Head of Research Governance & Integrity

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £57,422 to £66,537 with potential progression once in post to £86,760

Role Summary

The role is key in developing and implementing policies that ensure compliance with external regulations and internal standards. The post holder will drive best practices in research conduct, oversee institutional processes for ethical review and sponsorship, and support the University’s response to allegations of research misconduct.

This role is about more than compliance – it is about embedding a culture of integrity across the research community, enabling research excellence, and ensuring that researchers have the support they need to navigate governance requirements efficiently and effectively.

The Head of Research Governance & Integrity will work in close partnership with the Chairs of our Clinical Trials Oversight Committee (CTOC, Human Tissue Oversight Committee (HTOC), and our Ethics Committees, and the Directors of our Trials Units, acting as a trusted advisor and supporting the embedding of policies and good practice. 

Main Duties

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Lead the University’s approach to research governance, ethics, and integrity, ensuring alignment with the University’s Research Code of Practice, the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, and sector best practices.
  • Develop and implement policies to support good research conduct and compliance with regulatory frameworks, including clinical trials regulations, the Human Tissue Act, and UK Research Integrity policies.
  • Foster a culture of research integrity by promoting awareness, delivering training, and engaging with academic and professional services colleagues to embed good practice across the University.
• Governance & Compliance
  • Oversee the University's processes for ethical review, ensuring they are efficient, transparent, and researcher-friendly.
  • Act as the University’s Sponsor Representative and lead contact for research governance matters, liaising with funders, regulatory bodies, and external partners.
• Managing Research Misconduct & Institutional Integrity
  • Act as the University’s Named Contact for handling allegations of research misconduct, ensuring cases are managed with discretion, fairness, and adherence to sector-wide standards.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience in research governance, compliance, or related fields).
• Strong understanding of UK and international research governance frameworks, including NHS Research Governance, Clinical Trials and Device Regulations, the Human Tissue Act, and research ethics policies.
• Significant experience of leading governance and compliance functions within a complex research environment.
• Experience of handling conduct investigations with professionalism and discretion.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior academic and professional services colleagues.
• Experience in leading a team and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance compliance requirements with the need to support a vibrant and ambitious research culture.

Desirable:

• A research degree or experience in a research-intensive environment.
• Experience of working with clinical research governance in a higher education or NHS setting.
• Strong external networks within the Russell Group and regulatory bodies.

Informal enquiries to Louise Staffell, email: l.staffell@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 7th May 2025

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