Professor of Clinical Trials

Applications are invited for the position of Chair in Clinical Trials, working in the North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health and Social Care (NWORTH). This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the leadership of a nationally-recognised clinical trials unit.

NWORTH is a fully UKCRC registered trials unit with an excellent history and reputation. The unit specialises in large-scale, pragmatic multi-centred trials of complex interventions in health and social care based in challenging and complicated healthcare and community settings. Our work in mental health including dementia research has marked us out as UK-leading. NWORTH also has expertise in conducting studies using alternative designs such as large-scale longitudinal observational cohort studies, mixed methods approaches, multi-arm, multi-stage trials, and evidence synthesis. NWORTH has a current project portfolio of 20 studies with a total grant value of over £32m.

We are looking for an exceptional individual with a strong record of research funding and international quality publications. The post-holder will be responsible for contributing to the strategic running of the CTU, and will secure research funding, both as Chief Investigator and as part of collaborative teams. The successful applicant will be expected to collaborate with scientific and clinical research groups in Wales (for instance within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the new Clinical Research Facility), the UK and internationally to enhance the reputation and portfolio of NWORTH.

The post is full-time and permanent, and the successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as practical.

This role will be located at our Bangor campus. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Interested applicants are invited to contact Professor Dyfrig Hughes, Professor in Pharmacoeconomics / Director of Research, e-mail : [email protected]

Committed To Equal Opportunities

Overview

Bangor University

Founded in 1884, Bangor University has a long tradition of academic excellence and a strong focus on the student experience. Around 10,000 students currently study at the University, with teaching staff based within nine Academic Schools. Bangor University’s research has been ranked highly in the Government’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), with 85% judged to be world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). Bangor’s research in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy is ranked 15th overall in the UK. The University has been consistently successful in the National Student Survey results and is regularly amongst the UK’s top 10 Universities for student satisfaction (excluding specialist institutions).

College of Human Sciences

The College of Human Sciences (CoHS) has a track record of world leading teaching and research excellence and high levels of student satisfaction. The College provides professional training across a wide range of medical and health professions, in addition to a range of core foundational research activities which underpin the College’s Schools contributions to health research and research methods, translational science, psychology and neuroscience, preventive health, rehabilitation, clinical intervention, language and education, and human performance and applied physiology. In addition, CoHS boasts excellent teaching and research facilities.

School of Medical and Health Sciences

The School of Medical and Health Sciences is the focus for medical, biomedical, health and care education and research at Bangor University. The school comprises of over 200 staff, delivering to more than 1300 students with a portfolio of programmes that continues to expand. These include the University’s Welsh Government-backed flagship plans for a North Wales Medical School at Bangor University from 2024, Pharmacy degree from 2025, and the BSc in Pharmacology from 2023. The School’s research centres, organised within the Bangor Institute for Medical and Health Research (BIHMR), span primary care, clinical trials, health economics and medicines evaluation, ageing and dementia, public health and cancer biology.

North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health (NWORTH)

The North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health is a registered clinical trials unit (CTU) which has full UKCRC registration (initially awarded in November 2007 and renewed in August 2017) and is currently one of the elements within the Health and Care Research Wales Infrastructure. The clinical trials unit is part funded by the Welsh Government, transitioning to Bangor University infrastructure support from April 2023.

Purpose of the Job

The post holder will be responsible for contributing to the strategic running of NWORTH. They will make an outstanding contribution to the Unit’s profile in terms of research funding captured and research published in leading scientific journals. Working collaboratively, they will be responsible for developing the Unit’s portfolio of research both internally and externally in line with the University’s research strategy.

