Head of Research Ethics and Integrity

The Purpose of the Role

The Head of Research Ethics and Integrity is a newly established strategic leadership role reporting to the Director of Research of Trinity Research. Working within Trinity Research’s Senior Leadership Team, the post holder will foster and embed a thriving culture of research integrity across the University’s Faculties and professional services units, helping to ensure that all research is performed to the highest standards and in an ethically robust manner.

The postholder will lead a team of three – the Research Ethics and Integrity Officer and the Clinical Sponsorship and Regulatory Affairs function – providing strategic leadership to the university’s research ­­­­­­ethics and integrity structures. They will work across all
Faculties, Schools and professional units, providing specialist and pragmatic advice and guidance to university staff on all matters relating to research ethics and research integrity. They will be responsible for ensuring that processes and training are in place to support researchers and students to conduct research that complies with legislation, external regulations, research policies and good research practice. They will be responsible for reviewing the university’s relevant suite of policies, implementing changes and developing new ones as required.

Context

The Research Ethics and Integrity team sits within the Trinity Research unit. The postholder report to the Director of Research and be a member of Trinity Research’s Senior Leadership Team which also comprises the Head of Research Engagement and Impact, Head of Research Strategy and Policy, Head of Research Development and the Post-Award Manager. As currently configured, the post will lead a team of three. The Director reports to the Dean & Vice-President of Research who has overall responsibility for Trinity’s research strategy.

Trinity Research is responsible for: delivering sector-leading support to the research community, leading work on institutional research strategy, research policy and research culture initiatives, leading the University’s engagement with national and international research funding and policy matters, and working to enhance the profile and reputation of the University’s research.

Main Responsibilities

This is a list of the tasks, duties and responsibilities for the role.

Team leadership

• Lead the Research Ethics and Integrity team, taking responsibility for staff development and training.
• Set team objectives and ensure milestone deliverables are monitored.

Strategic leadership

• Provide strategic leadership to the research ethics and integrity function within the University, engaging with institutional and Faculty leadership to ensure all relevant support structures are optimally aligned with strategy.

• Oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of a strategy and action plan to enhance research ethics and integrity functions and practices within the University.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practice in research ethics and integrity as well as of new legislation, regulations, and standards. Advise the Director of Research and Dean of Research of any changes (including changes to guidelines, policies and procedures) that may be required arising from them.

• Oversee university responses to key external surveys and consultations on research ethics and integrity matters.
• Lead on engagement and relationship management with relevant bodies for research ethics and integrity matters.
• Instigate and lead on working groups for all aspects of research ethics and integrity as necessary.

Process and systems

• Manage the business of the Research Ethics Policy Committee, including working closely with the Committee Chair.

• Oversee the future development of the Research Ethics Application Management System as required.
• Take a lead role in supporting internal audits and regulatory inspections, provide guidance in the preparation for inspections and take responsibility for the implementation of any subsequent recommendations.
• Support the Director of Research with planning and reporting on all aspects of research ethics and integrity.
• Produce and present reports for key University and Faculty committees.
• Act as Trinity Representative on the National Research Integrity Forum.

Policy Development

• Undertake, with the Head of Research Strategy and Policy, a review of Trinity’s suite of policies that deal with research ethics and integrity. Provide recommendations as to amendment of existing, and the development of new, policies as required.
• Lead on the design of new policies as well as on all related consultation and implementation processes.
• Ensure that all procedures and guidelines related to research ethics and integrity are fit for purpose, identifying and implementing improvements and ensuring compliance with relevant external obligations.
• Ensure a regular cycle of review and updating of research ethics and integrity policies, procedures and guidelines.

Institutional research culture

• Lead on planning and implementing a comprehensive suite of resources and training opportunities for University staff related to research ethics and integrity - to include specialist training for REC members.
• Work with Faculties and Schools to review and enhance ethical review processes and oversee the institutional ethics system implementation and use.
• Work with colleagues in other teams as appropriate to design activities to ensure compliance with funder terms and conditions relating to research ethics and integrity.

Person Requirements

The role-holder will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes for successful performance in the role.

Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent or significant and relevant work experience

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Recent, relevant experience of the Higher Education sector and of research integrity and ethics areas
• Knowledge of national standards and requirements related to research ethics and integrity or demonstratable evidence of ability quickly to gain this.
• Demonstrable understanding and experience of best practice in relation to provision of ethical review processes
• Experience in developing and implementing guidance and procedures in response to new regulations or funder requirements
• Proven ability to develop and implement successful and efficient policies and processes
• Experience of interpreting and communicating complex compliance requirements and regulatory policy information quickly and accurately and providing robust yet pragmatic advice on impacts and change requirements
• Experience of developing and delivering training content
• Experience of leading and motivating colleagues

Desirable

• Recent, relevant experience of managing a research ethics or integrity function in a Higher Education environment
• Experience of writing or supporting strategies and plans relevant to research ethics or integrity
• Knowledge of clinical sponsorship processes

Skills

• Ability to influence academic stakeholders with tact and diplomacy, resolving tensions and difficulties as they arise
• Skillful decision making, deploying judgement to know when to negotiate and when to inform
• Excellent relationship-building and networking abilities

Informal enquiries should be made to Sally Smith, Director of Research [sally.smith@tcd.ie]

Trinity Competencies

In Trinity there are 6 Core Competencies that are applicable to all roles across a range of professional, administrative and support jobs, unlike specialist or technical skills which may be job specific. They provide a common language for describing performance and the abilities/attributes displayed by individuals. They focus on ‘how’ tasks are achieved, not ‘what’ is achieved.