Human Tissue Governance Specialist

We are seeking a Human Tissue Governance Specialist to join the Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance (RGEA) team in Research Services.

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

The Research Governance Ethics & Assurance (RGEA) team, in Research Services, provides advice, support and guidance to researchers, and has a role in ensuring that clinical research involving human participants conducted in the University is compliant with relevant governance and regulations.

This position is focused on support to staff working in research teams and across various HTA Research Licences: this includes responsibility for providing advice and guidance about fulfilling the requirements of the Human Tissue Act (2004).

What we offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working with a current expectation of at least 50% onsite work.

About the role

You will join the Human Tissue Governance Group within RGEA whose primary role is to review projects using human biological samples and ensuring these are undertaken in compliance with the relevant legislation. This will involve communication with study teams, as well as working with colleagues across RGEA and Research Services more widely.

Key responsibilities include guiding researchers who need to store samples under an HTA licence through the appropriate governance processes, and providing robust assurance of compliance with the regulation to Designated Individuals with legal responsibility for the University’s HTA licences. You will use your experience of auditing processes to analyse audits and non-compliances reports and identify areas of risk or possible opportunity for improvement.

There is a strong emphasis on building competency and providing advice to a variety of stakeholders including colleagues in Research Services, in clinical teams in the NHS, in clinical trials units and in University departments both in academic research and in research support roles.

The role is offered on full-time, permanent basis, although 0.8 FTE would be considered for the right candidate. The successful candidate will report to the Human Tissue Governance Lead and be part of a group of four people with specialised expertise on human tissue governance within RGEA.

About you

The ideal candidate will have an excellent working knowledge of the Human Tissue Act and related standards and regulations, as well as excellent interpersonal skills and a rigorous approach to record-keeping.

You will have experience of working in a quality assurance role, including conducting audits and the ability to analyse trends from audits and non-compliances, identifying root causes and proposing potential process improvements to the HTG Lead.

Success in this role will be demonstrated by collaborative communication with members of University of Oxford staff at wide ranging levels. Establishing trusting relationships with personnel responsible for the various HTA licences whilst ensuring compliance with the relevant regulations.

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