CRCTU Operations Manager

Position Details

Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2028

Closing date: 26th October 2026

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Background

The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research.  We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge.  Professional Services staff provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University’s resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence.  Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University’s objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work.

Department overview 

The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) is based in the School of Medical Sciences within the College of Medicine and Health. The CRCTU receives core funding from Cancer Research UK on a 5-yearly renewal cycle (next renewal Oct 2028) and is one of two UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) registered clinical trials units (CTUs) at the University of Birmingham. The CRCTU was established over 50 years ago and is one of the largest cancer specialist CTUs in the UK, with an international reputation for delivering high-quality clinical research across a broad range of diseases in adults and children.

The CRCTU comprises a highly qualified and knowledgeable team of 200 members of staff including biostatisticians, clinical academics, trial managers, programmers, research nurses, quality management, information technology, administration and finance staff who together form the professional infrastructure that is essential to the delivery of scientifically excellent and regulatory robust clinical trials.

Role Summary

The CRCTU Operations Manager role is based within the CRCTU, and reports to the CRCTU Director of Operations. The post-holder will manage the CRCTU’s Business Support Team which provides Human Resource, financial and administrative support for Unit. As a member of the Operational Management Committee the postholder will contribute to strategic and operational planning within the CRCTU. They will work closely with colleagues across the University to ensure the CRCTU operates in accordance with the University’s policies and best practice guidelines. They will play a key role in financial management assisting Team Leaders in monitoring and managing their accounts and providing financial reports to the Unit’s Directors. They will also be responsible for key aspects of HR including acting as the Unit’s contact point with the HR Department, acting as an expert on HR processes, and overseeing general HR activities such as recruitment. They will also support the day-to-day operational activities of the Unit. 

To be effective in this role, the successful candidate will require significant experience of working in a University operational and administrative environment and will have experience of financial monitoring and reporting.

Main Duties

Strategic

• Support the CRCTU Director and Director of Operations in preparing and developing the CRCTU’s strategy and monitoring progress towards aims and objectives (e.g. contributing to Cancer Research UK core funding renewal process, expenditure projections and financial options appraisals).
• Support the co-ordination of the timely production of management information, reports and returns for the CRCTU (e.g. Departmental Financial and Recruitment Reports). 
• Support and work with the CRCTU Director of Operations, College Deputy Director of Operations (Administration) and other Heads of Operations and Operations Managers implementing best practice and identifying areas requiring development. 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all CRCTU Directors, Team Leaders, and colleagues in the wider University (e.g. Research Strategy & Services Division, Infrastructure and Facilities, Finance, and HR ) within the College and all internal and external stakeholders.
• Supporting the CRCTU Director of Operations with strategic planning of administrative resource.

Leadership

• Provide operational guidance and act as a key point of contact within the CRCTU for academics and professional services staff in relation to a wide range of operational activities. Providing clear and accurate guidance. 
• Provide effective leadership and management of members of the Business Support Team. Reviewing workloads, resources, capacity and training needs. Undertaking Personal Development Reviews, identifying sickness patterns and leading on performance management issues.
• Responsible for the motivation, management and flexibility of members of the team, instilling confidence in the requirements and importance of relevant functions to ensure that the Team works effectively with colleagues across the University to deliver on plans and projects.
• Establish effective contacts with similar roles across other Schools, Colleges and external to University of Birmingham. 
• Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff.
• Identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures.

Financial Management

• Support the CRCTU Director and (Deputy) Director of Operations in the co-ordination of annual budgeting and forecasting review process.
• Coordinate income and expenditure to ensure accounts remain accurate and maintain an operational overview of the CRCTU departmental budget.
• Work with the CRCTU Team Leaders to review and monitor expenditure across their accounts. Helping to resolve issues which may need specific financial advice or input (e.g. journalling of expenditure between accounts).
• Work closely with CRCTU Team Leaders to provide guidance on research and non-research funds.  Liaising with other stakeholders as needed. 
• Work closely with the Research Development Officers and pre- and post- award contacts in delivering effective and timely financial support.
• Oversee costing/pricing for trading activity.
• Approving Core order requisitions.
• Act as the CRCTU Mastercard holder.
• Ensure education of and adherence to, appropriate financial legislation across the CRCTU.

