Research Assurance Support Officer

Diversity Dashboard; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 38 days

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Staff networks

Recognition awards

Professional development

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Part-time Due Diligence Officer to join the Research Assurance Team. You will conduct proportionate due diligence on external partners, identify risks, and produce written summaries to support informed decision-making.

You will maintain accurate records and translate policies into practical advice for diverse audiences. Working in a hybrid arrangement, you will collaborate with Finance, Legal and Faculty offices, handle sensitive data, and contribute to

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above including Maths and English (or equivalent experience).
• Evidence of effective written and verbal communication with internal/external stakeholders.
• Ability to gather and synthesise information from diverse sources to identify key facts or risks.
• Ability to explain technical policies or compliance requirements clearly to varied audiences.
• Meticulous data entry, record-keeping and verification of complex information.
• Excellent organisational skills with ability to juggle multiple tasks.
• Proactive, collaborative team member who can work independently within an agreed framework.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships with academic and professional staff.
• Evidence of using initiative to improve processes or user-friendliness.
• Experience handling highly sensitive or confidential data in line with GDPR. Desirable: experience with export control or Trusted Research.

Responsibilities

• Conduct proportionate due diligence on research partners under guidance, focusing on lower-risk profiles.
• Identify risks (ethical, legal, financial, export, national security) using cross-check tools and sources.
• Produce concise, high-quality reports for senior colleagues with evidence for decisions.
• Maintain auditable records of due diligence checks and related administrative steps.
• Translate policies into practical guidance for diverse academic and professional audiences.
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal and Faculty offices for a joined-up compliant research activity.
• Handle highly sensitive data with discretion and GDPR compliance.

Skills

GCSEs including Maths English

Information synthesis

Communication skills

Policy explanation

Data handling

Organisation

Proactive teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Initiative

GDPR knowledge

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

RPI supports agreed University, Faculty and School priorities for research and innovation: income generation, research excellence, PGR experience, partnership development and knowledge exchange leading to income and/or impact and commercialisation of IP and student enterprise. Our focus is on delivering professional, value-add advice and support to our community of researchers and innovators. We are a well-connected team which understands the priorities of the organisation and our external stakeholders and customers and the external environment in which we operate. Team members collaborate, reflect, develop their skills and have a risk-appropriate mindset of continuous improvement to our processes, policy and approach.

Our researchers operate in a complex global environment undertaking innovative, collaborative research and knowledge exchange projects. The Research Assurance Team assesses risks and provides practical advice and risk assessment necessary to ensure this work is compliant with external legislation and frameworks and with internal policies.

This is a busy role requiring curiosity, tenacity, and the ability to communicate complex information in a straightforward, pragmatic way. You will manage a varied workload of enquiries and projects, ensuring all sensitive data is handled with the utmost confidentiality.

While previous experience of an assurance role would be valuable, we are committed to your development. We provide comprehensive training and support to help you translate your existing analytical and organisational skills into this specialist field. In turn, you will demonstrate initiative, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in all you do.

The primary focus of this role is to:

• Work collaboratively and supportively in a small team to undertake assurance checks on external partners and funders.

• Produce written summaries of the checks, highlighting risks and making appropriate recommendations for next steps in accordance with an agreed framework.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Conduct proportionate due diligence on research partners under line manager guidance, specifically focusing on lower-risk profiles to support the University's Trusted Research agenda.

• Identify potential risks (including ethical, legal, financial, export, and national security considerations) using tools and databases (e.g., Sanctions lists, Global Corruption Index, or news searches).

• Produce succinct, high-quality reports for senior colleagues within Research, Partnerships and Innovation, providing the necessary evidence base for informed decision-making and risk mitigation.

• Maintain accurate and auditable records of all due diligence checks, export control notes and administrative processes to ensure data integrity and institutional compliance.

• Translate policies into clear, pragmatic advice for a range of academic and professional services audiences.

• Collaborate effectively with internal teams (such as Finance, Legal, and Faculty offices) to ensure a joined-up approach to compliant research activity.

• Handle highly sensitive and confidential information with discretion, strictly adhering to legal standards, GDPR, and institutional best practices.

• Document processes and procedures for training and audit purposes, to ensure they remain efficient and responsive to the evolving research environment.

• Stay informed of national developments in research security and the Trusted Research agenda, engaging with relevant professional bodies (such as ARMA or HERSA) to maintain up-to-date expertise.

• Actively promote and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work, fostering an enabling and respectful culture

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected.

• 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above including Maths and English (or equivalent experience)

  Essential

  Application

• Evidence of professional, effective and appropriate communication skills, both written and verbal, working with internal and external stakeholders

  Essential

  Selection activity / Interview

• Evidence that you can gather and synthesise information from diverse sources (web, databases, reports) to identify key facts or risks, producing clear and accurate written summaries which act as a basis for decision making

  Essential

  Application / selection activity

• Ability to explain technical policies or compliance requirements to a range of audiences in a straightforward, pragmatic way.

  Essential

  Application

• Meticulous approach to data entry, record-keeping, and the verification of complex information.

  Essential

  Application / selection activity

• Excellent organisational skills with experience of working in a role which requires continual re- prioritisation of tasks and flexibility of approach

  Essential

  Selection activity / Interview

• Evidence that you are a proactive, collaborative and supportive team member, able to work independently within an agreed framework and understand when to elevate queries

  Essential

  Application / interview

• Strong interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships with both academic and professional services colleagues.

  Essential

  Application / interview

• Evidence of using initiative to suggest ways to make processes more efficient or user-friendly.

  Essential

  Application / interview

• Experience handling highly sensitive or confidential data with total discretion and in line with GDPR standards.

  Desirable

  Application

• Previous experience of working with export control or other aspects of Trusted Research'

  Desirable

  Application

• Previous experience or supporting research in any work context

  Desirable

  Application

Further Information

• Grade: 5
• Salary: £27,319 - £31,236 dependent on experience
• Work arrangement: Part-time 0.6FTE
• Line manager: Due Diligence Officer
• Our website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/rpi
• For informal enquiries about this job contact Sarah Stephenson, Due Diligence Officer: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place during mid August. This will consist of an interview and selection activity. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 3rd August. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Sophie Fletcher on [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

  • support for those going through the menopause

  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.