Research Compliance Officer

University of Bristol Law School; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An academic institution in Bristol is seeking a compliance officer to oversee the ATPS Process and national security due diligence. The role involves providing advice on legal compliance, engaging with stakeholders, and training colleagues. Candidates should have a keen understanding of legislation and risk assessment, although prior regulatory experience is not essential. The position is full-time with a salary range of £39,906 - £44,746 per annum and requires BPSS Clearance. This is a hybrid role.

Qualifications

• Experience in providing supervision to junior staff members.
• Awareness of policy and guidance processes, and importance of audit functions.
• Experience in a regulatory risk environment is desirable, but training will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for oversight of the ATPS Process and due diligence.
• Engage with MarComms and Operations Teams.
• Assist with training on TREF project and research compliance.
• Horizon-scan for risks and changes to legislation.
• Support the development of new staff members.

Skills

Understanding of new legislation

Assessment of risk

Providing confident advice

Problem-solving capability

Interpersonal skills

Job description

The role

Working with members of the Research Compliance Team responsible for delivering compliance with the NPSA’s Trusted Research Evaluation Framework (TREF), you would contribute to strategic and operational development of partner suitability assessment and due diligence (ATPS) aspects of this Project, also including managing the Work Tribe Due Diligence process.

You will be involved in developing relationships with academic colleagues and will have a key role in implementing the ATPS process and management of Work Tribe Due Diligence processes as relevant to national security regulation, including input into message management and regular training delivery around purpose and impact. There will also be an element of reporting to the TREF Project Board and Knowledge Management Groups comprising of academic and professional service colleagues.

You may also from time to time be involved in providing advice and training to research academics and those professional services staff that support them on a wide range of legal compliance measures including (but not limited to) the following areas:

• Trusted Research and Innovation
• Export Control Regulations
• National Security & Investment Act

You will assist with on-boarding new staff where appropriate and engage with stakeholders around sharing knowledge and best practice in a fast-paced and developing area of law.

What will you be doing?

• Be responsible for oversight of the ATPS Process and national security/due diligence enquires arising from it;
• Engage with MarComms and Operations Teams where input may be required to achieve the TREF Project and ATPS Process outcomes;
• Become fluent in relevant risk assessment and recording tools that will be used to reflect the queries the Team receives in this space
• Assist with training of professional service and academic colleagues in the context of providing advice and awareness around the TREF project, ATPS process, research compliance requirements and associated risks of non-compliance;
• Horizon-scanning for arising risks and changes to legislation that could impact the University and could be better managed through the TREF Project and ATPS Process;
• Support the team in the development of new staff members.

You should apply if

• You are keen to understand new legislation, assess risk, and provide confident and assertive advice to senior personnel with legal and non-legal experience
• You have an awareness of policy and guidance processes, understanding the importance of audit functions and have strong problem-solving capability
• You have experience of providing supervision to junior staff members, and you have positive interpersonal skills to enable engagement with key stakeholders within the University.
• Whilst experience in a regulatory risk environment is desirable, it is not essential. Relevant and detailed training will be provided.
• This will be a hybrid role and you will be required to obtain BPSS Clearance.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended

Work pattern: Full time (35 hours)

Grade: I

Salary: £39,906 - £44,746 per annum

School/Unit: Division of Research, Enterprise and Innovation

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time Sunday 11th January 2026

For informal queries about the role, please contact Chaitali Desai, Head of Research Compliance (Solicitor), on [e-mail]

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values. The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.