Research Participation Manager

Alzheimers Society

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by providing help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. Our values ensure that our focus remains clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead, reminding us of what we all stand for.

About the role

As Research Participation Manager, you will lead the operational delivery and support the strategic development of the Society’s research participation team. You will line manage and develop the Research Participation team and associated staff, overseeing programme performance and reporting, and ensuring all activity aligns with UK clinical research regulations, data governance requirements, and organisational priorities.

In this role, you will work collaboratively across the Society and with external partners. You will strengthen cross-sector relationships, drive inclusive and culturally competent engagement, and enhance awareness of, and participation in, vital dementia research, particularly among underserved communities. Your role will also help to ensure the provision of high-quality, safe, and compliant support for people accessing dementia clinical research opportunities.

You will provide leadership, expert guidance, and robust programme management to maximise the reach, impact, and visibility of the Society’s research participation initiatives, increasing opportunities for people to become aware of, and participate in research; bringing forward the day when a dementia diagnosis no longer devastates lives.

Responsibilities

Management and Leadership:

• Responsible for the leadership, operational line management, development and delivery of the Research Participation team, allocated staff, resources and any assigned budget to ensure all agreed internal and external targets are met.
• Ongoing assessment and management of interdependencies between internal and external stakeholders involved in the Research Participation programme; reporting resource and capacity conflicts, challenges and issues to the Lead Research Nurse as appropriate.
• Responsible for ensuring robust risk assessments are performed and recorded for each participation support request; ensuring all participation support plans are fully compliant with all applicable UK clinical research, ethical, regulatory and data protection requirements.
• Ensure all participation support plans and awareness-raising initiatives comply with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) rules and codes of practice.
• Responsible for safe practice within the Research Participation team, including but not limited to: establishing and monitoring quality control and assurance protocols in relation to handling of Join Dementia Research, Trial Finder and participation support enquiries and ensuring safeguarding and quality is considered at all times.
• Deputise as appropriate for the Lead Research Nurse, Research and Influencing Partnerships
• Lead and Heads of function within Research and Innovation.
• Responsible for developing and delivering inclusive and culturally informed initiatives that raise awareness of, and improve equitable access to, clinical research opportunities, with a particular focus on underserved and diverse communities.
• Collaborate with Communications colleagues across the Society to support wider communication activities related to research participation and public research awareness.
• Collaborate with Income and Engagement colleagues to support fundraising activity and associated reporting requirements in relation to research participation across philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and individual giving.
• Occasional requirement to represent the Society in media interviews, at conferences and seminars across the UK as well as act as a spokesperson for the Society.
• Ability and willingness to travel independently on behalf of the Society, including occasional overnight stays as required.
• Developing and managing direct reports, including setting clear development objectives and appraising performance.
• To contribute to local appraisals and reviews as appropriate.

Reporting:

• Produce regular internal and external updates on programme progress for funders, Senior
• Leadership Team, Executive Leadership Team, and the Board.
• Lead monthly and quarterly business reporting for the Research Nurse Programme, Join
• Dementia Research and Trial Finder workstreams, including look back/look forward commentary, programme status, and budget and performance tracking.
• Work with the Lead Research Nurse, Research and Innovation Business Manager, and Project
• Management Office to ensure robust programme and risk management, and to evaluate the impact of research participation activities.
• Responsibility for management and immediate reporting of any data breaches or other information governance issues

Partnerships:

• Identify, facilitate and manage key stakeholder relationships in collaboration with the Lead Research Nurse, Research and Influencing Partnerships Lead and Heads of function within the Research and Influencing directorate to prioritise partnership opportunities to support participation activity.
• Through internal influencing, and in close collaboration with the Lead Research Nurse, Senior
• Leadership Team and Heads of function, ensure the benefits of the Research Participation programme are realised Society-wide; particularly to drive awareness of the programme, enhance our thought leadership ambitions and optimise impact both internally and externally.
• Build impactful and sustainable relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders across the dementia clinical trials landscape, seeking opportunities to collaborate on initiatives to drive increased awareness of, and participation in, dementia clinical research.
• Support and advise the Lead Research Nurse, Research and Influencing Partnerships Lead and Heads of function within Research and Innovation on internal and external opportunities and risks, bringing forward innovative solutions and ideas to achieve team, directorate and organisational objectives.
• Work collaboratively with internal departments to engage the public and people affected by dementia and raise awareness of the Society’s work to widen opportunities to participate in dementia clinical research ( via Research Nurse Programme, Join Dementia Research, Trial Finder, Research Engagement Network, etc.).
• Support internal fundraising initiatives and media requests, including social media, as required.

Education, Training and Development:

• Develop and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current advances in dementia diagnosis, treatment and clinical research, including the regulatory landscape, and disseminate this knowledge internally and externally.
• Prepare and deliver presentations relating to research participation and Alzheimer’s Society's support of this.
• Develop, implement and evaluate clinical research-specific education and training programmes for the Research Participation team to ensure all team members are supported, confident and competent in their roles.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Skills & Knowledge:

• Experience of working in clinical research, science or health sectors. 
• Experience of shaping and leading significant programmes of work with high exposure.
• Good organisational skills, with experience managing multiple competing tasks accurately and to a high standard.
• Able to work across a range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver complex projects.
• Able to create and manage database information for different purposes.
• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• Experience of, and ability to, effectively lead and manage a geographically dispersed remote team.
• Ability to influence across organisational and geographical boundaries in pursuit of a common goal.
• Demonstrate high levels of integrity, leadership and emotional intelligence.
• An ability to deal with sensitive information in a professional way, demonstrating a high level of self-awareness at all times.
• Good interpersonal and interpretation skills with the ability to have open, jargon-free conversations with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including people affected by dementia.
• Proactive, solution-focused approach, able to work independently and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines.
• Ability to present complex information in accessible and understandable ways.
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills.
• Professional, credible, and respectful approach, able to build trust with a wide range of stakeholders. 

Competencies & Personal Attributes:

• Be a team player, supporting colleagues when there are deadlines, and know when to ask for help themselves.
• Be a self-starter with a determination to make a difference.
• Effective organisational and timekeeping skills.
• Good attention to detail.
• Non-judgmental communication.
• Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities.
• Understanding of the inclusion agenda and its relevance within a diverse society

Compensation & Benefits

• Paid compassionate and bereavement leave
• Paid time off work to support
• Annual leave of 27 days, increasing to 30, plus bank holidays
• Career breaks of up to 3 months
• Flexible working
• Wellbeing leave
• Health Cash Plan
• Paid dependants leave
• Values Hero and Society Legend Awards
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• Scottish Widows - with up to 8% employer contribution rate
• Life Assurance Scheme - two times your annual salary
• Home Allowance of £312 per year
• Discounted gym membership with Society Plus
• Mental health app and unlimited therapy
• Women in Leadership Development Programme
• Leadership development programme
• Financial support towards relevant professional qualifications, enhanced family leave - 16 weeks paid for all parents
• Paid time off work for fertility treatments for both partners, paid carers' leave

Working locations

• Home-based
• Occasional travel required for in-person stakeholder or team meetings.

How to apply

• Apply to our website
• Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

Policies

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment, or health condition, or individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy here, along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups, helps us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.

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