Research Director / Director CRDC (Primary Care) (Combined Role)
Pier Health Super Partnership
Weston-super-Mare, BS24 7PRView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Salary
£70,000 to £77,368
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
30 October 2026
11 days leftJob description
An exciting opportunity to shape the future of primary care research We are looking for an ambitious and experienced Research Director / Director, CRD...
The Research Director / Director, CRDC (Primary Care) is a combined role and will provide strategic and operational leadership for the organisations' research department and the CRDC (Primary Care).
- Provide strategic leadership to grow Pier Health PCN Research/CRDC (Primary Care) and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
- Deliver contract requirements, commercial agreements, KPIs and agreed objectives.
- Develop a successful research portfolio across commercial and academic studies.
- Build strong partnerships with CRDC networks, RRDN, NHS trusts, PCNs, GP practices, sponsors, CROs, universities and other stakeholders.
- Identify new commercial research opportunities and partnerships.
- Oversee research quality, governance, performance and financial management.
- Monitor performance, manage risks and ensure delivery against targets.
- Lead, develop and motivate the research team.
- Support regional research strategy, workforce development and growth in primary care research capacity.
- Prepare funding bids, annual reports and impact reports.
- Provide monthly updates to the Pier Health Group Board and Finance Director.
- Line management, workforce development and team performance.
Provide strategic leadership to grow Pier Health PCN Research/CRDC (Primary Care), ensuring financial sustainability, high-quality research delivery and achievement of contractual targets and KPIs.
Develop a successful commercial and academic research portfolio, build strong strategic partnerships, and identify new opportunities for growth across primary care.
Lead and develop the research team, oversee performance, governance and financial management, contribute to regional research strategy, and provide funding bids, annual reports and regular updates to the Board and Finance Director.
Essential Experience and Competencies
The following are mandatory requirements for shortlisting:
- Substantial experience working within primary care/general practice.
- Strong understanding of the primary care environment and the challenges of delivering research within it.
- Experience of Primary Care Networks (PCN)s and collaborative working across organisational boundaries.
- Understanding of PCN structures, governance, priorities and operational challenges
- Experience of writing bids for funding and implementing successful bids through to project completion.
- Proven experience of budget responsibility and contracts
- Significant experience of commercial research study delivery, ideally within primary care/NHS.
- Experience working with pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO or other commercial research organisations.
- Understanding of all stages of commercial research delivery, including feasibility, contracts, budgets, recruitment and study delivery.
- Senior leadership and people management experience in multi-professional teams.
- Demonstrable experience of delivering against contracts, KPIs and performance objectives.
- Strong commercial and business development skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Strong understanding of research governance and quality requirements.
- Strong strategic, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Demonstrable track record of delivering measurable outcomes.
- Previous Senior PCN / research leadership experience.
- Experience of leading a CRDC or equivalent primary care research infrastructure.
- Experience of delivering NHS/commissioner/Sponsor contracts.
- Experience of working across multiple PCNs/practices.
- Established relationships with pharmaceutical, biotech or CRO organisations.
- Experience of developing or scaling a commercial research function.
- Knowledge of NIHR/NHS research infrastructure.
Our primary care research department offers a dynamic, collaborative and supportive environment, bringing together a multi-professional research team of over 15 staff, including six research-active GPs and specialist research practitioners with up to 16 years of academic and commercial trial experience.
We pride ourselves on our strong work ethic, flexibility and commitment to delivering high-quality research, underpinned by a proven track record of successful recruitment, rescue-site delivery and long-standing commercial partnerships. Working across a diverse population of 100,000 registered patients, with access to an extended research network covering approximately 1.2 million people, our team has exciting opportunities to contribute to impactful research and improve patient outcomes. Our strong partnerships with local NHS trusts, hospitals and universities further enhance opportunities for collaboration, learning and professional development.
We support our staff through flexible working practices, seven-day access to research facilities, adaptable participant appointments, and access to community and secondary care diagnostics and local laboratory support. Together, we foster a culture of teamwork, innovation and continuous development, where staff can make a meaningful difference while growing their skills and experience within a high-performing research organisation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant clinical, research, healthcare management or business qualification.
- Leadership and senior management experience in primary care setting
- Commercial Research experience
- Evidence of successful bid writing and implementation
Experience
Essential: - 1.Primary Care management / leadership experience; - 2.Research leadership experience; - 3.Commercial research experience
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
14 October 2026
Last checked
16 October 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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