•  To conduct research of an international standard in a relevant field, with substantial evidence of quality and international peer recognition.
• To sustain and develop a portfolio of funded projects and maintain and develop collaborations with industry and other sectors.
• To supervise post-graduate research students in related topics, and contribute to post-graduate teaching in areas of expertise such as trials methodology
• To undertake School and College leadership roles including leadership of sustained research programmes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Working with the Head of School of Medical and Health Sciences and CTU leadership team, the post-holder will:

Research duties:

• Develop the CTU’s research portfolio in areas of strategic, clinical and methodological importance, to an internationally-excellent standard.
• Undertake lead role in initiatives to secure research funding, as both Chief Investigator and as part of collaborative teams from highly competitive sources.
• Develop methodologically innovative approaches that are required to conduct trials and other well-designed studies in the reality of practice settings.
• Contribute to methodological research in NWORTH and contribute to the body of knowledge of trials methodology.
• Lead authorship of research in internationally-significant, refereed journals
• Support and mentor NWORTH staff to enable them to develop and progress their careers and enhance their skills.
• Supervision of PhDs to completion and contribution to staff mentoring.
• Liaising with national research bodies to identify future research requirements.
• Member of national and/or international committees and editorial boards.

Teaching duties:

• Supervise post-graduate research students in related topics, and contribute to post-graduate teaching in areas of expertise such as trials methodology.
• Develop and contribute to workshops, courses and modules, as appropriate.

 Administrative and Wider Contribution duties:

• Develop internal and external networks and work in partnership by sustaining existing and developing new partnerships and collaborations.
• Promote a collegiate approach and develop team spirit and coherence.
• Foster inter-disciplinary team working.
• Represent NWORTH/ School of Medical and Health Sciences/ CoHS/ Bangor University within research networks in Wales, UK and the wider clinical trial community, policy groups and funding bodies.
• Cultivate strong interactions over an extended period with regional, national and international agencies.
• Contribute to the enhancement of research quality and thinking in the field by being involved in quality assurance and other external decision making bodies.
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities as directed by the Head of School of Medical and Health Sciences.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post-holder will be expected to participate, and lead as appropriate, in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post-holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for him/her self and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by his/her actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post-holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their posts.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

 Essential:

• Educated to PhD level (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area
• Extensive and recognised experience, training and expertise in clinical trials research-
• Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Have completed a minimum of 3 years substantial teaching experience for conversion to HEA Fellowship within 3 years of appointment or hold a PGCertHE teaching qualification (or equivalent) and / or HEA Fellowship recognition

Experience/Knowledge

 Essential:

• Evidence of a sustained record of lead authorship of internationally significant research published in referred journals.
• Significant record of management of research groups and a portfolio of research activity, development of research proposals and management of research projects.
• Extensive and sustained evidence of having supervised PhD students to completion.
• Evidence of success in securing external funding, as appropriate to the subject area, from recognised research funding bodies.
• Substantial teaching experience in a relevant subject area

 Desirable:

• Previous experience in a clinical trials unit or clinical research unit.
• Excellent knowledge of clinical trials regulations and standard operating procedures.
• Experience of working with industry in commercial clinical trials.

Skills/Abilities

 Essential:

• Ability to lead research groups and facilitate, improve and inspire the work of colleagues.
• Ability to prioritise work load and work to deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Demonstrable IT Skills, as required
• Evidence of external networking and profile-raising (e.g. advisor to government bodies).

Other

 Essential:

• Demonstrate an ability to communicate clearly in English, conveying ideas and concepts both verbally and in writing to a diverse audience

 Desirable:

• An appreciation of the bilingual context of health and care delivery across North Wales. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

All candidates must meet the requirements of UK ‘right to work’ requirements *** If you require Home Office permission to work in the UK, or need to switch your visa status in order to take this job we recommend you use the following link to information about the routes into employment and to check eligibility requirements: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Please note that we are unable to employ anyone who does not have the right to live and work in the UK legally. When applying for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will be able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.

Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme) from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University’s Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.

Disclosure & Barring Service

This post is subject to a satisfactory standard Disclosure & Barring Service check. As Bangor University meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions. DBS checks will be updated every 3 years.

Candidates should note that the University uses an external Umbrella body to process DBS checks. As such you should be aware that, if successful in your application, your name and e-mail contact details will be shared with the Umbrella body in order that they may contact you to start the application process.