Job Description

This part-time post will be part of a job share part with each post holder required to work 3 days per week (0.6fte).  

As a member of the Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity Department, the successful applicants will be proactive administrators with excellent organisational and communication skills.  

The role will involve supporting staff and students in considering the ethical implications of their research and facilitating the ethical review of healthy volunteer human subject research projects through the College Research Ethics Committee. This includes building links with Departments to ensure the ethics process is being effectively communicated and is representative of the work undertaken by different Faculties. The successful candidates will also be required to lead on research ethics training and support with research ethics policy development. 

The post holder will have excellent communication and people skills to liaise with staff and students, acting as one of the first points of contact for the Research Ethics Office. The post holder will be able to work to tight deadlines and prioritise their own workload and will have excellent IT skills. This is a busy and varied role based within a rewarding and stimulating environment. 

The Research Ethics team consists of 4 Research Ethics Facilitators in total (2 full-time and 2 part-time) and each Facilitator reports to the Research Ethics Manager. 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.

This is a part-time post – 0.6 full time equivalent .

Key responsibilities

• To act as a source of advice and guidance for applicants, reviewers and others, both internal and external to the College concerning ethical issues arising within research with human participants and researching and disseminating new guidance.  
• To support and build relationships with staff and students to ensure ethical requirements are met. This includes building strong links with Departments to ensure the ethics process is being effectively communicated and is representative of the work undertaken by different Faculties.  
• To provide full administrative support for the College Research Ethics Committee, the Research Ethics Sub-Committees and Research Ethics Panels. This includes the follow up actions required following the meetings.  
• To provide a pre-review service for high-risk applications submitted to the Research Ethics Sub-Committees.  
• Reviewing low risk ethics applications submitted by staff and students from all faculties across the College. 
• To provide advice and guidance for all research ethics panels to ensure consistency of review and seeking expert opinion/ input from the RESCs and other sources as necessary.  
• In conjunction with relevant colleagues, to contribute pro-actively to College-wide promotional and training activities in Research Ethics with specific responsibility for the development and delivery of training for staff and students. 
• To provide recruitment and induction/support/training for committee and panel members 
• To liaise with the Research Governance team to ensure that governance issues are being signposted where appropriate. 
• To provide comprehensive and up to date information on research ethics matters and to ensure that this is communicated effectively via web based and other communications media. 
• To contribute effectively to the continual review of ethical review processes and systems, and to the development and maintenance of policies relating to research ethics. 
• To ensure that all records relating to research ethics are appropriately managed. 
• To deal with research requests from external researchers following the procedures established. 
• Liaising with researchers and external bodies to ensure referrals to any required external review processes such as the HRA are directed appropriately. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Degree/Equivalent or a minimum of one years relevant administrative experience. 

2.       General administrative experience. 

3.       Demonstrable experience of providing clear and concise advice/guidance. 

4.       Experience of working independently and showing initiative. 

5.       Effective oral/written communication skills. 

6.       Ability to relate to staff and students. 

7.       Ability to prioritise workload and be flexible as required. 

8.       Accuracy and attention to detail. 

9.       Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. 

10.   Patience to deal with demanding applicants. 

Desirable criteria

1.   Experience of working in the area of Research Ethics and Research Governance in a HEI or NHS. 

2.   Experience of providing training/giving presentations. 

3.   Training/experience in managing a database.