Digital Research Access Manager
Job summary
About the CRDC Sussex
The Commercial Research Delivery Centre Sussex is reimagining the way commercial clinical trials are set up and delivered, working across Sussex to ensure wider access to research for our whole community.
Building on the infrastructure, support, and expertise already in place across the region, CRDC Sussex is bringing together system partners to accelerate clinical trial set up and delivery, while working closely with our public stakeholders to widen our reach to people that haven't previously had access to commercial research.
The Sussex CRDC is not just another piece of research infrastructure; we are implementing processes that are shaping the future of commercial research in Sussex. As our Digital Research Access Manager you'll sit at the heart of this transformation. You'll be responsible for accelerating research processes by integrating digital tools and streamlining workflows. You will manage coordination between multiple partners, (including NHS Trusts, General Practices, care homes, community pharmacy, and beyond), working with leading pharmaceutical companies and cutting-edge research centres, to make commercial clinical trials faster, smarter, and available to more people. Currently research delivery depends substantially on accessing data about potential participants on a clinician-by-clinician basis.
Main duties of the job
o Lead and coordinate a key digital workstream, ensuring seamless delivery across regional partners o Shape and optimise processes by integrating digital tools, streamlining workflows and coordinating multi-stakeholder collaborations to speed up trial setup, improve recruitment, and enhance efficiency
Realise the potential of digital data to widen patient access to research, helping to achieve the UK Clinical Research Delivery 'Right Research Right Setting' ambition.o Oversee governance, reporting, and performance of a workstream supporting participant identification and recruitment in healthcare across Sussex, ensuring compliance with regulatory and data protection requirements.o Build collaborations with all the digital and data infrastructure in the diverse partnerships across Sussex, to ensure the right tools are used to support the right study
- Compliment the CRDCs other workstreams to ensure we meet the government's150 day research set up targets
About us
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
This vacancy is advertised as a time-limited opportunity is expected to be undertaken on a secondment basis. Before applying, employees must discuss the opportunity with their current line manager to confirm whether they may be released from their substantive role if successful. Release to undertake a secondment is not an automatic entitlement and must be agreed by all relevant parties: the employee, their current line manager, and the recruiting line manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Digital Research Access Manager will provide strategic leadership, governance, and system-wide oversight to unlock the value of digital data for commercial clinical research across Sussex. Reporting to the CRDC Research Business Manager, the postholder will hold overall accountability for the design, integration, and delivery of transformational, scalable digital pathways that enable rapid, data-driven participant identification across multiple care settings. This role is key in enabling change in the way participants are identified for commercial clinical trials, improving speed and efficiency, whilst widening opportunities across our community. A core responsibility of this role is the direct leadership and line management of up to 4 Band 6 Digital Research Facilitators (funding is currently available for one post,with potential to expand to a maximum of 4 if additional funding is identified). The Manager will translate strategic regional research objectives into operational reality by guiding the Facilitators work program, removing complex cross-organisational data barriers, and fostering key relationships across the Integrated Care System(ICS) to streamline secondary and primary care workflows.The postholder will oversee the performance frameworks that ensure the team meets strict national metrics and will champion the strategic use of regional datasets to drive health equality and attract commercial investment. Bringing a clinical professional background alongside proven expertise in embedding digital innovation, the postholder will act as a senior expert, bridging the gap between clinical safety, digital system integration, and commercial research delivery. The role also includesdeputising for the CRDC Research Business Manager where required.
Refer to the Job descriptions and specification for full details
Person Specification
Professional Registration
- Current or prior clinical professional registration
Experience/ Qualifications
- Detailed knowledge and awareness of the specialist field of business management to Masters level or via equivalent focussed experience with expert knowledge in each area of role In-depth understanding of digital research systems, data flows, and participant identification pathways. Strong knowledge of information governance, GDPR, and ethical use of routinely collected health data. Experience of managing Change Knowledge and understanding of NHS structure and organisation Knowledge of NHS commissioning and planning process Understanding of commercial clinical research processes, feasibility, and study set-up requirements. Knowledge of primary, secondary, and community care data environments across an ICS. Familiarity with national digital research initiatives (e.g., PRIDES, Patients Know Best, Secure Data Environment, NHS App functionality).
Skills
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues Ability to interpret complex clinical trial protocols and translate them into digital delivery pathways. Highly effective communicator able to adapt style for senior leaders, clinicians, sponsors, and the public. Skilled in influencing and negotiating with stakeholders across multiple organisations and sectors. Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage busy operational teams and secure buy-in. Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve technical, operational, and governance issues. Ability to present complex information clearly in written, verbal, and digital formats. Skilled in leading change and embedding new digital processes across diverse care settings.
People Management and Development
- Proven line management skills. Evidence of teambuilding capability to operate confidently across multiple organisations' digital data environments and organisational contexts. Establishes effective systems, processes, and ways of working for a new, cross-organisational service. Promotes a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice, and high-quality digital research delivery. Provides coaching and guidance to staff and partners on digital research pathways and data-enabled recruitment. Supports agile and flexible working across diverse health and care settings, ensuring staff are equipped to work effectively beyond the Trust. Ensures team wellbeing, workload balance, and adherence to UHSussex values in all aspects of practice.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Specific Requirements
- Experience delivering or supporting digital components of clinical research, ideally including commercial trials. Experience working across multiple health and care organisations within an ICS or similar system. Experience engaging primary care and other partners in research or digital transformation initiatives. Experience collaborating with sponsors/CROs and responding to commercial research requirements. Experience leading or supervising staff and coordinating cross-organisational workstreams. Experience gathering and acting on patient, public, and provider feedback to improve services. Expertise in stakeholder engagement and public involvement initiatives (advisory fora, community strategies, consent-to-contact registries) Strong IT proficiency for digital tools, dashboards, project management software and programme planning support Experience managing multi partner, cross sector clinical research collaborations
Analytical & Judgement Skills
- Ability to analyse complex data requirements and determine optimal digital pathways for participant identification. Ability to redesign research processes or implement system wide improvements (trial setup, recruitment, delivery optimisation) Sound judgement in balancing research needs with IG, ethical, and operational constraints. Ability to assess feasibility risks and propose evidence-based solutions. Skilled in evaluating digital processes and identifying opportunities for improvement and standardisation. Ability to make autonomous decisions in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. Strategic portfolio planning experience (aligning studies with NHS capacity and population needs)
Freedom to Act
- Works autonomously within broad professional and organisational policies, using expert judgement to make decisions on complex digital research processes and participant-identification pathways. Leads the development and implementation of new digital approaches across multiple organisations, determining priorities and actions without direct supervision. Exercises significant discretion in interpreting clinical trial requirements, information governance constraints, and operational realities to recommend the most appropriate digital solutions. Acts as the senior specialist for digital research access within the Commercial Research Delivery Centre, providing authoritative advice to colleagues, partners, and senior leaders. Identifies risks, issues, and opportunities proactively, taking independent action to resolve problems and escalate only when necessary. Represents the CRDC and UHSussex in regional and national forums, making decisions that influence digital research delivery beyond the Trust. Operates with a high degree of independence when engaging external stakeholders, including sponsors, CROs, primary care, and ICS partners, ensuring commitments are met and expectations managed. Responsible for own professional actions and have sufficient autonomy for the delivery of the role Able to interpret national and local guidance and to develop local policies to reflect these standards
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Address
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Sussex House, Abbey Road
Brighton
BN2 5BE
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/