We currently have an exciting opportunity within the Health Research Authority for an enthusiastic and organised individual.

The role will support the Approvals Specialist in the processing of research applications, issuing standard communications and providing procedural advice to applicants. The post-holder will support the tracking of studies to deliver a coordinated service to applicants. They will support the administration of Research Ethics Committee meetings and record discussions and decisions by sub-committees.

The post-holder will be part of a wider team which will ensure that appropriate reviews have been completed and recorded in line with agreed processes in order to inform decisions of sites on the viability of the study locally.

Applicants should be educated to high level secondary education or have passed or be working towards NVQ3 in a relevant field, or equivalent, plus relevant practical experience.

Main duties of the job

The postholder must have an understanding of the HRA role and remit, knowledge of a range of administrative practices and procedures plus evidence of practical experience at a similar level. They will have a well-developed knowledge and expertise of operating systems within the NHS or similar field and excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise against a background of change and uncertainty. Experience of taking minutes, of working with people at all levels in an organisation and of working to tight deadlines is essential.

About us

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 stageof the recruitment process.When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able toaccommodate 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.

Job responsibilities

This role sits within the HRA Approvals Service directorate which consists of various teams that all work together to provide the appropriate approval for health research in England and, for some applications, across the UK.This directorate is responsible for:- Delivering HRA Approval- Supporting the Confidentiality Advisory Group and advising on the use of confidential patient information without consent- Working to refine the systems and processes researchers need to follow to ensure a swift, robust and simple experience- Providing guidance to applicants- Providing training- Working collaboratively with external partners to improve the research environmentTo find out more and to understand the full duties of the role, please refer to the job description attached.In submitting your application with us, please note the following:We currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement.Where applicants fail to demonstrate how they meet any one of the essential criteria of the person specification, the application will not be shortlisted. You will be considered based only on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered.The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant demonstrable and relevant experience in an administrative focused role equivalent to A-Level or NVQ3 in administration

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERTIS

• Knowledge of a range of administrative practices and procedures and advanced use of all MS Office packages, (eg Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Internet and Outlook) to support these processes
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise against a background of change and frequently changing demands including the ability to work to tight deadline
• Ability to recognise opportunities for process and system improvement and to articulate recommendations appropriately to line management
• Understanding of the HRA role and remit
• Knowledge of principles and processes for approving and conducting health research in England, including legal requirements relating to research, and the ability to apply this knowledge practically
• Knowledge of medical terminology

EXPERIENCE

• Experience of taking minutes
• Experience of liaising and negotiating effectively with internal and external agencies, at all staff levels within an organisation
• Experience in REC, NHS R&D or University Research Management

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Ability to develop good communications with the Chairs and Members and the extended research community
• Excellent inter-personal skills and commitment to team working and respect and consideration for the skills of others
• Self-motivated, with ability to work on own initiative, making decisions where appropriate and organise own workload

OTHER

• Ability to develop practical solutions to meet objectives or to escalate issues when needed
• Use analytical skills to identify any areas where quality of service is being impacted, contributing proposed solutions within appropriate lines of management
• Willingness to travel occasionally, including some overnight stays with notice
• Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity

Full-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working,Compressed hours