Associate Director of Research and Development Innovations

at  Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RSCH) is seeking an exceptional individual with extensive, demonstrable experience and highly developed communication and leadership skills to help us deliver our ambitious research strategy.
This is an excellent opportunity for a talented and highly-motivated individual who thrives on the challenge of working in the NHS/R&D environment.
You will be joining a growing and dynamic team that is maintaining healthy progress on our strategic initiatives. You will be responsible for all aspects of RD&I activity, including performance management, development and delivery of the RD&I strategy, stakeholder liaison and internal and external communications. You will work in close partnership with the research matron (Cheryl Marriott), the head of R&D (Laura Gordon), the Professional Director of R&D (Prof Aftab Ala ) and the executive lead for R&D and medical director (Dr William Jewsbury).
Research areas that are particularly strong at RSCH reflect the caseload of the hospital. We are a specialist tertiary cancer centre, offering state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment services to a population of up to two million. We are a referral centre for regional oncology, Hepatology, hepatopancreaticobiliary, oesophagogastric, maxillofacial/ENT, urology (robotic) and gynae-oncological surgery.

Operationally the post-holder is responsible for the efficient and effective provision of research and development activities for the trust. This includes, but not limited to:

• Oversight of a circa 50 WTE workforce and wider team , including investigators
• Workforce planning to meet capacity demands within the limitations of unpredictable and non-recurrent research income
• Meeting the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)/National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) performance metrics for the initiation and delivery of clinical research
• Collaboration with University of Surrey and its research office.
• Collaboration with Royal Surrey NIHR CRF.
• Negotiating and delivering on commercial contracts for research and innovation
• Managing a safe and effective clinical service providing care to patients with a range of conditions and varying complexity
• Line Manage key personnel
• Overseeing the progress of key RD&I Teams
• Trust sponsorship of research projects

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn’t the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo
The Associate Director of RD&I is responsible for all aspects of RD&I activity, including performance management, development and delivery of the RD&I strategy, stakeholder liaison and internal and external communications.
As a senior leader within the organisation the post-holder will be a part of the Trust Senior Leadership Team (SLT) involved in or brief on strategic and operational developments where a research or innovation element is required. This will include but not be limited to workforce planning, service redesign, bids for external funding and product development.
This role leads the operational and strategic delivery of research and innovation for the Trust. Acting as an expert advisor to the executive team and developing the strategic direction for the Trust reflecting the national and regional context. Representing the Trust at a regional and national level, the post-holder will work with the Medical Director, and other Directors, to promote the activities and interests of the Trust and involve the Trust in any relevant initiatives that add value to patient experience, service delivery and the current strategic objectives of The Royal Surrey County NHS FT.
The post holder will work in partnership with the Professional Director of R&D to ensure high level performance and the effective management of R&D activity, as well as local R&D strategy development. The post holder will be expected to deputise at local and national research meetings with the NIHR RDN and other key stakeholders where they will represent the interests of the Trust. The role encompasses all aspects of non-commercial and commercial (contract) research and the exploitation of Intellectual Property within NHS, for the benefits of improved patient care and income generation.
The post holder will provide expert advice and support to researchers, NHS staff and other interested parties. There is a requirement to ensure that all research is accounted for, subject to full cost recovery and sound contractual agreements. All Intellectual Property (IP rights, patenting and licensing) generated within the Trust via the Innovation pathway must be protected and licences negotiated to ensure exploitation for the benefits of patients and the Trust.
The post-holder will manage a budget that is generated through activity and work with the Trust Finance team and Research Grants and Finance Administrator to forecast income as accurately as possible and develop investment plans to meet the growing demands of the service. They will manage the departmental finances transparently and in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions.
As an acute and specialist Trust within the Surrey Heartlands footprint, the post-holder will ensure Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust is a strong and consistent partner, leading and being part of strategic alliances to strengthen the health and wealth of the region through research and innovation.
Working at the most senior level with partner organisations and higher education institutions the post-holder will lead discussions on joint working and maintain an awareness of the wider political context to inform internal and external developments. Where appropriate developing relationships and potentially holding honorary positions in local Universities.
We have an excellent relationship with the NIHR RRRDN for Kent, Surrey and Sussex, hosted by RSCH. Many of the regional specialty leads are based at RSCH. In addition to delivering portfolio studies we also work closely with industry and recruit to a wide range of commercial studies.
Excellence in clinical research is a key priority for RSCH and an important enabler for the achievement of excellence and realisation of the Trust’s strategic objectives. The research strategy (2018-2023) describes how well designed and funded, inclusive, patient-focussed research will make a key contribution to the development and delivery of clinical services over the next five years and establishes an ambition for the future of clinical research at the Trust.
There are longstanding connections with the University of Surrey which is adjacent to RSCH and a wealth of collaborations including studies running between the organisations, academics with joint appointments and close working with the University’s Research Integrity Governance and Innovation Office (RIGO). There is an excellent accredited South East NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF) as an early-phase (1 and 2a) centre at Trust and University. We have also recently been recognised by the General Medical Council to open University of Surrey Medical School from September 2024 hosted by University and Royal Surrey (hub NHS Trust

• Oversight of a circa 50 WTE workforce and wider team , including investigators
• Workforce planning to meet capacity demands within the limitations of unpredictable and non-recurrent research income
• Meeting the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)/National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) performance metrics for the initiation and delivery of clinical research
• Collaboration with University of Surrey and its research office.
• Collaboration with Royal Surrey NIHR CRF.
• Negotiating and delivering on commercial contracts for research and innovation
• Managing a safe and effective clinical service providing care to patients with a range of conditions and varying complexity
• Line Manage key personnel
• Overseeing the progress of key RD&I Teams
• Trust sponsorship of research project