Business Development Champion Programme

Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester (CRN GM) is introducing a Business Development Champion programme, designed to identify enthusiastic and motivated colleagues from the Greater Manchester research community. The BD champions will work with CRN GM and the Life Science industry to attract innovative and groundbreaking relevant research opportunities for our diverse population. This is a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge of the Greater Manchester research landscape and gain deep insight into study support, to increase the opportunities for our population, as well as to contribute towards your professional development.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 17 April 2024 and will require line manager support.

Business Development (BD) champion will:

Work closely with CRN GM, Industry and Study Support teams across our region
Act as a First point of contact for Trust, industry and partner organisations
Actively participate in relevant industry meetings with sponsors, CROs and Life Science industry representatives
Consider GM population requirements for innovative, ground-breaking and commercial research
Deliver relevant and effective support and training for industry facilitators regarding upcoming studies and business development opportunities within the industry.
Establish training links within own or surrounding network
Attend relevant training and events to maintain a high-level knowledge of developments.
Show commitment to the development and support of colleagues within CRN GM
Show initiative to identify connections and establish relationships with CROs and Life Science representatives at relevant industry events and educational programmes.
Represent interests of their respective Trust and act as an ambassador for the trust to attract more research and facilitate relationships with the industry.
Work collaboratively with other BD Champions to accelerate co-operation and knowledge exchange across GM Secondary Care setting
Will work collaboratively with colleagues to facilitate industry engagement, capture opportunities for development across Primary, Community and Social Care.

Business Development Champion role requirements

Dedicate up to 3 working days per year to attend industry engagement events and activities, including up to 3 days induction
Develop and use own initiative
Flexible attitude
Curious with a desire to learn about the national and GM research landscape
Keen to collaborate with industry
Make connections within their own Trust
Passionate about representing local population health and care needs
Ability to communicate with external stakeholders

Business Development Champion value to partner organisations

Managing growth demand alongside growth in research activity
Increased workforce capacity and capability beyond immediate service demands
Embedding continuous workforce skills development via relevant training identification
Timely identification of research opportunities
Early identification of PIs/sites for studies where Industry teams reach out to Specialty leads for advice
Improved engagement with pharmaceutical companies, CROs, researchers, SMEs, etc.
Improved outcomes for patients in wider GM area through increased recruitment in relevant studies
Improved engagement with Primary Care sites leading to improved recruitment numbers and increased number of research aware and research involved sites across GM.
Ambassador representation to attract more research and facilitate relationships with industry.

Business Development Champion skills

Collaborative working with Line and Network managers
Knowledge of Primary Care engagement environment and awareness of the opportunities and challenges in this area
Insider knowledge of inter-relationships between Trust, CRN and industry and their potential to improve patient health outcomes in the wider GM area
Interest to use hybrid model of working across Primary, secondary and social care to expand industry awareness
Interest in increasing community focused research opportunities.

What we offer

Opportunity to have a national interface around NIHR business development initiatives
Training and education in commercial delivery and establishing partnerships that work
Training will be tailored to the needs of the BD Champion group. It is anticipated this will include NIHR / CRN GM and working across boundaries and some focus on key messaging both for the CRN and for the employing organisation.
Increased understanding of cross regional organisations that specialise in attracting organisations to choose the North West of England
Access to business development toolkits and template materials which can be used to strengthen organisational offer
Opportunity to network within a community of practice and continually improve the services offered to the life sciences industry and to consider future innovations in local research delivery models
Your travel and other reasonable expenses will be reimbursed

How to apply

Apply via our Google Form. Please contact researchsupport.crngm@nihr.ac.uk if you have any issues accessing the form or have any queries.