Research Governance Officer

LSTM; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Liverpool is seeking a Research Governance Officer to support compliance with health research regulations. The role involves maintaining governance systems and oversight of research projects, requiring strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Applicants should have a degree-level qualification and experience in research governance. Additional benefits include generous annual leave and pension schemes.

Benefits

30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Generous occupational pension schemes

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted staff membership to sports centre

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Proven experience of monitoring and auditing studies to GCP standards.
• Strong knowledge of UK clinical trials regulations.
• Experience of sponsorship review and ethical review processes.

Responsibilities

• Support compliance with UK Policy Framework for research.
• Maintain research governance systems and procedures.
• Provide oversight for approval and monitoring of research studies.

Skills

Research governance

Clinical trials compliance

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Relationship building

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated Research Governance Officer (UK) to join Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). The postholder will support the Head of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity (RGEI) in ensuring that research conducted across LSTM complies with the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, clinical trials regulations, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

You will play a key role in supporting the approval, monitoring and governance of research studies across LSTM, including studies delivered through the Liverpool Vaccine Group and the Human Challenge Facility. Working closely with study teams, trial managers and internal stakeholders, you will help ensure that robust governance, quality assurance and compliance arrangements are in place throughout the full lifecycle of research projects.

The role will also contribute to the development and maintenance of research governance systems, policies and procedures, provide expert guidance to researchers, support sponsor and delivery partner review processes, and assist with audits, reporting, training and continuous improvement activities across the institution.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head of RGEI and study teams to ensure all research activity across LSTM complies with the UK Policy Framework, clinical trials regulations and GCP, including assessment of capacity and capability for study delivery.
• Maintain and develop research governance systems, policies and procedures, supporting the LSTM-wide Quality Management System for research governance, ethics and integrity.
• Provide governance oversight for the approval, monitoring, audit and amendment of research studies, including sponsorship review, contract input (RACI), risk assessment and proportional monitoring.
• Maintain accurate records of research approvals, amendments, audits and monitoring activity, and support reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide expert guidance to researchers on governance pathways, safety reporting, non-compliance, material transfer agreements and human tissue governance.
• Liaise with internal departments and external bodies, including the Health Research Authority, to ensure effective research governance, compliance and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to training, communications and engagement activities relating to research governance policies, systems and best practice.

You will possess

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience gained within a research governance, higher education, NHS R&D or similar environment.
• Proven experience of research governance, including monitoring and auditing studies to GCP standards and supporting clinical trials and regulated research.
• Experience of sponsorship review, IRAS submissions, ethical review processes, safety reporting and trial master file management.
• Strong knowledge of UK clinical trials regulations, the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, and research integrity principles.
• Excellent organisational, analytical and communication skills, with a solution-focused approach and the ability to apply proportionality while ensuring compliance.
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

(For a full list of essential and desirable criteria, please refer to the job description and person specification.)

Additional benefits of joining LSTM

• 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, plus Christmas closure days
• Generous occupational pension schemes
• Government-backed “cycle to work” scheme
• Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre
• Plus, a host of additional family-friendly policies