Research Project Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION: RESEARCH PROJECT MANAGER

Job title:	Research Project Manager
Study:	Longterm Longitudinal Investigation of Fetal Exposure To Individual MedicinEs (LIFETIME)
Responsible to:	Research Partnerships Lead
Hours:	14 hours per week (0.4 FTE)
Contract type:	Fixed term for3 years, with the option to extend subject to furtherfunding
Salary:	£20k pa (FTE£50k pa)
Working pattern:	Primarily within core business hours but with flexibility to attend occasional events outside normal office hours as necessary.
Location:	Hybrid working with expected travel to office based in London twice a month.
	Working relationships: Line managed by the Research Partnerships lead at the Epilepsy Research Institute.
	Close working relationship with Dr Rebecca Bromley at the University of Manchester who is the Chief Investigator for the LIFETIME project.
	The role will work closely with the Research Directorate at the Epilepsy Research Institute, international epilepsy researchers, study site personnel and

BACKGROUND

The Epilepsy Research Institute serves as the central hub for the epilepsy research community. Our mission is to radically advance research into the causes, prevention and treatment of epilepsy and associated conditions. The Institute aims to strengthen the epilepsy research ecosystem by driving strategic investment and developing partnerships and collaborations between academia, the NHS, industry, funders, patient groups and people affected by epilepsy. Central to everything we do is a culture of advocating and actioning research priorities. The Institute is building an ecosystem that will attract the best researchers, foster an ambitious and inclusive culture of collaboration, and enable research into epilepsy to flourish.

Underpinning our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan are six themed research programmes. A key ambition of the Reproduction and Hormones theme is to inform the development of safer anti-seizure medications (ASMs) for people with epilepsy who want to start a family.

The LIFETIME project will establish an international collaboration for longitudinal data collection on children exposed in utero to ASMs. Pregnant people with epilepsy will be recruited and their children

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followed until 2 years of age initially. Data collection will include maternal and child health information. The child’s neurodevelopmental trajectory will be assessed via parent completed questionnaires (3months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months) and direct researcher led assessment of the child (24 months). Initially the first phase of the project will run for three years, but the longer-term aim is that the surveillance study will run for a 15-year period, subject to progress and securing adequate funding.

JOB PURPOSE

Under the guidance of the Chief Investigator Dr Rebecca Bromley, the Research Project Manager will provide strong project management, guidance and operational support to the network of centres required to deliver Phase 1 of the LIFETIME project. This will involve putting in place the required agreements (i.e., ethical approvals and financial contracts), and coordinating site activities to support the recruitment and longitudinal assessment of around 350 parents and their children.

The post-holder will be responsible for coordinating Phase 1 of the LIFETIME Project on a day-to-day basis for both the set up and delivery phases. This will involve close liaison with study leads and site personnel in the individual countries. It will be an exciting, interesting and challenging post which will suit an experienced Research Project Manager with a background in health services research, coordination of clinical trials or longitudinal projects, and an interest in clinical neurosciences.

Whilst the majority of work with international partners will be done remotely, there will be some travel within Europe for meetings (estimated twice per year).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Research Project Management Requirements

1. Coordinate the on boarding of new European sites, working with their teams to gain required approvals. This will include the supporting of European teams in their application for ethical approval.

2. Develop new documents and procedures as they are required during this establishment phase and ensure full implementation and adherence.

3. Perform remote monitoring of sites to ensure compliance with study protocol and that they remain on target. Be aware of and take responsibility for working in accordance with applicable regulations and guidance including: International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines on Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP); UK legislation on Clinical Trials; GDPR; UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.

4. Organise and attend project-related meetings, training sessions and engagement activities across the network, supporting both the set-up and ongoing delivery of the network, and ensuring clear

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documentation and timely follow-up. Some flexibility will be required as occasional meetings may be held outside of core working hours.

5. Support the Chief Investigator to prepare and track submissions for additional funding.

6. Preparation for, and facilitation of, audits and/or inspections of data submitted by sites.

7. Production of regular reports on study status. Ensure relevant internal parties as well as funders are advised on progress.

