Quality Assurance Associate

University College London Hospitals; Greater London; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Quality Assurance Associate to support the delivery and improvement of quality and governance across its NIHR Clinical Research Facility. The role involves coordinating audits, producing reports and advising researchers on governance and safety requirements.

You will work across CRF sites, liaising with clinical teams to ensure compliance, inspection readiness and continuous quality improvement within a fast-paced research

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in relevant science-related discipline.
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements related to GCP.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery and improvement of quality and governance across the NIHR UCLH CRF.
• Coordinate audits, reviews and inspections.
• Prepare quality and governance reports for CRF and Joint Research Office.
• Provide practical advice on research governance, quality and safety requirements.

Skills

Attention to detail

Audit coordination

Regulatory knowledge (GCP)

Effective communication

Education

Degree level in relevant science-related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Main area Research & Development Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 8 months (Secondment cover until 16/06/2027) Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (we'd be open to those seeking part-time work as well as full time) Job ref 309-UCLH-8389898-A

Site University College London Hospitals Town London Salary £47,951 - £56,863 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Pro rata for Part-time) Salary period Yearly Closing 23/11/2026 23:59

The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.

We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to ensuring that its recruitment processes are carried out with integrity, transparency, and fairness for all applicants. To help maintain these standards, we ask candidates to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the recruitment process.

If incorrect or misleading information is identified, this may affect the progression of an application, any employment offer, or continued employment. As part of our due diligence, the company may verify the information provided by applicants and take appropriate act ion where necessary.

We do not charge applicants any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including applications, interviews, sponsorship arrangements, pre‑employment checks, or employment offers. All vacancies are advertised through TRAC/NHS Jobs and candidates are assessed solely on their skills, qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. If you are asked to make a payment in connection with an NHS job opportunity, please treat this as suspicious and contact the organisation directly using the details published on our official career's website.

The NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is a well‑established facility supporting a diverse portfolio of innovative clinical research.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join a fast‑paced NIHR CRF with a dynamic clinical research portfolio, and a large multidisciplinary team that works across a broad range of therapeutic areas. We are looking for a self‑motivated, enthusiastic and collaborative Quality Assurance Associate to join our Quality Assurance team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience or a developing interest in research quality and governance to make a tangible contribution to the safe, compliant and high‑quality delivery of research.

The CRF currently comprises two sites: the Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre (LWENC) is a dedicated neuroscience experimental medicine facility based at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square, while the NIHR UCLH CRF on the Bloomsbury campus is a comprehensive Cancer and Medical research facility at Tottenham Court Road. Together, the two sites support a broad range of complex and innovative research, with a large portfolio of early‑phase and experimental medicine studies as well as important observational and interventional research.

Main duties of the job

As a Quality Assurance Associate, you will work closely with the Quality Assurance & Governance Manager to support the effective delivery and continuous improvement of quality and governance arrangements across the NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility.

Your main duties will include:

• Supporting the development, maintenance and implementation of SOPs, policies, guidance and training relating to research quality, safety and regulatory requirements.
• Contributing to a proportionate, risk‑based audit and monitoring programme and undertaking audits of research studies, systems and processes.
• Producing clear, evidence‑based audit reports and supporting research teams to understand findings and implement appropriate corrective and preventative actions.
• Supporting the coordination of external audits, reviews and inspections, helping maintain a high level of inspection readiness.
• Managing and monitoring research‑related incidents and risks, including the use of InPhase, ensuring appropriate recording, escalation, follow‑up and learning.
• Identifying themes, risks and opportunities for improvement and supporting the implementation of sustainable quality improvements across the CRF.
• Providing practical advice and support to researchers, research groups, service managers and Clinical Leads on research governance, quality and safety requirements.
• Supporting the preparation of quality and governance reports for the NIHR UCLH CRF and Joint Research Office.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world‑class research.

We provide first‑class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

The role will provide exposure to a broad range of quality assurance activities, including research governance, audit and monitoring, quality systems, incident and risk management, and inspection readiness. You will work closely with clinical and research teams, providing practical support and helping translate regulatory and governance requirements into effective, sustainable practice.

The post-holder will be based across both CRF sites according to the needs of the busy and dynamic research portfolio. The role offers considerable variety, opportunities to develop professionally and the chance to work alongside multidisciplinary teams at the forefront of clinical research.

If you are curious, solutions‑focused and enjoy working collaboratively to improve systems and support high‑quality research, we would welcome your application.

• Promoting a positive quality culture and the consistent application of good research practice across the CRF.
• Leading the coordination of research archiving across both CRF sites, ensuring legacy studies are securely transferred, appropriately documented and accurately recorded within the electronic quality management system.

Please note, due to anticipated high volumes of applications, this vacancy may close earlier than the listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in relevant Science‑related discipline
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements related to GCP

Experience

• Relevant and proven experience in planning and conducting internal and external audits
• Knowledge of core QA functions such as Incidents, CAPA, Audit and SOP management
• Experience in actively contributing to the delivery of projects relating to service improvements, quality and safety improvements and information
• Proven experience with developing quality management systems

Skills and Abilities

• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Experience of working with Microsoft, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to prioritise conflicting and changing demands
• Self‑motivated and able to demonstrate initiative and good judgment
• Initiating and delivering projects to targets

Communication

• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• Excellent interpersonal skills, a high level of professionalism with a pro‑active approach and helpful manner

Personal and People Development

• Experience in facilitating training for staff on QA related topics

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on‑site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

You must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom or fully meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship; however, we can only consider these where all UKVI requirements are met. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role satisfy the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points‑based system criteria, as applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be progressed. For more information about the criteria, please click here

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Some administrative recruitment activities may be undertaken using automated workflow and robotic process automation technologies. These tools assist authorised staff in processing recruitment records and employment checks but do not make decisions regarding your employment.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.