Lead Portfolio Research Nurse

Job overview

This is an exciting new NIHR Portfolio research delivery post that will work across the biomedical campus and a wide variety of specialties. You will lead on supporting high quality, inclusive, cost-effective operational research nurse support for NIHR portfolio studies, mainly Phase III, outside of the Cambridge Clinical Research Centre and the Cambridge Clinical Trials Centre. 

This post is being established to provide leadership and support for NIHR portfolio research outside of the CCRC and CCTC for mainly Phase III research. 

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus combines research in world-class institutes, patient care in Cambridge University Hospitals with over 700 studies open at any one time and the Royal Papworth Hospital. There is drug discovery though GlaxoSmithKline’s Clinical Unit and AstraZeneca’s global research headquarters. 

Main duties of the job

Lead on supporting high quality, inclusive, cost-effective operational research nurse support for NIHR portfolio studies across the CUH divisions.  

Lead on research nurse support for national initiatives for improved set up, delivery and growth of the NIHR commercial portfolio and its related metrics.

Lead on collaborative working across specialties through a new Cluster Model.

Lead on the increase in completed NIHR My Research Experience surveys at CUH and dissemination of the results to inform best practice.

Lead on research nurse training and skills to ensure effective cost recovery for portfolio studies at CUH. 

Responsible for communicating NIHR portfolio delivery performance to the research   nurse community.

Support and promote the CUH Strategy 2026, working closely with AHP/CRP and clinical colleagues to engage and promote research.

Provide expert advice and support for the research nurse community, linking in with the work of the Chief Nursing Office.

Support communication and strengthening of the governance and reporting      infrastructure for research nurses working on Portfolio studies.

Act as a point of contact and support for escalation of research nurse concerns and issues in collaboration with line managers and others such as CI/PIs.

Working for our organisation

Come Nurse with us…

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live. 

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:

-        applied for a Graduate visa

-        or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

Please note that we cannot accept applications from individuals who do not have the right to work in the UK or who have less than 6 months remaining on their visa from the proposed start date."

This vacancy will close on 02 Sept 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 15 September 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

1. RGN with first degree

2. Post registration qualification in research / research delivery in addition to GCP and VIC

3. Teaching & mentoring qualification

4. Evidence of professional continuous development and portfolio of learning

5. Leadership or management module

6. Willingness & ability to work toward masters

Desirable criteria

1. Masters Degree

2. Advanced communication skills or Counselling qualification.

Experience

Essential criteria

1. Significant B7 level in a research role and leading a research team.

2. Significant experience of the set up and delivery of portfolio commercial research and CTIMPS

3. Evidence of leading service change.

4. Managing and or leading a team

5. Experience in project management

Desirable criteria

1. Introducing effective new ways of working and change management.

2. Practical experience of policy development

3. Experience of MHRA inspections

Knowledge

Essential criteria

1. Significant SoECAT and NCVR process

Desirable criteria

1. Budget management and cost recovery for portfolio studies

Skills

Essential criteria

Proven leadership and team leading skills

Ability to work autonomously as an independent practitioner.

Proven ability to manage and progress own professional development

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria

6. The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Ms Christian Sparke

Job title

NIHR Portfolio Support Manager

Email address

View email address on careers.cuh.nhs.uk

Telephone number

View phone number on careers.cuh.nhs.uk

Additional information

Informal discussion with Christian Sparke for this new post is strongly encouraged