Research Governance Coordinator - EoE Secure Data Environment

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust located in Cambridge is seeking a Research Governance Coordinator. This role will provide governance support for research projects within the East of England Secure Data Environment. Responsibilities include reviewing data access requests, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing training to key stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have a degree, relevant experience in clinical research, and a strong understanding of information governance. The position offers a competitive benefits package and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

On-site leisure facilities

Flexible working arrangements

Reduced cost bus travel

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a clinical research environment.
• Experience of working on Trusted Research Environments / Secure Data Environments.
• Experience of working with information governance.

Responsibilities

• Undertake reviews of Secure Data Environment Data Access Request applications.
• Provide specialist support for SDE research projects.
• Represent the Trust in internal and external meetings.

Skills

Research governance

Information governance

Data analysis

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent experience

Masters or Equivalent

Post graduate research qualification

Job description

Research Governance Coordinator - EoE Secure Data Environment

The closing date is 20 January 2026

The East of England Secure Data Environment (SDE) is a digital platform that supports secure, controlled access to de-personalised NHS patient data for research that improves public health. The East of England is SDE is part of a national programme.

You would be responsible for providing research governance support to facilitate complex research across a wide range of specialities and in accordance with the needs of the research community while always meeting legal and privacy standards. You will support projects from application through to approval. This role does not involve directly working with clinical data or performing analysis, but instead supporting researchers to ensure their projects meet SDE and research governance standards.

This is a key role based with the Trust's Research and Development Department. The Research Governance Coordinator will assist with the development of the SDE, ensuring compliance the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, UK GDPR and Data Protection Act, common law duty of confidentiality and any other applicable legislation, framework or national and international guidance.

In conjunction with the R&D legal team and the Data and AI Research Governance Lead, you will contribute specialist advice relating to privacy, information governance and confidentiality law to the East of England Secure Data Environment.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake reviews of Secure Data Environment Data Access Request applications, identifying any areas that are inconsistent or unclear and communicating with the researcher any changes or further information required.
• Provide specialist support for SDE research projects ensuring that privacy and research governance requirements are relevant, adequate and monitored to manage risk and ensure compliance with law, regulation, contractual obligations and Trust policies.
• Provide support, specialist advice and training for key research stakeholders across the Trust, BioMedical campus and other external partners.
• Represent the Trust in internal and external meetings to help shape a national framework for Secure Data Environments.
• Analyse, provide expert advice and make definitive judgements on research applications to determine whether projects, and therefore the Trust, are compliant with current governance / regulatory frameworks and legislation.
• Initiate, develop and lead strong and positive working partnerships with key stakeholders within the local research ecosystem.
• Continually review the systems and processes for SDE research to ensure they remain fit for purpose and comply with best practice.
• Coordinate the Secure Data Environment Data Access Committee (SDE DAC), providing specialist advice to researchers and colleagues in relation to the review of SDE projects.

About us

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments, you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant currently on a fixed term contract, you are able to apply for this as a fixed term position.

The advert will close at midnight on 20 January 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 30 January 2026.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
• Masters or Equivalent
• GCP Trained
• Post graduate research qualification

Experience

• Experience of working in a clinical research environment (NHS, University or industry)
• Experience of working on Trusted research Environments / Secure Data Environments
• Experience of working with data driven and/or AI research in a clinical setting
• Experience of working with information governance

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of research governance and the processes involved in approving projects
• Knowledge of relevant law and legislation including UK GDPR, the Common Law
• Duty of Confidentiality, Medical Devices Regulations
• Knowledge of the regulatory framework for research including the UK Policy
• Framework for Health and Social Care Research
• Knowledge of novel developments related to research including artificial intelligence and privacy enhancing technologies
• Familiarity with current trends in health data research including trusted research environments
• An understanding of the ethical issues in AI and data driven research
• Basic understanding of IT security standards in the NHS

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust