Operations Director inLondon inLondon PUBLISHED MON 23 DEC 2024

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated, experienced and enthusiastic individual to undertake this newly created senior role of Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Operations Director. You will be the senior officer responsible for the operational services of the RRDN. These services are delivered for the RRDN, partner organisations and research funders, with particular emphasis on addressing the needs of the life sciences industry (across both commercial contract and commercial collaborative research). Regional Research Delivery Network in the South London region which will come into effect from 1 October 2024. The expectation is that the successful applicant will commence in post by no later than 1 July 2024.

The RRDN South London will be one of 12 Networks which will replace the existing Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRNs) throughout the country from 1 October 2024 and will support the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy.

The RRDN Operations Director is the senior officer responsible for the operational services of the RRDN. These services are delivered for the RRDN, partner organisations and research funders, with particular emphasis on addressing the needs of the life sciences industry. These services include Study Support, Agile Research Support, regional support for Active National Delivery, Financial Management & Business Operations. The RRDN Operations Director line manages the Service/Team Leaders for the defined operational services.

The purpose of the RDN is to support the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health & care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health & care system and the economy. The RRDN Operations Director is responsible for ensuring research sites have an appropriate level of funding to support and deliver the core NHS service support activities, in line with agreed funding principles. They will establish and maintain proportionate & nationally consistent mechanisms to ensure partner organisations use RDN funding appropriately and effectively.

The RRDN Operations Director will support national and regional initiatives to help meet the research delivery needs of the life sciences industry, including providing a key account management function. The RRDN Operations Director will also work closely with the RRDN Strategic Development Director.

About us

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Be responsible for ensuring research sites have an appropriate level of funding in line with their plans to support and deliver the core NHS service support activities
• Be responsible for working in collaboration with regional R&D departments in order to support those departments in the delivery of their studies
• Be responsible for the management, coordination and delivery of the following key RRDN services: Study Support Service (including Enhanced, On-Demand Study Support); Agile Research Support; Active National Delivery (regional contribution); Commercial Services; Financial management (including Excess Treatment Costs); Business Operations
• Be responsible for the coordination of AcoRD (Attributing the costs of health & social Care Research and Development) Specialists and National Contract Value Reviewers
• Budgetary management for the RRDN hosted services, NHS support costs allocation and the Operations element of the RRDN funding allocation (total RRDN funding to be £35m per annum per RRDN on average)
• Leading regional and supporting national initiatives to support research delivery needs of the life sciences industry, including acting as a key account manager
• Developing mechanisms and support for RRDN partner organisations to recover costs from commercial research funders in a timely and efficient manner
• Being a visible leader and actively promoting a culture of staff development, collaboration, positive staff experience, wellbeing and inclusion, and embedding patient, carer and public involvement within the RRDN at all appropriate levels of decision making
• Develop, lead and deliver significant national programmes of work on behalf of the RDN Board
• Support the development of a 3-year RRDN Strategic Implementation Plan in line with the RDN strategic aims and national 3-year plan. The RRDN Strategic Implementation Plan will be developed in conjunction with regional partners, including NHSE regional offices, ICSs, AHSNs, patients and the public
• Be accountable for ensuring that all necessary contracts or agreements required are in place before funds are provided to research sites
• Actively promote equality of opportunity, inclusivity and diversity in the RDN, for research participation and RDN staff
• Engage effectively with NHS organisations to maximise reach, impact and delivery of the RDN and its initiatives
• Enable collaborative relationships through effective network leadership, acting as a role model for others
• Work with partners across the RRDN region and nationally to progress improvements and transformation activities ensuring the RDN can realise the opportunities which come from working across the wider health and social care system
• Actively contribute to national NIHR community engagement initiatives to increase access to health and care research for under-served groups and lead regional strategies to deliver this across the RRDN region

BUSINESS PLANNING

• Be responsible for ensuring research sites have an appropriate level of funding in line with their plans to support and deliver the core NHS service support activities
• Be responsible for reviewing, evaluating and approving research site delivery plans, and be responsible for periodically performance monitoring against those plans to ensure that RDN funding is being used appropriately and effectively
• Contribute to the oversight and development of RRDN business, financial, strategic development and impact plans, and associated reports
• Develop and optimise potential for high quality and sustainable health and care research within the region and nationally in alignment with RDN vision, direction and strategic aims
• Ensure all business planning, implementation and reporting requirements are met in line with the RRDN Host Organisation Contract
• Ensure effective mechanisms and services are in place for the continued support of the RDN Portfolio, with particular emphasis on addressing the needs of the life sciences industry

