and delivery.
* Work collaboratively with the NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), commercial sponsors, and investigators to ensure research is viable, efficient, and patient-centred.
* Contribute to the development of SOPs, strategy documents, and business plans to shape the future of research at FHFT.
People & Performance Management
* Provide professional and compassionate leadership to senior research nurses and the wider research delivery team.
* Support recruitment, induction, training, and mentorship of research delivery staff.
* Promote digital innovation by encouraging use of research management tools such as EDGE and EPIC.
* Actively manage workforce performance, compliance, and development in line with Trust policies.
* Oversee study delivery and ensure compliance with national frameworks and Trust governance.
Education, Training & Engagement
* Lead and support continuous professional development for research staff.
* Work with the R&I training lead to implement tailored training plans and development pathways.
* Play an active role in increasing awareness and engagement in research across the Trust.
* Champion Patient, Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) initiatives.
Clinical Excellence
* Maintain a visible clinical presence across specialties, acting as a role model and expert practitioner.
* Support safe, effective delivery of clinical trials in accordance with NMC code and ICH-GCP principles.
* Deliver compassionate care to patients participating in trials, providing specialist support and information.
* Monitor patient safety, administer treatments, and manage trial protocols as needed.
* Ensure meticulous documentation and data quality in line with study and regulatory requirements
We offer exceptional opportunities for career advancement to the successful candidate through a variety of educational and development programs, including Continuing Professional Development funding, Education Academy programs, and courses in leadership, human factors, and communication, along with support for fellowships, grants, and awards.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* NMC Registration
* Master's level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
* ICH-GCP certification
Desirable criteria
* Managerial qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
* Significant experience as Research Nurse in the management of research teams at Band 7 or above
* Experience of commercial and academic research.
* Extensive knowledge of the requirements of the UK policy framework for health and social care research and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Comprehensive understanding of the research process
* Extensive experience of clinical research within various NHS settings and specialties
* Computer literacy (including all MS Office packages & Internet skills)
Desirable criteria
* Previous experience of audit, monitoring, quality and evaluation
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values –
Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future
, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.
We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.
We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.
Alongside estates' investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.
Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.
Apply online now