Team Leader - Senior Research Nurse

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Team Leader - Senior Research Nurse The closing date is 26 February 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Clinical Research Nurse in the Rheumatology Research Department at University College London Hospital as Team Leader for the Clinical Research Team. This post would be ideally suited for someone with experience of leading research teams and working with adolescents and adults in the NHS. It is a full time position 37.5 hours a week until 31/03/2025 in the first instance.

This role is embedded in the Medical Specialties Division, within the Medicine Board in the Rheumatology department across adult and adolescent rheumatology services. The Rheumatology Research Department works on a portfolio of University College London Hospital (UCLH) sponsored and hosted studies. We recruit to studies for adult and adolescent patients with inflammatory conditions. You will lead on several projects and support colleagues on others. Current studies include interventional trials of medicinal products (Phase I to IV) and observational projects.

Main duties of the job The successful candidate will work closely with clinicians and academics in a close-knit team of research nurses and coordinators. They will be expected to develop their clinical skills.

This is a varied role suitable for a highly proficient worker with great communication skills who enjoys working across multiple projects in a collaborative manner. Candidates should be proficient computer users and have an interest in clinical research and rheumatology.

About us University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world class research.

We provide first class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Job responsibilities For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

The Team Leader will work autonomously to support the running of clinical trials and observational studies across an identified area.

The role will entail clinical and management/leadership responsibilities, the ratio will be determined by the needs of the service and will fluctuate as the portfolio evolves.

To provide line management to staff members in the research delivery workforce, including, but not limited to, Research Nurses, Clinical Trial Practitioners and Research Coordinators.

To recruit patients into clinical trials as per Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

To design and deliver training to all members of the team as required.

To lead projects as directed Rheumatology Clinical Research Lead.

Maintain health, safety and security of self and others in own work area through ensuring own and others knowledge of relevant local / national policies and procedures, and that these are adhered to.

Work according to the Good Clinical Practice and relevant professional standards and guidelines.

Promote peoples equity, diversity and rights, through ensuring that own and others practice is in the best interests of patients.

Develop own knowledge and expertise within the speciality / research field.

Refer to other health professionals when this will improve health outcomes or when risks and needs are beyond own competence and scope of practice.

Support patients in the delivery of care and meeting their health and wellbeing needs by providing advice and information, promoting their wishes and beliefs and addressing their concerns.

Monitor and review the effectiveness of interventions with the patient and colleagues and modify this to meet changing needs and established goals.

Facilitate recruitment of patients into studies.

Management of Investigator Site Files and relevant trial documentation.

Completion of relevant patient related study documentation and maintenance of study related electronic records.

Ensuring contractual local and national regulatory authority obligations are observed.

Provide administrative support related to the interventional and cohort studies.

Report recruitment metrics as required and resolve data queries.

Cross support the Centre support team for key activities and events, including Centre meetings, PPIE events, International scientific panel (ISP) visits, Symposium, and funder inspections and visits.

The successful candidate will be strongly encouraged to develop phlebotomy skills.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH Assist with or lead (as appropriate) the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of clinical research studies, and the setting of standards of practice.

Assist with or lead (as appropriate) patient recruitment and day to day management / organisation of clinical trials and studies, to include: patient assessment, data collection and database management, blood sample collection and sample processing, monitoring of adverse reactions and compliance.

Assist with data entry onto clinical trial databases.

Have an up to date working knowledge of governing research legislation.

Ensure the specific study protocols and procedures are adhered to in accordance with local practice and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (GCP).

Participate in audit programmes and identify areas of potential research relating to the speciality.

Identify own developmental needs and establish objectives for personal development.

Take part in reflection and appropriate learning from practice, in order to maintain and develop competence and performance.

QUALITY ASSURANCE Assist with external audit and regulatory inspection of studies, as well as routine internal audits of processes.

Contribute to the creation and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures.

Ensure strict adherence to research protocols, including specific requirements for blood sample collection and processing, all trial assessments, adverse event recording, and accurate and legible documentation including all source data and medical record scripts.

To ensure that the correct version of the trial protocol and all other study documents are used at all times.

Direct and support nurses on the application of and adherence to QA processes, in order to maintain regulatory compliance across all clinical research services.

CONSULTANCY/COLLABORATION Provide advice and support to the multi disciplinary team both internally and externally regarding patients and research studies.

Contribute to effective communication between trial centres, sponsors and investigator sites nationally and internationally as required.

Promote effective communication with study participants regarding study protocol, patient information sheets and consenting procedures and abide by ICH/GCP research practice.

Ensure that appropriate information is disseminated within the speciality, the organisation and within external agencies and forums.

Disseminate study data, research outcomes and specialist knowledge via poster presentations, written publication and other media as appropriate at local, national and international conferences.

LEADERSHIP / MANAGEMENT Develop effective planning, organising, problem solving and prioritisation skills.

Manage own workload effectively through developing project and time management skills.

Responsible for the management of a caseload, including liaison, where appropriate, with other agencies and the provision of specialist advice within this clinical area.

Assist with training junior staff members.

Negotiate and agree with individuals, groups and other practitioners, outcomes, roles and responsibilities and action to be taken to develop resources, services and facilities.

Maintain appropriate channels and styles of communication to meet the needs of patients, relatives and carers, managers, peers and other professions / agencies.

Develop and use effective decision making skills and evaluate the process and results.

Liaise with sponsor companies, Research & Development Department (R&D) and Local Research Ethics Committee (LREC) where appropriate.

Responsible and accountable for resource issues directly related to the research studies as delegated.

Liaise with Divisional and related departments (i.e. pharmacy and laboratories) as appropriate.

Ensure adequate study supplies are maintained; order further stocks/supplies as required.

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