The University of Bath is inviting applications from academic and professional services staff to join its newly established Health & Social Care (H&SC) Oversight Group.
The new group has been created to provide strategic direction, oversight and assurance for the University's health and social care research activities. It will play a key role in ensuring compliance with the UK Framework for Health and Social Care Research, while supporting the continued development of robust governance arrangements across the institution.
The University is seeking members for three roles: Chair, Reviewing Members, and Group Members. Successful applicants will contribute to safeguarding research integrity, supporting effective governance processes, and helping to ensure that health and social care research undertaken by the University meets the highest regulatory and ethical standards.
Leadership opportunity
The Chair will provide strategic leadership for the group and oversee its operation, including sponsorship decision-making for research projects. The role will involve chairing quarterly meetings, leading governance developments and representing the group at the Academic Ethics and Integrity Committee.
The University is looking for a senior academic with substantial experience of health-related research, strong knowledge of research governance and regulatory requirements, and experience of committee leadership and decision-making.
Supporting robust sponsorship decisions
Reviewing Members will play a central role in the University's research sponsorship process. They will undertake detailed reviews of sponsorship applications, assess governance and risk arrangements, and provide recommendations to the Chair on sponsorship decisions.
Applicants should have significant experience of conducting or supporting health-related research, together with a strong understanding of Good Clinical Practice, research governance requirements and risk assessment.
Contributing expertise and assurance
Group Members will contribute strategic oversight and assurance across the University's health and social care research portfolio. Working alongside the Chair and Reviewing Members, they will help shape governance processes, review assurance reports, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and promote best practice across the University.
Applications are welcomed from academic and professional services staff with experience of health-related research and an interest in research governance.
Time commitment and support
The Group will meet four times each year, with meetings scheduled to last up to two and a half hours. Workload allocations have been agreed to recognise the responsibilities associated with each role:
Chair: 100 hours per academic year
Reviewing Member: 40 hours per academic year
Group Member: 25 hours per academic year
Appointments will initially be for one year.
Successful applicants will receive induction and training from the Research Policy, Governance and Integrity team, together with ongoing support to develop their knowledge of health and social care research governance processes.
Interviews are expected to take place on 28 or 30 September 2026.
For further information, including the group's terms of reference and role descriptions, staff can visit the HSCROG webpage or contact Dr Filipa Vance or Professor Rachel Arnold for an informal discussion.
The University particularly welcomes applications from colleagues from under-represented groups and remains committed to fostering an inclusive community where diversity of experience, perspectives and backgrounds is valued and celebrated.
If any of these roles are of interest to you, please complete the short online application form.