Band 8a Deputy Head of Research Data Governance

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 jobThe 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.

About us University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people.

As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Details Date posted
02 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

BandBand 8aSalary
57,528 to 64,750 a year

Contract Permanent Working  pattern

Full-time,

Flexible working

Reference number

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Mindelsohn Way Birmingham West  MidlandsB
15 2TH
United Kingdom Job description

Job responsibilities
* Please Note :
For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached

Job Description
* Job description
Job responsibilities
* Please Note :
For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached

Job Description
* 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…