Operational

• Act as a member of the CRCTU’s Operations Management Committee providing input in areas of expertise and management information as requested.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of management information as requested by College/University (e.g. Workload Allocation Model (WAMS) Outside Activities; PDR completion rates).
• Support the delivery of service standards and local policies and procedures for the efficient operation of the CRCTU. With the other Heads of Operations and senior stakeholders, identify collaborative opportunities to ensure consistency/continuity of policies outlining additional ‘local’ requirements.
• Contribute to College meetings, committees and working groups; deputising for the CRCTU Director of Operation as required.
• Assist the CRCTU Director and (Deputy) Director of Operations in managing relationships with key stakeholders (e.g., Cancer Research UK).

Marketing/Communications

• Support the delivery of the Marketing and Communications plan for the CRCTU in line with the CRCTU Director of Operations priorities. 
• Oversee the production or editing of the CRCTU websites, ensuring the webpages contain accurate information.
• Working with CRCTU Director and (Deputy) Director of Operations in the delivery of effective and appropriate local communications.

Personnel and HR Management

• Supporting the CRCTU Director of Operations ensure effective HR management across the department which may include:
  • Ensuring quality assurance processes for recruitment and selection of CRCTU staff (including writing job descriptions, monitoring visa applications, employment of temporary staff, redeployment procedures etc)
  • Initiation of CPAG cases for submission to College CPAG, utilising concise and accurate report writing 
  • Responsibility for professional services performance management issues, attendance management including departmental sickness monitoring/absence, occupational health referrals and grievance procedures
• Support the CRCTU Director of Operations to implement effective procedures and processes with regard to the Annual Review/PDR's/Joint Clinical Appraisals and Senior Promotions.  Support the development of the Department Learning and Development Plan.
• Support the CRCTU Director of Operations in implementing change management strategies in relation to Professional Services staff, e.g. changes to hybrid working. 
• Ensuring compliance with the CRCTU, School and College Induction plan for all new staff.
• Ensuring effective and timely initiation of the renewal and termination of fixed term and honorary contracts.

Infrastructure and Facilitates Management

• Support the CRCTU Director of Operations and working closely with the School Technical Manager and College Deputy Director (Infrastructure and Facilities), monitor use of space and facilities. 
• Supporting the delivery of internal office space projects.
• Supporting I&F and the Technical team with tasks e.g. risk assessments, H&S compliance.

Other

• Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working. 
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

Qualifications

• First degree or equivalent along with a relevant higher degree or professional training such as ILM with relevant experience.

Experience

• Significant University/Higher Education Institute operational and administrative experience.
• Demonstrable people and financial experience (research and non-research accounts).
• Experience of data management and sourcing information, particularly through electronic sources, to inform reporting for strategic planning.
• Working in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of UK Higher Education and/or charitable funding mechanisms, strategies and priorities.

Abilities and skills

• Exceptional report writing skills - ability to write clear and concise formal reports and documents, maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong negotiating and persuasion skills.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to communicate complex policy matters. 
• Excellent verbal communication skills - ability to communicate with a wide range of people at all levels maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills with a demonstrated ability to plan and organise a large workload to meet both internal and external deadlines and the ability work on multiple complex issues simultaneously.
• Excellent inter-personal skills; ability to develop effective working relationships with all levels of staff and external contacts.
• Developed leadership skills, with the ability to instil confidence in others.
• Assertive and able to think and act decisively.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.
• Ability to work under pressure and maintain a high degree of accuracy.
• Able to absorb and deploy new information quickly and accurately.
• Excellent ability to manage conflicting priorities.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Helen Evans, email: h.e.evans.20@bham.ac.uk 

View our staff values and behaviours here

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.