Research Compliance Officer in Bristol

The role involves working with members of the Research Compliance Team responsible for delivering compliance with the NPSA’s Trusted Research Evaluation Framework (TREF). You would contribute to the strategic and operational development of partner suitability assessment and due diligence (ATPS) aspects of this Project, including managing the Work Tribe Due Diligence process.

You will be involved in developing relationships with academic colleagues and will have a key role in implementing the ATPS process and management of Work Tribe Due Diligence processes as relevant to national security regulation. This includes input into message management and regular training delivery around purpose and impact. There will also be an element of reporting to the TREF Project Board and Knowledge Management Groups comprising academic and professional service colleagues.

You may also be involved in providing advice and training to research academics and professional services staff on a wide range of legal compliance measures including:

• Trusted Research and Innovation
• Export Control Regulations
• National Security & Investment Act

You will assist with onboarding new staff where appropriate and engage with stakeholders around sharing knowledge and best practice in a fast-paced and developing area of law.

What will you be doing?

• Be responsible for oversight of the ATPS Process and national security/due diligence enquiries arising from it.
• Engage with MarComms and Operations Teams where input may be required to achieve the TREF Project and ATPS Process outcomes.
• Become fluent in relevant risk assessment and recording tools that will be used to reflect the queries the Team receives in this space.
• Assist with training of professional service and academic colleagues in the context of providing advice and awareness around the TREF project, ATPS process, research compliance requirements and associated risks of non-compliance.
• Horizon-scanning for arising risks and changes to legislation that could impact the University and could be better managed through the TREF Project and ATPS Process.
• Support the team in the development of new staff members.

You should apply if:

• You are keen to understand new legislation, assess risk, and provide confident and assertive advice to senior personnel with legal and non-legal experience.
• You have an awareness of policy and guidance processes, understanding the importance of audit functions and have strong problem-solving capability.
• You have experience of providing supervision to junior staff members, and you have positive interpersonal skills to enable engagement with key stakeholders within the University.
• While experience in a regulatory risk environment is desirable, it is not essential. Relevant and detailed training will be provided.

This will be a hybrid role and you will be required to obtain BPSS Clearance.

Additional information

• Contract type: Open ended
• Work pattern: Full time (35 hours)
• Grade: I
• Salary: £39,906 - £44,746 per annum
• School/Unit: Division of Research, Enterprise and Innovation

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time Sunday 11th January 2026.

For informal queries about the role, please contact Chaitali Desai, Head of Research Compliance (Solicitor), on chaitali.desai@bristol.ac.uk.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values. The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.