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• Be responsible for the management, coordination and delivery of the following key RRDN services: Study Support Service (including Enhanced, On-Demand Study Support); Agile Research Support; Active National Delivery (regional contribution); Commercial Services; Financial management (including Excess Treatment Costs); Business Operations
• Line management of the Service/Team Leads for the above RRDN services
• Ensure that the RRDN is managed in line with the requirements of the RRDN Host Organisation Contract
• Ensure that the RRDN provides effective, high quality and nationally consistent services
• Ensure that relevant national strategies, policies and frameworks are fully implemented and associated targets met

ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Be a visible leader and actively promoting a culture of staff development, collaboration, positive staff experience, wellbeing and inclusion, and embedding patient, carer and public involvement within the RRDN at all appropriate levels of decision making
• Be an ambassador for RDN and actively modelling and championing RDN values
• As part of the RRDN Senior Leadership Team, advance the development of a highly professional and expert team to ensure effective delivery through appraisal, personal development planning, coaching and mentoring
• Develop effective working relationships with NHSE regional offices, ICSs, AHSNs, LETBs and other local stakeholders and partners
• Ensure professional supervisory arrangements are in place for the RRDN Staff (the RRDN Core Team, RRDN Agile Research Support Team, and RRDN Specialty and Settings Leads)
• Promote a learning organisation that uses the knowledge and skills of all members to improve performance and generate helpful and shared outputs
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the vision and direction for the RDN and translate into deliverable priorities for the RRDN

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Provide strong leadership, engaging with the regional research community to support and enable the efficient set up and delivery of RDN Portfolio research, with particular emphasis on addressing the needs of the life sciences industry
• Contribute to the establishment and oversight of effective systems and processes for robust performance management to ensure the RRDN Host Organisation Contract is adhered to
• Analysis of complex and often conflicting data to identify strategic priorities and business plan activities
• Identify areas of underperformance and take the necessary action to resolve, using appropriate risk management approaches and escalations

LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY

• Establish mutually beneficial relationships with life sciences industry partners in collaboration with the RDNCC to maximise the opportunities available for the benefit of our population
• Champion the RDNs capacity and capability to support Life Sciences Industry research and the contribution of the Life Sciences Industry to the NHS
• Drive forward the RDN strategies to support the needs of Life Sciences Industry research regionally and nationally
• Ensure that RRDN services provided to the Life Sciences Industry are provided consistently, within the required timeframes and to a high quality standard and in line with identified national RDN requirements

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Budgetary management for the RRDN hosted services, NHS support costs allocation and the Operations element of the RRDN funding allocation (total RRDN funding to be £35m per annum per RRDN on average)
• Ensure that effective financial procedures and arrangements are in place and that these are in line with the RRDN Host Organisations financial regulations, RDNCC guidance and the RRDN Host Organisation Contract
• Ensure value for money and strive for continuous efficiencies in use of funding

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

• Utilise performance and other available data including benchmarking to identify and drive forward improvements in service delivery and performance
• Utilise service improvement approaches, such as Lean, or as directed by RDNCC, to streamline operational delivery systems and processes in order to optimise efficiency, delivery and value for money.
• Ensure robust mechanisms for continuous operational and business improvement processes are in place, supporting the delivery of transformational change across the RDN
• Take responsibility for the implementation of all relevant RDN and RRDN policies and procedures

NHS AND NON-NHS ENGAGEMENT

• Develop and foster effective relationships and collaborations with stakeholders such as, but not limited to, ICS/ICBs, HEIs, charities, other NIHR infrastructure, NHSE/I, AHSNs, to enhance and promote research and development across the health and care economy
• Ensure engagement and commitment from regional NHS organisations / providers of NHS services, other parts of NIHR and key external stakeholders as appropriate to enable implementation of RDN strategies
• Work across the health and care specialties to identify and develop further opportunities to embed research into the NHS, non-NHS and wider health and care environment

ENSURING PATIENT, CARER AND PUBLIC IMPACT ON DELIVERY OF RDN STRATEGY

• Act as a champion for patients, carers and the public, ensuring that their interests are meaningfully incorporated into the development and delivery of the RDN and RRDN
• Ensure all patient, carer and public involvement and engagement activities of the RRDN are of the highest professional standard
• Embed patient, carer and public involvement within the RRDN at all appropriate levels of decision making

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

• Be accountable for ensuring that all necessary contracts or agreements required are in place before funds are provided to research sites
• Ensuring that the RRDN and its associated services are provided in line with the RRDN Host Organisations corporate governance requirements