Band 8a Deputy Head of Research Data Governance: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

The Research & Development (R&D) Department at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT) is committed to the responsible use of healthcare data to improve patient care and population health outcomes. The post holder will work within the Healthcare Data Research Team, supporting a portfolio of complex, data-enabled research and innovation programmes.

The post holder will play a pivotal role within the Research Data Governance Team, providing leadership in the development and maintenance of robust governance frameworks that promote compliance, accountability, and transparency across the healthcare data research portfolio. They will support the delivery of high-impact research by ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory, ethical, contractual, and funding requirements, while aligning governance processes with organisational objectives and the strategic priorities of the Healthcare Data Research Team.

Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, the post holder will help maximise the value of healthcare data assets by enabling their secure, ethical, and effective use for research. Through balancing innovation, regulatory compliance, and financial sustainability, they will contribute to the delivery of trusted, impactful research that benefits patients, the NHS, and wider society.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will lead research data governance across the healthcare data research portfolio, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical, contractual, and organisational requirements. They will develop and implement governance frameworks that enable the secure, ethical, and effective use of healthcare data for research and innovation, supporting robust decision-making, accountability, and public trust.

The role will provide strategic oversight of funding, contracts, and financial governance arrangements, ensuring the sustainable delivery of research programmes and partnerships across academia, industry, and the public sector. Through effective financial controls, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, the post holder will support transparent reporting, regulatory compliance, and organisational objectives.

Working across a diverse range of clinical, research, technical, and external stakeholders, the post holder will communicate complex information effectively and provide expert advice on governance, compliance, and research delivery. They will work with a high degree of autonomy, exercising sound judgement whilst managing competing priorities in a complex and evolving environment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • *Degree or equivalent professional qualification, management qualification (e.g. or equivalent experience and Educated to a Masters level qualification or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in healthcare data function
  • *In-depth knowledge in data Research including experience and training plus further management knowledge to post-graduate diploma level or equivalent.
  • *Experience of further professional development
  • *Knowledge of Human Tissue Act, Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, Common law of Confidentiality, Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR acquired through degree or equivalent.
  • *Evidence of relevant continued professional development.

Experience

Essential

  • *Experience in technology, healthcare, and research innovation
  • *Excellent working knowledge of MHRA
  • *Experience in writing Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs)
  • *Experience of an agile user centred approach to project management
  • *Proven ability to negotiate and motivate teams to ensure project delivery.
  • *Experience in understanding technical discussions and documentation including data and digital themes.
  • *Experience in dealing with sensitive and confidential information.
  • *Understanding of Research Data Governance process
  • *Experience of working with public & private sector funding
  • *Knowledge of Data science and data research within the NHS
  • *Have demonstrable experience of understanding and implementing key legislation to practice, including the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR), ISO standards and Information Commissioners Office (ICO) guidance.
  • *Hold extensive knowledge of NHS data and the use of it in terms of Governance practices

Desirable

  • *Understanding of the needs of hospital staff, clinicians, and researchers.
  • *Experience working with Commercial companies to service data requests
  • *Experience of working in hospital setting

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • *Ability to work under pressure within tight deadlines and prioritise workloads
  • *Flexible approach to work with a strong motivation
  • *Strong attention to detail
  • *The post holder will be required to work flexibly for this post
  • *May be required to work and travel across all UHB sites and externally as required by the role

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 24 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit uhb.tal.net.