Position Details
BCTU, College of Medicine and Health
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,166 to £28,768, with potential progression once in post to £32,145
Grade: 4
Full Time, Fixed Term Contract to April 2026
Closing date: 23rd April 2025
Job Summary
The Data Manager is responsible for the clinical research data set for one or more clinical trial(s) protocols which are designed to improve the treatment and care of patients. Day to day principal duties include obtaining, entering and cleaning data from participating sites.
Main duties
* Be a fully trained member of the units’ randomisation team and take part in the regular 9-5 cover rota.
* A key communications point for the research team and members of the collaborating group, answers initial enquiries and generally follows through to resolution. Handles routine communications with the clinical investigators, research support staff and others in external centres for data collection. Must keep confidentiality and represent the unit well at all times.
* Ensure the smooth day-to day running of the study protocol and the data collection.
* Record and code incoming forms etc., checking for inconsistencies, violations and unusual or adverse events. May be required to abstract or verify data from source medical records, possibly involving visits to centres. Maintain and apply coding lists under the guidance of the Statistician, Trial Manager and Programmer.
* Enter routine data into the various research & administrative databases. Enter non-routine or ad-hoc data (i.e. that requires more interpretation or development of new codes) under guidance.
* Perform regular, systematic checks to validate and verify information on the data base(s) in order to produce a clean, accurate and complete data set for analysis. Identify and resolve any missing, incomplete or contradictory data. This typically involves sending standard letters or telephoning to outline the problem. Produce reports and lists on both a regular and ad-hoc basis.
* Work with Programmer, Statistician and Trial Manager to test data entry, validation and report generation applications (i.e. confirming proper functioning of the trial database systems), reporting errors and suggesting modifications if appropriate. May create and test simple ad-hoc data bases, forms and report generation.
* Provide secretarial support as required by the research team. Maintain stocks of supplies (both internally and at outlying centres) tracking on current version numbers. Assist in the organisation of collaborative group meetings and travel arrangements. May handle petty cash. Responsible for the day to day distribution of trial materials, and drug supplies required by external centres.
* Develop and document standard operating procedures for the work of the post, under the guidance of the Trial Manager. Help supervise and train junior team members, and check the work done by others.
* Continue to develop and expand trial management skills and experience. Ongoing formal and on the job training to develop advanced computing and broader trial management skills.
* Will help to cover for the Trial Manager /project leader within own areas of expertise or projects. Other duties appropriate to the band may be assigned to the post.
* Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
* Support the delivery of clinical research in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the Declaration of Helsinki, applicable legislation (including, but not limited to, the Medicines for Human Use Clinical Trials Regulations, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018, Human Tissue Act), the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, Caldicott principles, and applicable NHS Trust and University policies and procedures.
Person Specification
* Educated to at least ‘A’ level, or other equivalent formal vocational qualification (e.g. HND or NVQ 4), or relevant work experience ideally gained in a medical or academic setting.
* Experience of medical data coding, data entry and data validation techniques. Able to query and maintain computer databases (including Microsoft Access).
* Strong all-round office management experience and possess secretarial skills that must include up-to date computing and office automation skills (e.g. email, excellent word processing, good document layout etc).
* Must demonstrate a critical and intelligent attention to detail including high standards of accuracy.
* Good written/verbal communication and an excellent telephone manner.
* A flexible and willing attitude to being part of a multidisciplinary team. Works well independently, with access to advice in deciding own short-term priorities and timetabling of tasks to meet agreed deadlines.
* Aptitude for learning and applying new skills, and once trained have the ability to work independently to gather information or simply finding missing or inaccurate data.
* A data manager should develop an understanding of the general underlying concepts of trial design, conduct and analysis.
* Data Managers are expected to develop an understanding of and have the ability to follow complex data management and administration procedures including the operation and maintenance of complex computer database and information systems.
* Ability to identify and break down potential problems using past experience and knowledge of good research practices. Work to develop and improve working procedures with coaching from colleagues and supervision from the Trial Manager.
* Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
* Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
Dimensions
Staffing: Experience Data Managers may mentor and occasionally supervise the work of more junior Data Managers and other junior staff.
Financial: Data Managers do not handle budgets but may be involved in ordering supplies for a trial.
Customers: Data managers are typically responsible for managing data relating to one or more clinical trials; as such they can interact with a large number (>500) of external contacts from the NHS including but not limited to: Consultants level Oncologists, Surgeons, Haematologists etc; Research Nurses; Pharmacists; Radiologists; General Practitioners; and trial management staff. Data Managers also work closely with one or more Biostatisticians, (Senior) Trial Managers and Programmers within BCTU.
Operational: Data Managers represent the unit and the wider university in a professional capacity at local, regional and national level, in relation to the clinical trials they are supporting.
Planning and organising
Data Managers are located within one of five trial management teams within the BCTU. Their day-to-day work is supervised by a Trial Manager, with line management support from the relevant Senior Trial Manager and Trial Management Team Leader. Data Managers are allocated to a project by the relevant Trial Management Team Leader.
Data Managers are responsible for data management of one or more clinical trials; they are a fully trained member of the units’ randomisation team; and they provide administrative support for their trials. They are responsible for managing their own workload within their specified areas of responsibility on a day-to-day basis and under the direction and supervision of the Trial Manager.
Problem solving and decision making
* Data Managers would be expected to solve most day-to-day data management and trial related administrative queries without reference to others.
Data Managers are expected to follow BCTU Standard Operating Procedures. Data Managers must be able to work independently and prioritise their own work load but will have access to guidance and support from other members of staff, the Trial Administrator, (Senior) Trial Manager and Trial Management Team Leader, as required.
Further particulars can be foundhere
Informal enquiries to Shrushma Loi, email: S.Loi.1@bham.ac.uk
View our staff values and behaviourshere
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