Faculty/Administrative/Service Department / Research and Innovation Support, within the function of RES (Research and Enterprise Support)
Job Title / Research Integrity and Governance Manager
Job Family / Professional Services / Job Level / 5
Responsible to / Head of Research Development & Governance
Responsible for (Staff) / Research Integrity and Governance Officer and 2x Assistant Research Integrity and Governance Officers
Job Purpose Statement
This is a senior role providing leadership and expertise to the Research Integrity and Governance Office (RIGO). The office manages the research governance responsibilities for the university including the University ethics process (both human and animal), sponsorship of studies involving the NHS ethical review process, compliance with regulations including the Human Tissue Act (HTA), EU Clinical Trial Directives, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Animal Scientific Procedures Act/Animal Welfare Act and the University’s research related policies and codes of practice.
The post holder will ensure that processes are in place to support researchers in order to conduct research that complies with legislation, external regulation as well as all research policies and good research governance. The post holder will have the opportunity to evolve and deliver a quality assurance programme, to incorporate monitoring and audit programmes for research quality.
The RIGO office leads on the Concordat to Support Research Integrity activities and associated action plans. The post holder will work closely with the Head of Research Development and Governance, and Associate Deans for Research and Innovation to embed good research practice, deliver appropriate training and create a monitoring and reporting function within RIGO.
The post holder will provide strategic level support for governance related activities working closely with the University Legal and Secretariat Team, Surrey Clinical Research Centre, University Ethics Committee and Animal Welfare and Ethics Review Board (AWERB).
Key Responsibilities This document is not designed to be a list of all tasks undertaken but an outline record of the main responsibilities (5 to 8 maximum)
1. Provide leadership and management of the Research Integrity and Governance Office, ensuring delivery of a professional and efficient support service. Managing a portfolio of governance related projects alongside the day to day requirements of ethics and sponsorship requests, queries and monitoring activities.
2. Provide expert advice to Senior Management at the University on compliance with regulatory requirements, and on any subsequent changes. Alerting the University to identified risks and proposing actions accordingly.
3. Develop and deliver a quality assurance programme, ensuring research is conducted in accordance with internal and external requirements.
4. Lead on the development and implementation of key research integrity and governance guidance, through a programme of training, materials and a fully updated website. Working closely with the Research Training Forum, including Staff Development and Research Development staff.
5. Management of the Research Integrity and Governance Officer and two Assistant Research Integrity and Governance Officers.
6. Management of governance data, including cases of research misconduct and responsibility for making returns to funders and regulatory bodies where required.
7. Manage the portfolio of research related policies and codes of practice, alongside the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.
8. Contribute to wider Research Governance initiatives, for example in faculty peer review, research data management processes, where appropriate.
N.B. The above list is not exhaustive.
All staff are expected to:
· Positively support equality of opportunity and equity of treatment to colleagues and students in accordance with the University of Surrey Equal Opportunities Policy.· Work to achieve the aims of our Environmental Policy and promote awareness to colleagues and students.
· Follow University/departmental policies and working practices in ensuring that no breaches of information security result from their actions.
· Ensure they are aware of and abide by all relevant University Regulations and Policies relevant to the role.
· Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your Manager.
· Work supportively with colleagues, operating in a collegiate manner at all times.
Help maintain a safe working environment by:
· Attending training in Health and Safety requirements as necessary, both on appointment and as changes in duties and techniques demand.
· Following local codes of safe working practices and the University of Surrey Health and Safety Policy.
Elements of the Role
This section outlines some of the key elements of the role, which allow this role to be evaluated within the University’s structure. It provides an overview of what is expected from the post holder in the day-to-day operation of the role.
Planning and Organising
· The post holder will oversee the work of the Research Integrity and Governance Officer and two Assistant Research Integrity and Governance Officers.
· The post holder will oversee the planning and organisation of the Research and Integrity Office.
· The post holder will initiate projects to enhance the research environment whilst ensuring external regulations are met. These projects should ensure that researchers have access to appropriate processes, guidance and support in order to effectively conduct research.
· The post holder will work with foresight and an independent manner, organising and prioritising their work and those of their team in order to establish an effective and professional research integrity and governance support function. They will be working both in the longer term (Developing relationship through the Surrey Health Partners) but will also be working in the short to medium term (external audit requirements such as HR Excellence in January 2016), leading by example to ensure that deadlines are met by their team in a timely way.
· The work will, by necessity, be driven by a number of internal and external drivers, and therefore, the post holder will be adept at changing plans to adapt to these changing circumstances.
Problem Solving and Decision Making
· The framework for the role is provided by the University’s suite of research policies and regulatory statute
· The post holder is expected to be the interface for research governance (including ethics), with the ability to resolve research governance, ethics or compliance issues within the RIGO team, or signposting to the appropriate expert within the University. The post holder will also demonstrate an authoritative and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of best practice, and internal policies and processes in order to apply and interpret these on a frequent basis to provide advice where appropriate.
· At times the post holder is required to deal with complex problems, which require the post holder to exercise reasonable personal initiative and judgement and to provide solutions. The post holder will be required to apply analytical, interpretative and constructive thinking, as well as a high degree of evaluation in order to make decisions.
· The post holder will be expected to resolve the majority of issues faced but where the post holder faces issues/problems which are of a more complex nature and/or fall outside of the post holder’s experience, guidance may be sought from the Head of Research Development and Governance.
· The post holder will act as the escalation point for their team in cases where particularly unusual or complex issues or problems are faced.
