The Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC)

The MCRC Partnership

The MCRC is a unique partnership between The University of Manchester (including the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Cancer Research UK. It brings together the expertise, vision and resources of these partner organisations which have formidable individual reputations in the fields of cancer treatment and clinical research. This partnership established the MCRC as one of the largest comprehensive research centres of its kind in Europe and provides the opportunity for Manchester to become a world-leading centre for cancer research. The MCRC also leads the cancer theme of the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), which is a partnership between the University and six leading NHS Trusts.

Cancer research is in an exciting new era where the remarkable increase in our understanding of how cancer arises and progresses provides the opportunity for the development of a new generation of mechanism-based therapies and improved diagnostics. To fully embrace this opportunity the MCRC is integrating laboratory-based and clinical research activities, aligning the research strategies of the different partners and supporting the highest quality of basic, translational and clinical research. In addition, the MCRC partners are creating outstanding facilities such as a new £30million laboratory development which complements existing first class facilities such as a dedicated early phase trial unit which is one of the biggest of its kind world-wide. The joint aim is to gain a greater understanding of the fundamental basis of how cancer develops and apply that knowledge to develop new diagnostic tests, new treatments and better ways to predict outcomes in order to optimise treatment options and care for cancer patients.

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Our goals

Manchester already has an enviable reputation for cancer research. In the 2008 RAE research assessment exercise Manchester was rated as top in cancer studies. The development of the MCRC will see a fundamental shift in how we translate what happens in the laboratory into what happens in patient treatment. Our goals are to be a world-class centre of excellence for basic, translational and clinical research, and to more than double the level of cancer-related research activity by 2015. This will be achieved by:

  • Recruiting and developing internationally-renowned researchers across the spectrum of basic through to clinical work. This will build on existing strengths and developkey research areas.
  • Building new facilities for research, most notably a new MCRC research building which will be developed on The Christie site with an anticipated open date in early 2014.
  • Consolidating and enhancing the strong links with industrial and research partners (for example its strong and comprehensive alliance with AstraZeneca), and sustaining investment in MCRC facilities.
  • Focusing development to create research programmes that are multi-disciplinary and integrated. Multi-disciplinary activities will involve basic research scientists, biologists, chemists, pharmacologists, physicists, computer experts and cancer doctors. This will promote interaction between basic, translational and clinical researchers allowing advances in the laboratory to be translated into diagnosis and treatments for patients as quickly as possible.
  • Supporting extensive clinical and non-clinical cancer research training and development, to generate world leaders of the future.

Director of Research Operations and Business

The role

The MCRCis looking for an exceptional individual who can provide outstanding leadership and drive in the operational management of the MCRC. We are seeking a focussed and ambitious individual for this exciting and unique opportunity, which has the potential to change lives regionally, nationally and internationally.

The Director of Research Operations and Business will work closely with:

  • Director of MCRC
  • Director of the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research
  • Chief Executive and senior staff of The Christie
  • Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
  • Head of the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences Cancer Institute
  • Director of the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences Research Deanery
  • Key individuals at Cancer Research UK

The post holder will also work very closely with the MCRC partners’research support operations teams.

The Director of Research Operations and Business will be a member of:

  • MCRC Steering Board
  • MCRC Research Strategy Group
  • MCRC OperationalExecutive(Chair)

The post holder will be line managed on a day to day basis by the Director of the MCRC and will have professional accountability to the Head of the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences Administration. He/shewill be the line manager for the MCRC Operations Manager.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of senior management, including the documented delivery of substantive operational change and skills in project management in a complex and dynamic environment. Ideally, he/she will have experience of and/or a good understanding of health and/or biomedical research within a higher education, corporate and/or NHS environment.

Job Description

The Director of Research Operations and Business must be able to work in a rapidly changing and complex environment. Influencing and working with multiple stakeholders from different sectors is essential. The core activity of the role is to provide operational leadership for one ofthe premier biomedical research programmes in the NorthWest, and ensure itsinterdigitation with MAHSC and other research structures in the region. This will include:

  • Working with the key leaders of cancer research in Manchester to promote and implement MCRC strategic objectives
  • Supporting the Director and the Board in developing the MCRC’s strategy
  • Developing effective communications and liaisons with industrial partners
  • Assimilating and disseminating information from funding bodies
  • Harmonising research support operations across the MCRC in collaboration with the MAHSC Research Operations Manager
  • Acting as a conduit for liaison with MAHSC
  • Working with the partner organisations to identify new avenues of funding
  • Anticipating future strategic developments and ensuring that the MCRC is best positioned to respond
  • Working with the partner organisations to develop major research bids
  • Acting as the main coordinator for the MCRC/AZ alliance and developing alliances with other major companies
  • Overseeing contracting procedures across the MCRC
  • Working with the partners to develop links with cancer centres regionally, nationally and internationally
  • Overseeing the budget of the MCRC

Post holders are required to familiarise themselves with the University’s Equality and Diversity policies and to actively support them wherever possible

Person Specification

This is a senior role requiring a complex mix of commitment, determination, innovation and passion. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

  • Ability to manage the operations of an internationally renowned research organisation
  • Ability to develop relationships with senior staff across a large number of organisations and work collaboratively with them to achieve results
  • Experience of developing and implementing strategy at a senior management level
  • Astuteness in handling political sensitivities
  • A proactive and innovative approach
  • Experience of taking a lead role in delivering a large scale increase in research funding and/or co-coordinating large and complex research bids
  • Awareness of the current key issues facing Universities and NHS Trusts in developing and managing a research agenda
  • An adaptable, flexible and innovative approach to work
  • Extensive senior operational management experience within a research led university or within a research environment within the NHS, or equivalent in the commercial or wider public sector

He/she will have a scientific degree to masters or doctoral level (or extensive relevant experience).

Terms and Conditions

The Director of Research Operations and Business will be employed by The University of Manchester. The package will be commensurate with the seniority of the role and will be agreed with the successful candidate.

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