8. Take responsibility for continuous improvement of research administrative processes and target achievement, in line with changing regulations.

9. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.

Relationship Requirements

10.Build and maintain effective working relationships with both UK based and international colleagues, supporting clear and consistent communication across the network.

11.Provide guidance and support for country specific Principal Investigators, as required, including sharing knowledge of best practice, current legislation/guidance, financial management and reporting.

12.Liaise effectively with the wider Research and Finance team at the Epilepsy Research Institute as necessary to support project delivery.

Data Management Requirements

13.Maintain and ensure the integrity of all relevant project data.

14.Ensure the appropriate filing and archiving of essential documents in accordance with regulatory requirements and local policy.

15.Review project data, identifying and resolving errors and ensuring appropriate documentation of any queries.

Finance Requirements

16.Assist with compiling grant budgets for the project centrally and across the partner sites, obtaining costing and quotes for salaries, travel and consumables.

17.Facilitate financial negotiations with the funder representatives.

18.Keep track of all expenditure, process study invoices and ensure relevant parties are paid.

19.Work closely with the Director of Finance and IT at the Institute to ensure all financial processes and transactions are fulfilled effectively and in line with best accountancy practice.

Additional Requirements

20.Willingness to travel to other partner sites within the UK and Europe and to take the lead on their organisation and travel arrangements as necessary.

21. To maintain a strict code of confidentiality in relation to your work.

22. To comply with all aspects of Health & Safety responsibilities.

23. To undertake any other duties as reasonably requested as part of your role.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

	Essential (E) orDesirable (D):
Qualifications:
● A science degree or ability to demonstrate the competencies required toundertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired thenecessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles.	E
Postgraduate degree and/or relevant professional qualification and/orequivalent professional experience in a psychological, biomedical or relatedsubject.	D
● Project Management qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience.	E
Experience:
● Project management - experience of working in clinical research andmanaging or co-ordinating a similar project, including multi-centre trials.	E
• Experience collaborating with research and clinical staff across multi-centreprojects, supporting effective coordination and delivery across sites.	E
• Evidence of financial administration of a large project and/or working withcomplex groups of stakeholders.	E
• Experience organising and managing meetings at all levels including agendaplanning, minute taking and follow up activities for meetings includinginternal and external partners.	E
Previous experience of working with large database systems.	D
Previous experience of coordinating longitudinal clinical research acrossdifferent countries.	D
Knowledge:
● Excellent understanding of current clinical research regulations (e.g., the EUClinical Trials and GCP Directives, the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical	E

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Trials) Regulations, the UK policy Framework for Health and Social CareResearch, the Data Protection Act and GDPR).
● An understanding of ethical issues surrounding research involving humanparticipants and preparing submissions of research projects to an ethicscommittee.	E
● Knowledge of the fundamentals of research grant application, administrationand management.	E
● Knowledge and understanding of international studies and the contracts andagreements required.	E
● Knowledge and understanding of interrogating and maintaining databases,processing, analysing and presenting data (including data cleaning).	E
Skills:
● Ability to understand and communicate the clinical and scientific aspects of aresearch project.	E
● Excellent oral and written communication skils with the ability tocommunicate at all levels.	E
● Ability to work independently and as part of a team, assessing priorities andmanaging workload effectively.	E
Excellent budgetary and administration skills, including tracking expenditureand supporting project delivery.	E
● Excellent numeracy and IT skill including sound knowledge of MicrosoftOffice applications.	E
● Able to carry out on-site monitoring visits to ensure compliance with theprotocol.	E
● Ability to develop and cost research project budgets, including for grantapplications.	D
● Knowledge of medical terminology.	D
Personal competencies:
Ability to acknowledge limitations and know when to seek advice.	E
Strong attention to detail, with a focus on accuracy and quality.	E
Self-motivated, with the ability to use initiative and solve problemseffectively.	D
Taking responsibility foridentifying own learning needs and maintaining upto date knowledge of clinical research and data governance regulations.	D
● Tact, diplomacy, discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.	D

Created: April 2026