Job titleProject Coordinator – Research

Accountable toHead of Research

Job referenceLAE2474

DepartmentResearch Management

LocationLondon

Background

Marie Curie is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal illnesses and their families, carers and friends. We are best known for our network of Marie Curie Nurses, who work in the homes of terminally ill patients across the UK, providing practical care and support. We also have nine Marie Curie Hospices across the UK.

Marie Curie isthe largest charitable funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK.We currently spendaround £3 million per yearon project grants inthe open and competitive Marie Curie Research Programme, on long term research centres at UCL, Cardiff and Liverpool and on internal research capacity development through the research lead programme at Marie Curie Hospices.

Purpose of the role

The post will support a number of exciting projects in the Research Management Team at Marie Curie. For instance, the post holder will coordinate the activities following the report of the Palliative and end of life care Priority Setting Partnership (PeolcPSP) with the James Lind Alliance, the work of the UK end of life care Research Interest Group and the set-up of an online clinical trials hub for studies in palliative and end of life care.

The post holder will alsoorganise regular research lunchtime seminars, assist with the delivery of the annual Marie Curie Research Conference, which is jointly held with the palliative care section of the Royal Society of Medicine, and supportother on-going activities within the team.

The position requires an individual with an interest in project management and research and excellent organisational and communication skills.

Main duties and responsibilities

Specifically as part of their main responsibilities the post-holder will be required:

  • To manage and coordinateactivities involving multiple partner organisations following the report of the Palliative and end of life care Priority Setting Partnership (PeolcPSP) with the James Lind Alliance, which was committedto identifying and formulating research questions raised by patients, carers and clinicians.
  • To organise regular steering group meetings for the PeolcPSP follow-up group (face-to-face or teleconference) and produce meeting papers, minutes or action notes, etc., as appropriate.
  • To coordinate the work and organise the annual meeting of the UK end of life care Research Interest Group (UK eolcRIG), e.g. producing meeting papers, minutes and/or action notes, etc., as appropriate.
  • To project manage the set-up of a palliative and end of life care clinical trials hub, working with a number of internal and external stakeholders to deliver a user friendly web-based information resource.
  • To use the Marie Curie Project Management Toolkit to maintain project plans for the above and other projects in the Research Management Team, including setting key milestones and maintaining project risk registers.
  • To proactively pursue the achievement of project milestones.
  • To utilise project management software (including Microsoft Office and Visio) to set up projects, risk registers and allow for on-going monitoring.
  • To support the Research Management Team by organising regular team meetings and maintaining project plans.
  • To participate in the delivery of research communications, working closely with the Head of Research and the Senior Research Information Officerand external partner organisations.
  • To assist with using the outcomes of Marie Curie funded research projects to inform policy and practice, as well as our supporters, liaising with Marie Curie policy, communications and fundraising teams.

To research topics as and when required, collate and summarise information as appropriate.

  • To assist with the production of PR material such as information leaflets, newsletters, posters, etc.
  • To support the Senior Research Information Officer with the organisation of the annual Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Conference. To analyse the evaluation forms submitted after the conference and present the results in an informative way.
  • To manage the series ofbi-monthly lunchtime research seminars held at Marie Curie’s offices at Albert Embankment. This involves the use of video- and teleconferencing equipment to make the talks accessible to Marie Curie’s hospices nationwide.
  • To support the Head of Research and whole Research Management Team with general administration, to include booking travel, accommodation, arranging meetings, booking meeting rooms, printing meeting papers and directions and provide assistance with video and teleconferencing.
  • To support the Research Management Team with the preparation of relevant committee meetings, e.g. strategy, review and lay member committees.
  • To maintain detailed records of relevant information in accordance with the Marie Curie record retention policy.
  • To maintain up-to-date mailing lists and files. To be responsible that all team members haveup-to-date health & safety records as required by the charity.
  • To support the Medical Director, Head of Research, Research Manager, Senior Research Information Officer and Research Officerat Marie Curie in all other relevant matters.

Key internal and external relationships

  • Research Management Team: Medical Director, Head of Research, Research Manager, Senior Research Information Officer and Research Officer
  • Marie Curie Patient and Carer Engagement Team
  • All relevant teams within Marie Curie, in particular the Caring Services,Communications, Policy and Fundraising Teams
  • External project partners
  • Research Leads at Marie Curie Hospices
  • External committee members and project stakeholders

General

In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description, all Marie Curie employees should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards the following:

  • Marie Curie operates a no-smoking policy. The post holder should either be a non-smoker or be prepared not to smoke in any Charity premises, grounds or vehicles or when on Marie Curie business outside the office.
  • Adhere to all health and safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the Charity in maintaining good standards of health and safety.
  • Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the Charity into disrepute.
  • Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the Charity.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing registration requirements or any national professional or occupational standards associated with the role.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.
  • For designated roles, the post holder will be responsible for health & safety, business continuity planning and/or risk management. (These responsibilities will be notified on appointment).
  • Marie Curie is committed to encouraging volunteering throughout the organisation and as such the post holder will be expected to support and respect volunteers, and may be asked to work alongside or supervise a volunteer as part of their role whilst working at Marie Curie .

This job description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the charity at any time after discussion with the post holder

Person specification: qualifications and experience:

The post holder willhave (E=Essential, D=Desirable):

  • A degree in a health or research related discipline that includes a good grounding in research methodsand data analysis (E)
  • Some demonstrable experience of managing a project from inception to end (E)
  • Knowledge of research and the UK research environment (E)
  • The proven ability to manage own workload, work calmly under pressure and produce work to tight deadlines (E)
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues and others including senior stakeholders external to the organisation (E)
  • The ability to work independently (E)
  • The ability to work as an effectiveteam member who draws oncolleagues for information,ideas, resources and support (E)
  • Excellentwritten and verbal communication and interpersonal skills (E)
  • The ability to proactively develop effective working relations with Marie Curie staff at all levels (E)
  • The proven ability to prioritise and co-ordinate multiple projects of a significant scope and complexity (E)
  • Highly motivated, positive, proactive and solution-focused (E)
  • Proven organisational and time management skills (E)
  • Excellent IT skills:
    Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point (E),
    Microsoft Visio, Project (D)
  • A willingness to travel and work out of hours occasionally (E)
  • Aformal project management qualification (D)
  • A commitment to own personal development (D)
  • Previous project management skills (D)
  • An interest in end of life care research (D)
  • Experience in the charity sector (D)

/ Marie Curie
Terms and conditions

Job titleProject Coordinator- Research

Job referenceLAE2474

Salary scaleMarie Curie

Salary£24,800 - £27,270inclusive of London allowance

Annual leave entitlement25 days per year, plus bank holidays

Notice periodOne month after probationary period

Working hours35 hours per week

Probationary periodSix months

Other benefits

  • Stakeholders Pension Scheme
  • Season Ticket Loan
  • Bike Loan

Closing date: 7th May 2015 at 5pm

To apply please visit our website

Please email your application form to with the subject line ‘Reference Number – Job Title – Location - Contract or Flexi Bank’ or via post to Marie Curie Cancer Care, Recruitment Centre, 89 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, SE17TP.

Marie Curie Cancer Care aims to be an employer of choice and is committed to equal opportunities.

Charity reg no. 207994 (England & Wales), SCO38731 (Scotland).