Director, Research Security & Trusted Research

King's College London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

King's College London is seeking a Head of Research Security to lead the institution's approach to secure, responsible and internationally engaged research. You will oversee the Trusted Research framework and provide strategic leadership across the Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity department.

The role requires delivering policies, guidance and risk management across the full research lifecycle, while coordinating with Faculties, Professional Services, and partners.

Qualifications

• Significant experience of leading research compliance, governance, risk management, assurance, regulatory, legal or related functions within a higher education, research, innovation or similarly complex knowledge intensive environment.
• Demonstratable ability to develop and embed institutional approaches that support secure, responsible and internationally engaged research, balancing strategic opportunity with regulatory, reputational and security considerations.
• Demonstratable ability to influence and advise senior leaders and stakeholders, translating complex regulatory, security, compliance and risk issues into clear, practical and risk-based recommendations.
• Knowledge of the UK Trusted Research agenda, research security principles, and the geopolitical, regulatory and operational risks affecting research collaboration.
• Experience of identifying, assessing and managing complex organisational risks and providing assurance, reporting and recommendations to support institutional governance and decision-making.
• Demonstrable ability to apply regulatory or compliance requirements pragmatically and proportionately, balancing risk management with the need to enable organisational objectives.
• Experience of leading and developing high-performing teams, including the management of specialist staff and operational services, whilst delivering organisational change, service improvement and the implementation of new processes and systems.
• Experience of representing an organisation externally and building effective relationships with regulators, funders, government departments, sector bodies, strategic partners or other senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the University's Trusted Research and Research Security function, providing strategic oversight across faculties and services.
• Deliver effective guidance, monitoring, assurance and reporting arrangements related to research security and compliance.
• Develop and implement policies, processes, guidance and risk management activities to meet legal, regulatory and funder requirements.
• Act as Secretariat to the Trusted Research Committee and Chair of the Trusted Research Working Group.
• Collaborate with Faculties, Professional Services and partners to safeguard integrity, security and compliance of research activities.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

Research governance

Risk management

Senior stakeholder engagement

Compliance program development

Regulatory affairs

Job description

King's College London is seeking a Head of Research Security to lead the institution's approach to secure, responsible and internationally engaged research. You will oversee the Trusted Research framework and provide strategic leadership across the Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity department.

The role requires delivering policies, guidance and risk management across the full research lifecycle, while coordinating with Faculties, Professional Services, and partners.