· Errors in judgement regarding any advice they or their team provide to staff may result in potential damage to the research careers of staff members or to the reputation of the University.
Continuous Improvement
· The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the Research Integrity and Governance Officer and Assistant Research Integrity and Governance Officers react to the changing external and internal research governance requirements, and that improvements are made on a continual basis.
· The post holder will identify new ways to enhance the research environment and implement them in liaison with the Head of Research Development and Governance and the Associate Deans (Research and Innovation)
· The post holder will contribute to projects, initiatives and developments across the University, and will take ownership for effective delivery of their project objectives.
The post holder will evolve a quality assurance programme, including monitoring and audit programmes for research studies.
Accountability
· The post holder has the freedom to take an independent and proactive approach to achieve the desired results, provided actions are consistent with the broader University research policies and practices, as well as any guidance provided by the Head of Research Development and Governance.
· Success in this role is heavily dependent on building successful and strong relationships with colleagues in professional services roles centrally and within faculties as well as academic colleagues and will therefore require the demonstration of a high degree of emotional intelligence, autonomy and resilience.
· Working with the Head of Research Development and Governance, they must use their experience of negotiating and influencing academics to embed research policies, practices and procedures and guide the Research Integrity and Governance Office accordingly.
· They will be able to plan the work of their team without supervision, adapting to changing workloads, in order to deliver the service required.
· Decisions taken will impact upon external compliance with regulatory bodies as well as actions taken by senior management and academic staff.
Dimensions of the role
· The role will be delivering a University-wide service and will impact across the University.
· The Research Integrity and Governance Manager will be responsible for the management of the Research Integrity and Governance Office
· They will be responsible for managing performance, overseeing work and monitoring progress in order to ensure that a high quality, timely service is provided which delivers against objectives and deadlines.
· Works directly with Head of Research Development and Governance, Chair of the Ethics Committee, Chair of AWERB Committee, Research Development Manager, Research Information Manager and senior management across the faculties identifying areas of concerns, potential projects, and process changes.
· Work closely with the University Ethics Committee to ensure support/processes are appropriate
· Works closely with Legal and Secretariat team, Research Finance, Research Development, Staff Development, Information Compliance Unit along with external HEI and non HEI bodies.
Supplementary Information
· The University of Surrey has responded positively to the introduction of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity and sees real merit in improving the governance and processes supporting research at the University. The recent investment in a Vet School along with increased research in health and medical sciences makes this a critical role in ensuring the University reacts and develops governance and quality systems accordingly. The post will suit a pro-active individual who is looking to make change happen and substantially contribute to the future of research governance at Surrey.
Person Specification This section describes the sum total of knowledge, experience & competence required by the post holder that is necessary for standard acceptable performance in carrying out this role.
Qualifications and Professional Memberships
Professionally qualified with a relevant degree/postgraduate qualification, plus broad relevant management experience in a similar or related role.
OR
Significant vocational and relevant management experience, demonstrating management ability in an appropriate professional or specialist area, and success in similar or related roles, supported by evidence of significant appropriate specialist knowledge. / E
Membership of relevant professional organisations / D
Technical Competencies (Experience and Knowledge) This section contains the level of competency required to carry out the role (please refer to the Competency Framework for clarification where needed and the Job Matching Guidance). / Essential/
Desirable / Level
1-3
Experience in quality assurance management, ideally through the introduction of new processes and policies / E / 3
Knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation including, Data Protection Act, EU Clinical Trials Directive, Human Tissue Act, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Animal Scientific Procedures Act/Animal Welfare Act and any other legislation which could influence and affect the conduct of research / E / 3
Experience of ethics approval processes ideally within a Higher Education or National Health Service setting. / E / 3
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft office / E / 3
Experience of IRAS submission system / E / 3
Experience of line management and mentoring / E / 2
Excellent document recognition skills. / E / 2
Knowledge of clinical trials regulation and governance requirements. / E / 2
Awareness of NHS R&D processes / D / n/a
Awareness and understanding of the Concordat for Research Integrity. / D / n/a
Special Requirements: / Essential/
Desirable
Willingness to travel to external meetings within the UK / E
Core Competencies This section contains the level of competency required to carry out this role. (Please refer to the competency framework for clarification where needed). n/a (not applicable) should be placed, where the competency is not a requirement of the grade. / Level
1-3
Communication
Adaptability / Flexibility
Customer/Client service and support
Planning and Organising
Continuous Improvement
Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills
Managing and Developing Performance
Creative and Analytical Thinking
Influencing, Persuasion and Negotiation Skills
Strategic Thinking & Leadership / 3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
This Job Purpose reflects the core activities of the post. As the Department/Faculty and the post holder develop, there will inevitably be some changes to the duties for which the post is responsible, and possibly to the emphasis of the post itself. The University expects that the post holder will recognise this and will adopt a flexible approach to work. This could include undertaking relevant training where necessary.
Should significant changes to the Job Purpose become necessary, the post holder will be consulted and the changes reflected in a revised Job Purpose.
Organisational/Departmental Information & Key Relationships
Background Information
Research and Innovation Support (RIS – part of Research and Enterprise Support – RES) comprises around 35 staff and is responsible for providing specialist support services to develop the University’s research and income, to ensure compliance with research governance legislation, and to provide programme and project management support to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation. RIS activities are closely aligned with the University’s Research Strategy. The University of Surrey has a strong history of successful research in science and technology, and benefits from running a major Research Park located on University land adjacent to the main campus. We work alongside our Enterprise and Growth colleagues as part of RES.