Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.
Job overview
As a Senior Clinical Trials Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in managing the Research Management and Governance (RM&G) Office and coordinating clinical trials from feasibility and expression of interest through to full study set-up and approval. You will provide leadership and operational oversight across all aspects of pre-initiation research governance and study delivery preparation, ensuring compliance with national and Trust policies, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and applicable regulatory requirements.
You'll be the primary contact for sponsors, Contract Research Organisations (CROs), and investigators throughout the feasibility, costing, contracting, and approvals process. You will also oversee study amendments, ensuring timely review and implementation in accordance with Trust and regulatory frameworks.
As line manager for Band 5 Clinical Trials Coordinators and administrative staff, you will promote an efficient, high-quality research support service, driving consistency and best practice across the R&D Department.
This is an opportunity to make a real impact on research delivery, collaborate with a wide range of professionals, and contribute to the continuous improvement of research services within the Trust. If you are passionate about research, leadership, and operational excellence, this role will allow you to thrive and grow in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Please be aware that the vacancy may close earlier than planned if sufficient applications are received.
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Research Management and Governance (RM&G)
* Oversee the operational management of the RM&G Office, ensuring research studies are processed, reviewed, and approved according to Trust policies and national regulations.
* Lead coordination of expressions of interest, liaising with investigators and departments to assess study feasibility.
* Manage review and submission of study documentation (contracts, costing templates, site agreements, confidentiality agreements).
* Support negotiation of study budgets and financial arrangements.
* Oversee site set-up processes and coordinate study amendments.
* Maintain RM&G records and databases for performance reporting and compliance audits.
Clinical Trial Coordination
* Provide expert guidance and operational support for studies from feasibility through set-up and activation.
* Liaise with Principal Investigators, Sponsors, and CROs to ensure trials meet regulatory, contractual, and operational timelines.
* Support site selection visits, site initiation visits, and study start-up activities.
* Work with study teams to address barriers to activation and recruitment.
* Ensure all site files, delegation logs, and study records are maintained in line with GCP standards.
Quality, Governance, and Compliance
* Ensure compliance with local and national research governance requirements.
* Support internal audits, inspections, and monitoring visits.
* Contribute to continuous improvement of departmental SOPs and operational processes.
Working for our organisation
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Senior Clinical Trials Coordinator is a key member of the Research & Development team at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, responsible for managing the Research Management and Governance (RM&G) Office and coordinating clinical trials from initial feasibility through to full study set-up and approval. This role provides leadership and operational oversight for all aspects of pre-initiation research governance and study delivery preparation, ensuring compliance with national and Trust policies, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and regulatory requirements.
The post holder acts as the primary contact for sponsors, Contract Research Organisations (CROs), and investigators throughout the feasibility, costing, contracting, and approvals process. They oversee study amendments, ensuring timely review and implementation, and manage the RM&G office function. As line manager for Band 5 Clinical Trials Coordinators and administrative staff, the Senior Clinical Trials Coordinator promotes an efficient, high-quality research support service, driving consistency and best practice across the R&D Department.
This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on research delivery, collaborate with a wide range of professionals, and contribute to the continuous improvement of research services within the Trust.
Main Responsibilities
Research Management and Governance (RM&G)
* Oversee the operational management of the RM&G Office, ensuring all research studies are processed, reviewed, and approved according to Trust policies and national regulations.
* Lead coordination of expressions of interest, liaising with investigators and departments to assess study feasibility and capability.
* Manage the review and submission of research study documentation, including contracts, costing templates, site agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
* Support negotiation of study budgets and financial arrangements in collaboration with the Research Business Development Manager and Finance Team.
* Oversee site set-up processes, ensuring all regulatory and capacity assessments are completed prior to study activation.
* Coordinate study amendments, ensuring prompt review, classification, and implementation across all active trials.
* Maintain oversight of all RM&G records and databases, ensuring data accuracy for performance reporting and compliance audits.
Clinical Trial Coordination
* Provide expert guidance and operational support for studies from feasibility through set-up and activation.
* Liaise with Principal Investigators, Sponsors, and CROs to ensure trials meet regulatory, contractual, and operational timelines.
* Support site selection visits, site initiation visits, and study start-up activities to ensure the Trust's readiness for delivery.
* Work with study teams to address barriers to activation and recruitment, escalating issues appropriately.
* Ensure all site files, delegation logs, and study records are maintained in line with GCP and inspection-readiness standards.
Leadership and Line Management
* Line manage Band 5 Clinical Trials Coordinators and administrative support staff, including appraisals, sickness management, and performance reviews.
* Allocate and monitor workloads, ensuring timely completion of tasks and effective prioritisation across the RM&G and Clinical Trials functions.
* Provide coaching, mentorship, and training in research governance, feasibility, and study set-up processes.
* Support recruitment and induction of new staff and ensure completion of GCP and study-specific training.
Quality, Governance, and Compliance
* Ensure compliance with all local and national research governance requirements.
* Support internal audits, inspections, and monitoring visits, addressing findings and implementing corrective actions.
* Contribute to the continuous improvement of departmental SOPs and operational processes.
* Ensure appropriate systems are in place for document control, audit trails, and version management.
Performance and Reporting
* Monitor and report on research activity, including feasibility throughput, study set-up timelines, and amendment processing.
* Provide regular updates to the Research Operations Manager on key performance indicators and study pipeline metrics.
* Identify areas for process optimisation to improve turnaround times and service quality within the RM&G Office.
Collaboration and Communication
* Build and maintain strong working relationships with investigators, sponsors, CROs, and internal departments (e.g., Finance, Pharmacy, Radiology, Information Governance).
* Represent the R&D Department at internal and external meetings, contributing to the strategic development of research services.
* Act as a point of contact for study sponsors and investigators, ensuring consistent, professional communication throughout the study lifecycle.
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Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.
If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50.
You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.
Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.
DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.
By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.
The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.
Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.
Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.
Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.
The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.