At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead research governance to ensure ethical and compliant research at King's College London.
- Company: King's College London, a leader in research and innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse community committed to equality and academic freedom.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on research integrity and support innovative projects.
- Qualifications: Relevant degree or PhD with management experience in research governance.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
About us
Research and innovation are at the heart of King's College London's mission to make a positive difference in the world. The Research Management & Innovation Directorate (RMID) shapes and enables the university's research and innovation agenda, ensuring an environment in which researchers, professional staff and doctoral students can excel. This work is guided by King's Strategy 2030, which emphasises academic excellence, real‑world impact, and a culture where research and innovation can truly thrive. The Department of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity (RGEI) safeguards the quality and credibility of King's research. It ensures that all research conducted across the university is safe, ethical, lawful and carried out to the highest standards of integrity and rigour. Teams develop policies, systems, guidance, training and initiatives that support researchers in navigating ethical and regulatory requirements, enabling high‑quality research with confidence while feeling supported and valued.
About the role
The Research Governance Manager leads the Research Governance Office (RGO) at King's, providing operational research governance leadership to ensure all research sponsored by King's College London is conducted in accordance with University policy, the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research and all relevant legal and regulatory requirements. The post holder contributes to the effective and efficient support of research and innovation through the delivery, promotion, and robust management of research governance processes across the College. They lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of a broad range of institutional and local policies, procedures and guidance to support high‑quality, compliant research activity. The role requires expert knowledge of research governance requirements across the evolving regulatory landscape, including guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), Health Research Authority (HRA) and NHS R&D. The holder provides expert advice to researchers on HRA and university governance processes, data protection legislation, NHS ethics requirements, and related regulatory pathways, and leads the development of internal systems and processes to support these functions, including specialist data governance guidance. The role supports effective Sponsor oversight across the KCL research portfolio and works closely with colleagues across King's and King's Health Partners (KHP). The recent establishment of the KCL Clinical Research Hub and King's transition to a sole‑sponsorship model for clinical IRAS research have led to the expansion of the Research Governance Office. The post holder will play a key role in supporting clinical research governance through this transition and will report to the Clinical Sponsor and Quality Lead. Line management of the RGO team is provided by the post holder. The team sits in the Research Ethics, Governance & Integrity Department (RGEI) within the Research Management & Innovation Directorate (RMID). King's adopts a hybrid working model. When on campus, the role holder will be based at the Lavington Street Building, part of the King's Waterloo Campus, with a minimum on‑site presence of one day per week. This is a full‑time post (35 hours per week) with an indefinite contract.
About you
To be successful in this role, candidates should have the following skills and experience:
- Essential criteria
- Professionally qualified with a relevant degree or postgraduate/PhD and broad management experience in similar or related roles, or substantial vocational and relevant management experience demonstrating management ability in an appropriate professional or specialist area, supported by evidence of significant appropriate specialist knowledge.
- Expert knowledge of UK research governance requirements, including the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, HRA processes, MHRA requirements, NHS R&D governance and associated legislation including UK GDPR.
- Experience leading research governance support and Sponsor oversight activities across a research‑intensive diverse portfolio, including CTIMPs/ATIMPs, device trials, clinical studies and non‑clinical research.
- Experience developing, implementing and maintaining proportionate research governance policies, risk assessments, SOPs and operational processes to ensure regulatory Sponsor compliance.
- Experience of research monitoring, audit preparation or quality assurance activities, including maintaining accurate governance records.
- Ability to provide authoritative advice to researchers and senior stakeholders on governance, ethics, sponsorship and regulatory pathways.
- Experience working independently, showing initiative and making informed high‑level decisions.
- Proven line management and team leadership experience, including supporting staff development, managing workload and ensuring high‑quality service delivery.
- Desirable criteria
- Experience leading operational change in a complex research or regulatory environment.
- Experience conducting audits and/or safety monitoring activities at a Sponsor level, including contributing to corrective and preventative actions.
- Experience supporting governance and Sponsor oversight measures for overseas research.
- Experience applying data governance requirements in a research context, including advising on DPIAs, secure data environments and/or related GDPR compliance processes.
- Working knowledge of UK funding body guidance and application processes, including costings for research and development activities and/or experience with research contracts.
Equality and diversity
At King's, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative are great strengths of the university. The Equality Act 2010 protects the rights of our staff and provides a framework to fulfil duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation and to advance equality of opportunity. We are committed to free speech and academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including controversial ones, can be discussed and debated. We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV and supporting statement detailing how they meet the essential criteria.
Research Governance Manager employer: King’s College London
King's College London is an exceptional employer, fostering a vibrant work culture that prioritises research excellence and innovation. With a commitment to employee growth, the Research Governance Manager role offers opportunities to lead impactful projects while benefiting from a supportive environment that values diversity and collaboration. Located at the dynamic Waterloo Campus, employees enjoy a hybrid working model, ensuring a healthy work-life balance alongside access to cutting-edge resources and a community dedicated to making a positive difference in the world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Governance Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, attend relevant events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially how they align with research governance. This will help you tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to get comfortable with common questions. Focus on articulating your experience in research governance and how it relates to the role at King's College London.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search and take the time to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Research Governance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Research Governance Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the job description, especially your knowledge of UK research governance requirements.
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement:Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Use it to explain how you meet the essential criteria and share specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your expertise in research governance.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves line management, be sure to highlight your leadership experience. Talk about how you've supported team development and ensured high-quality service delivery in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at King’s College London
✨Know Your Governance Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the UK research governance requirements, especially the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research. Familiarise yourself with HRA processes, MHRA requirements, and NHS R&D governance. This knowledge will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Research Governance Manager, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your line management experience and how you've supported staff development in the past. Share specific examples of how you've managed workloads and ensured high-quality service delivery to demonstrate your leadership capabilities.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world situations. Think about times when you've had to implement or improve governance policies or handle compliance issues. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
✨Emphasise Your Communication Skills
You'll need to provide authoritative advice to researchers and senior stakeholders, so highlight your communication skills during the interview. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully conveyed complex regulatory information in an understandable way, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
