Full Job Description and Person Specification

Full Job Description and Person Specification

An exciting opportunity to join the BSR research team to help manage our existing projects and develop our research portfolio related to improving care for patients with rheumatic conditions. This role will work with the new BSR research committee to develop research projects and input into the national rheumatology research agenda. Several health policy-related research projects are underway and the team are working to expand this portfolio.

The main purpose of the job is to support the Head of Research in overseeing the smooth running of the Biologics Registers and the portfolio of BSR research projects. This will involve working with researchers in the existing project teams, and our consultant and allied health professional members. The role will require working with the research committee to explore initial ideas, bringing together a project team with the relevant expertise, obtaining funding and managing the implementation through to completion. The broad remit of this role will also allow the postholder the opportunity to work on our NICE-accredited guideline development programme.

The BSR manages two large national biologics registers which monitor patients being treated with biologic agents, one for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and one for patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The registers are subcontracted to the Universities of Manchester and Aberdeen, who collect and analyse the data to provide important information about potential side effects, but also about the benefits, of these new biological agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and linked rheumatic diseases. This role will help manage these contracts, working with the head of research, the registers committee and chair, the academic teams and the representatives of the projects’ pharmaceutical company funders.

DUTIES OF THE POST-HOLDER

The specific duties of the post-holder:

1. To support the project management of the BSR Biologics Registers, including:

·  To monitor and track key outputs of these projects and provide tracking information;

·  To assist in the promotion of the registers including producing newsletters and drafting promotional material;

·  To receive, track and distribute requests for data access and publications;

·  Act as a point of contact for the registers including liaising with the project steering committee, pharmaceutical company representatives, academics, clinicians and government officials.

2. To provide support for BSR projects, including

·  To work with the BSR Research committee on setting the BSR research agenda and selecting ideas for projects to develop.

·  To lead on the development of project teams and the planning and management of the project formation/bid writing process for new projects

·  To assist/lead on the management of existing BSR projects as required

·  To support the development of BSR guidelines and audits through tracking and monitoring working groups, keeping abreast of national developments in audit and guidelines, liaising with Regional Chairs and disseminating information.

·  To work with the Events and Marketing department to help develop and maintain the new website and develop communication across other social media channels;

·  To encourage and support active research by engaging members and stimulating conversations and interactions (eg through networking, and engagement activities at BSR Conference);

3. To assist with the servicing and co-ordination of BSR committees:

·  To act as Committee Manager for

o  Research committee and Registers committee – quarterly;

o  Standards, Audit and Guidelines Working Group - bi-annual

(This includes organising meetings, preparing agendas, papers and taking minutes)

4. To undertake other general BSR office duties, alongside other staff, as required, including:

·  Attend the BSR Annual General Meeting and other meetings (which maybe outside London);

·  To undertake other duties, as required by the Senior Management Team.

Person Specification

E – Essential, D – Desirable

Skills/Attitudes:

Good organisational skills (E)

Accuracy, diligence and attention to detail (E)

Ability to prioritise, manage own workload & work to deadlines (E)

Proactive and ability to work without close supervision (E)

Excellent written and oral communication skills (E)

Committed Team Player (E)

Professional approach (E)

Enthusiasm for personal development (E)

Experience:

Writing clear and accessible reports, including project proposals and publication materials (E)

Experience of project management, including design and implementation (E)

Working with stakeholders or committees (D)

Experience of health research or the health sector (D)

General office administrative procedures (D)

Organising regular meetings and events, including preparing papers and taking minutes (D)

Intermediate or advanced IT skills - (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) (E)

Working on websites, newsletters and publications (D)

Knowledge:

Understanding basic medical vocabulary (D)

Basic understanding of UK research development and research funding process (D)

Understanding of the NHS and health policy (D)

Interest in rheumatology or health research (D)

Education:

Educated to degree level or equivalent (D)

At least two years’ relevant work experience (E)