Research Compliance Officer (Due Diligence)

Overview

In this role you will support the university’s research due diligence and compliance efforts, acting as a central contact for third-party and collaboration inquiries, and coordinating background checks and record-keeping. You’ll help ensure reviews meet institutional and funder requirements while maintaining audit trails. You will coordinate responses to NHS R&D governance findings and other external audits, improving processes and guidance. Working with the Research Security team, you’ll provide clear guidance to researchers and colleagues and escalate high-risk matters as needed.

Responsibilities

• Triage inquiries about third-party organisations and collaborations; coordinate requests
• Gather/validate information and conduct background checks; maintain records and audit trails
• Ensure reviews progress efficiently, in line with procedures and funder requirements
• Coordinate NHS R&D governance audit responses; log findings, manage action plans, monitor progress
• Support external funder audits, assurance reviews, and continuous process improvement
• Provide guidance to researchers and professional services; liaise with Procurement, Contracts, Finance and other teams
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters to specialists
• Manage competing priorities with strong organisation and attention to detail

Key requirements

• Experience in compliance, due diligence, audit support, risk management or related role in HEI or similar complex organisation
• Experience coordinating complex administrative/assurance processes and maintaining records/databases/audit trails
• Experience applying policies and regulatory requirements to support decision-making
• Strong analytical skills for collating and presenting information
• High accuracy and attention to data quality and audit evidence
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to guide others and build relationships
• Experience supporting reporting, monitoring, audit, assurance or review activities with deadline tracking
• Experience using proportionate, risk-based approaches to compliance

• Clear written and verbal communication
• Stakeholder management
• Attention to detail
• Analytical thinking
• Judgement and discretion
• Worktribe

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