Please note that this job is open only to current members of staff of Cardiff University who are eligible for redeployment. Internal Redeployment Only – HTA Governance Officer The Research Service is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated Human Tissue Act (HTA) Governance Officer to join the HTA Compliance Team based in Research Services. This is a full-time (35 hours per week) open-ended position that would suit a highly organised, proactive individual with a background in human tissue research, regulation or associated research ethics. You will provide expert, informed advice and guidance in relation to human tissue research processes and procedures to support the activity of researchers across the University, including guidance on associated ethical procedures. You will lead on reviewing studies and assessing study documentation to ensure internal and external HTA standards have been met and, with the HTA Manager, will co-deliver audits across the three HTA Licences. With strong organisational skills, you will work both independently and with colleagues from teams across the Research Service and Schools. Whilst a detailed knowledge of the Human Tissue Act 2004 is desirable, crucial to this role are the transferable skills needed to deliver the key duties, a keenness to learn and meticulous attention to detail. This post is full-time and open-ended Salary: £40497 - £45,413 per annum (Grade 6). Dyddiad cau: 1 May 2025 Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. Job Description Working as a HTA Governance Officer, as part of the HTA Compliance Team within The Research Service, you will have responsibility for supporting the HTA Manager and the University with human tissue regulation and associated research ethics. You will provide expert, informed advice and guidance in relation to human tissue research processes and procedures to support the activity of researchers across the University, including guidance on associated ethical procedures. You will lead on reviewing studies and assessing study documentation to ensure internal and external HTA standards have been met and, with the HTA Manager, will co-deliver audits across the three HTA Licences. With strong organisational skills, you will work both independently and in a highly collaborative manner with colleagues (researchers, academics and professional service staff) from teams across the Research Service and Schools to facilitate and achieve operational excellence and excellent research outcomes. You will maintain an up-to-date subject specific knowledge aimed at providing operational excellence through continuous improvement, ensuring that operational and customer service needs are met. You will have a proactive customer service approach to undertaking duties in the role, ensuring the service provided by you and colleagues actively mitigates risks and issues as appropriate. A positive, collegiate, and compassionate approach will be vital in the role, and the postholder will lead by example in exhibiting positive behaviours and promoting a values-led approach to effective service delivery and collaboration. Essential Criteria 1. Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience 2. Substantial experience of working within an area of research subject to regulation (such as human tissue research), and/or research ethics 3. Able to demonstrate professional knowledge of either human tissue research, regulation and/or associated research ethics to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers 4. Proven experience in developing new processes and procedures 5. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people 6. Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered 7. Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments 8. Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions 9. Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within either human tissue research, regulation and/or associated research ethics 10. Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short-term project teams Desirable Criteria 11. Postgraduate/Professional qualification 12. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment 13. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral The Research Service Cardiff is an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. Our world-leading research was ranked 5th for quality amongst UK universities in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework and we provide an educationally outstanding experience for our 30,000 students. With an annual budget in excess of £500 million and around 6,000 staff, Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of the 24 leading UK research-intensive universities. The University has 24 academic schools grouped into three colleges: Biomedical & Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering and Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. The University’s ambition is to rank consistently among the top 100 universities in the world. Cardiff is also developing its Innovation System through a focused programme of investment in people and infrastructure. Research funding secured from competitive, external sources exceeds £100 million annually and the University aims to grow this further through winning grants from a wide range of national and global sources. The Research Service supports the University’s research community in initiating and delivering research and innovation activities. Led by the Director, Vanessa Cuthill, we provides services via over 100 expert staff organised in five specialist teams: Research Grants Office; Research Integrity, Governance and Ethics; Research Development; Research Commercialisation and Impact; Research Strategy and Operations and Business Engagement and Partnerships. The Department works closely with academic and professional services staff from all areas of the institution. General Duties Key Duties • Ensure the provision of the HTA Compliance Team business as usual activities are delivered to the institution, including HTA Licence exemption reviews, end of study audits and licensed activity audits, and resolving issues independently where they fall within set role objectives. The role holder will have responsibility for the planning, management and delivery of the review/audit programme and, using initiative and investigative skills, assess compliance with Human Tissue Authority standards and University requirements, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements • To review human tissue incident reports and Corrective and Preventive and Action (CAPA) plans using specialist knowledge and judgement to determine if the proposed CAPAs address fully the shortfall(s); liaising and negotiating closely with researchers if the CAPA is not sufficient or appropriate • Investigate and analyse patterns of human tissue research activity, incidents and audit findings, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within human tissue regulation and associated research ethics • Provide professional advice and guidance on human tissue regulation and associated research ethics processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institute wide impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood • To administer the Human Research Database, including the initial transfer of records and ongoing administration • Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required • Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve Research Services objectives • Plan and deliver specific small scale projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed • Develop and deliver training within human tissue regulation and associated research ethics • Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department • Instruct and guide other employees across the University within human tissue regulation and associated research ethics as required General Duties • Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties • Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity • Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role Important note: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element. When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for XXXXBR.