Research Ethics Manager

Regent Business School; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

REGENT Business School in KwaZulu-Natal seeks a experienced Research Ethics Manager to oversee institutional ethics governance, manage ethical reviews and ensure compliance with standards while promoting research integrity across the institution.

The role includes liaising with NHREC and regulatory bodies, developing training and policy improvements, and supporting postgraduate researchers in meeting ethics requirements with high levels of confidentiality and professionalism.

Qualifications

• PhD/DBA or equivalent required.
• Experience in research ethics governance and ethics committee operations.
• Strong understanding of South African research ethics requirements (POPIA).
• Experience in policy development and postgraduate research processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations of the REGENT Business School Human Research Ethics Committee (RBSHREC).
• Manage ethics applications, amendments, renewals and compliance monitoring.
• Ensure adherence to ethics policies, regulatory requirements and best practices.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Workshop facilitation

Policy development

Data privacy knowledge

Professionalism and confidentiality

Ethical judgement

Education

PhD/DBA or equivalent

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

REGENT Business School is looking to employ a suitably qualified and experienced Research Ethics Manager to join its Research Portfolio. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing institutional research ethics governance, managing ethical review processes and ensuring compliance with research ethics standards, while promoting research integrity across the institution.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the operations of the REGENT Business School Human Research Ethics Committee (RBSHREC), including meetings, submissions, reviews and approvals.
• Oversee research ethics applications, amendments, renewals and compliance monitoring.
• Ensure adherence to institutional research ethics policies, regulatory requirements and ethical research practices.
• Provide guidance and support to postgraduate students, researchers and supervisors on research ethics requirements.
• Develop and facilitate research ethics workshops, training sessions and awareness initiatives.
• Review and improve research ethics policies, procedures and application processes.
• Maintain accurate ethics records, reports and audit-ready documentation.
• Liaise with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) and other relevant regulatory bodies.
• Prepare reports on ethics applications, compliance trends and committee performance.
• A completed Doctoral qualification (PhD, DBA or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Experience in research ethics governance, ethics committee operations and postgraduate research processes.
• Sound understanding of South African research ethics requirements, human participant protections and data privacy legislation, including POPIA.
• Experience in committee coordination, regulatory reporting, research training and policy development.
• Strong organisational, administrative and process management skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and workshop facilitation skills.
• High levels of ethical judgement, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Strong computer literacy and digital proficiency.