The Approvals Directorate comprises distinct teams involved in the operational delivery of HRA Approval. These teams work to deliver the UK-wide Research Ethics Service, aligned Four Nations operational policy and process and HRA involvement in government driven initiatives.
This role is critical in delivering the HRA’s contribution to improvements in UK clinical research set-up and delivery. This supports the government’s pledge to cut the time it takes to get a clinical trial set up to 150 days or less.
The role is a varied and complex role that requires an in-depth and expert knowledge of UK research approvals landscape.
The post holder will play a key role in ensuring that the HRA continues to deliver a high-quality service to applicants for research approvals, working to ISO9001 principles to ensure a robust approach to quality management.
The role is crucial in supporting colleagues in the HRA in delivering effective, efficient and high-quality operational processes.
The role provides key insights to assess the extent to which processes and work instructions are being applied consistently across our approvals service. This enables identification of areas of improvement to continue to increase the quality of the service provided.
The postholder delivers assurance that research progresses through the approvals pathway with complete, accurate, and regulation‑compliant documentation, supporting efficient, and streamlined regulatory review processes.
The Approvals Quality Control Manager is responsible for:
Collating, analysing and reporting information that is required to monitor and assess the quality of HRA and UK wide regulatory approvals
Conducting detailed quality checks of applications to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with HRA regulatory requirements
Assessing whether documentation aligns with expectations for NHS based research, including legal, ethical, site governance, and information governance requirements in order to provide assurances in the HRA approvals provided
Oversight of quality of study wide reviews, and HRA regulatory decision-making ensuring alignment with HRA policy, SOPs, and national and UK wide regulatory requirements
Communicate to various stakeholders about identified issues with the system/processes, undertaking research and developing proposals for consideration by senior leadership and/or relevant governance group(s)
Planning and responsibility for a broad programme of work, which will require the ability to balance, adjust and prioritise plans and workloads to ensure delivery to timescales
Make judgements involving complex facts, or situations, that require analysis, determination and comparison of options and recommendations
Ensure that advice provided is consistent,accurate, timely and authoritative
Demonstrate own activities to new or less experienced staff, including temporary staff
The post holder has significant discretion to work within a set of defined parameters
Working at the HRA, we are reminded daily of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.
When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement – if it works for us, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note, if applying to our Manchester, Nottingham or Bristol locations, we are only able to offer the role as home based.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification documents for full details about this role.
When completing your application, ensure you clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills align with the criteria outlined for this position.
We recognise that generative AI tools can be helpful in supporting applicants during the recruitment process, particularly for tasks such as proofreading, structuring, or refining written responses. However, we encourage candidates to use AI responsibly and sparingly. Applications should reflect your authentic voice, personal experiences, and genuine qualifications. Over reliance on AI-generated content can result in generic or inaccurate submissions that fail to meet the criteria or convey your individuality. Misrepresentation of skills, knowledge, or experience, including through AI-generated content, may lead to the rejection of your application, withdrawal of your offer, or your dismissal if you do start with us. If you choose to use AI, please ensure it enhances rather than replaces your own input, and be transparent about its use where appropriate. False and insincere examples go against our values of integrity and transparency.
Important information
We are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement as we do not hold a sponsorship licence. Applications requiring sponsorship will not be considered.
Applications that do not clearly demonstrate how the essential criteria outlined in the person specification are met will not be shortlisted.
Only the information provided in the application form will be considered. CVs will not be reviewed.
We do not accept applications via recruitment agencies or other third parties.
The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.
Our fixed term roles are also open to applicants who wish to apply on a secondment basis. Applicants who fit this category are advised to speak with their line manager before applying and visit their organisations Secondments Policy.
Organisational structure and directorate overview
The HRA is made up of five directorates: Approvals, Chief Executive, Digital, Policy and Partnerships and Resources.
This role is in the HRA Approvals Service directorate which consists of teams that work together, across the HRA and across the UK research landscape to provide the appropriate approvals for health and care research in England and, in some cases, across the UK, and to coordinate and standardise research regulation policy and practice across the UK.
This directorate issues HRA Approval, provides the research ethics service in England, supports the Confidentiality Advisory Group advising on the use of confidential patient information without consent; and coordinates technical assurances for pharmacy and radiation. We lead work to refine and maintain the systems and processes researchers need to follow to ensure a swift, robust and simple experience. We do this by working collaboratively with external partners and nearly 1000 committee volunteers to improve the research environment.
