Research Participation Manager

Do you have experience working in clinical research, science or health sectors with the ability to lead a team and influence stakeholders? Would you like to help end the devastation caused by dementia by increasing opportunities for people to become aware of, and participate in research?

We are recruiting for a Research Participation Manager to join on a full-time, permanent contract working 35 hours per week. This is a home-based role, with occasional travel required for in-person stakeholder or team meetings.

As Research Participation Manager you will lead the operational delivery and support the strategic development of the Society’s research participation team. You will line manage and develop the Research Participation team and associated staff, overseeing programme performance and reporting, and ensuring all activity aligns with UK clinical research regulations, data governance requirements, and organisational priorities.

In this role, you will work collaboratively across the Society and with external partners. You will strengthen cross sector relationships, drive inclusive and culturally competent engagement, and enhance awareness of, and participation in, vital dementia research, particularly among underserved communities. Your role will also help to ensure the provision of high quality, safe, and compliant support for people accessing dementia clinical research opportunities.

You will provide leadership, expert guidance and robust programme management to maximise the reach, impact, and visibility of the Society’s research participation initiatives, increasing opportunities for people to become aware of, and participate in research; bringing forward the day when a dementia diagnosis no longer devastates lives.

About you

Joining us, you’ll have experience of working in clinical research, science or health sectors, with a good understanding of the processes and challenges facing the NHS. You’ll have experience of shaping and/or leading significant programmes of work with high exposure, with the ability to remain organised, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines.

Crucially, you’ll have good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence others and build and maintain positive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. You’ll be able to use your experience of leading and managing a team to inspire and motivate others, creating a positive and proactive work culture.

This position will play a vital role in helping us to end the devastation caused by dementia. To be successful you’ll need to be motivated by our cause and values, and you’ll be able to speak to people affected by dementia with emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion.

What you’ll focus on:

• Leading, line managing and developing the Research Participation team, in addition to managing allocated staff, resources and any assigned budget to ensure all agreed internal and external targets are met.
• Assessing and managing of interdependencies between internal and external stakeholders involved in the Research Participation programme.
• Ensuring all participation support plans and / or awareness raising initiatives comply with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) rules and codes of practice.
• Developing and delivering inclusive and culturally informed initiatives that raise awareness of, and improve equitable access to, clinical research opportunities, with a particular focus on underserved and diverse communities.
• Collaborating with Communications colleagues across the Society to support wider communication activities related to research participation and public research awareness.
• Working with the Lead Research Nurse, Research and Innovation Business Manager, and Project Management Office to ensure robust programme and risk management, and to evaluate the impact of research participation activities.
• Building impactful and sustainable relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders across the dementia clinical trials landscape, seeking opportunities to collaborate on initiatives to drive increased awareness of, and participation in, dementia clinical research.

Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.