Research Nurse - Cancer

Job overview

• Are you an experienced research nurse looking for a change?
• Or are you looking for an entry post into health research?
• Is it time for a new challenge in your career?

The role works closely with a wide range of disciplines, supporting patients to access good quality research. You will spend some days in clinic face‑to‑face and a significant portion of time office‑based, ensuring accurate data collection and establishing new NIHR studies within the Trust. Confidence using IT systems, compassion and excellent communication skills are essential.

This post is focused primarily on urology and breast studies, but all team members provide cross cover support for colleagues across the cancer portfolio.

Site:
Cross cover for Burnley General and Royal Blackburn hospitals (Town Burnley/Blackburn). Salary: £32,073 – £48,117 per annum, depending on experience. Yearly. Closing: 05/06/2026 23:59.

The Research Development and Innovation Department works closely with Trust‑based clinicians, universities, NHS and industry partners to assess a trial’s feasibility, initiate set‑up and conduct high quality clinical research. This provides the local population of East Lancashire the opportunity to take part in research studies associated with their clinical conditions and the care and services they receive.

You will be responsible for ensuring that clinical trials and research studies are undertaken following Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines and as per Good Clinical Practice (ICH‑GCP). The post holder will support all aspects of a study protocol with supervision, assist the study lead nurse and multidisciplinary team members in delivering agreed protocols to time and targets, and work independently, undertaking nursing care activities and interventions within clinical trial specific protocols.

We support a varied mix of simple data collection studies and complex drug research studies. The successful post holder will be supported in co‑working on breast and urology studies. Cross‑cover of the wider cancer portfolio is required of all team members.

This post will be based within the cancer research team, supporting research studies within oncology as well as patients with cancer undergoing surgery. You will work as part of a small, friendly team (ten staff) responsible for identifying, recruiting and supporting patients throughout their oncology and research pathway.

The main base for this post is negotiable, dependent on the successful candidate's clinical background. The urology and colorectal services require equal support at Burnley and Blackburn, so the oncology research offices are based within both sites.

Flexibility is required to provide cross cover, dependent on the needs of our patients. Most of the research activity is undertaken Monday to Friday within normal clinic hours, however activity times may vary and early starts (8am onwards) or late finishes (after 5pm) may be required for studies involving morning theatre lists & late running clinics. This will always be on a planned basis;

a flexible working policy is in place.

• Possess an understanding of the research process and the application of research in the clinical governance agenda within NHS/partner organisations.
• Ability to integrate nursing knowledge and skills with the research aspects of the job.

• Well‑developed interpersonal and communication skills.
• Interest in cancer research.
• Well‑motivated and enthusiastic to contribute to studies development.
• Competent in standard PC packages such as Outlook, Excel, Word.
• Good time management and organisational skills.
• Advanced clinical skills (e.g., venepuncture, cannulation).

• Relevant experience of cancer care/oncology at Band 5 or above.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Prior clinical research experience.
• Experience to work on own initiative.
• Experience of supervising staff/students.

• Registered General Nurse / Registered Nurse Adult (1st Level) with current valid NMC registration.
• Evidence of continuous professional development at band 5.
• International…