Approvals Specialist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours
- Posted
- 18/08/2026
- Closes
- 30/08/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This advert explicitly states that sponsorship is not offered.
The source advert contains explicit wording ruling out sponsorship for this specific role. Consider other live roles at the same band from sponsorship-friendly trusts.
Role summary
This role is for an Approvals Specialist within the Health Research Authority (HRA), focusing on the HRA Approval system. This system streamlines the approval process for health research, reducing bureaucracy and duplication. The specialist will be part of a team delivering the operational function of HRA Approval, requiring experience in health research and enthusiasm for an efficient approval system. The position involves understanding HRA's role, administrative practices, and working with complex policies and tight deadlines.
Key responsibilities
- Deliver the operational function for HRA Approval.
- Apply understanding of the HRA role and remit.
- Utilise knowledge of administrative practices and procedures.
- Prioritise tasks effectively against a background of change and uncertainty.
- Work with complex policies and people at all levels within the organisation.
- Meet tight deadlines.
Essential criteria
- Degree-level qualification or evidenced ability to work at a similar intellectual level
- Thorough understanding of the HRA role and remit including knowledge of principles and processes for approving and conducting health research in England, including legal and ethical requirements relating to research, and the ability to apply this knowledge practically
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and national policy including Human Tissue Act, Mental Capacity Act, Data Protection Act, General Data Protection Regulation, Clinical Trials Regulations, which impacts on conduct of research and some understanding of NHS research funding and contracting arrangements
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise against a background of change and uncertainty with problem solving and analytical skills, including ability to interpret and prepare reports and ability to work to frequent deadlines and to manage multiple processes and cases simultaneously
- Research approvals system and change management/ service improvement experience
- Highly self-motivated, confident, pro-active, innovative, with ability to work independently and on own initiative and able to develop good communications with REC Chairs and Members and the extended research community. Flexible working approach, with proactive approach to change
- Willingness to regularly travel nationally including being absent from home and outside of core hours
Desirable criteria
- Presentation skills including the ability to conduct meetings and deliver presentations and workshops using a range of presentational aids
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 12d ago · Closes in 1d
Applications close soon — apply now if this is a fit.
Full advert · preview
Job summary
HRA Approval is a system that simplifies the approvals process for research, to make it easier for studies to be set up and reduce duplication and bureaucracy. It provides a single application, single assessment and single approval for research in the NHS across all study types and incorporate assessments by NHS staff alongside the independent Research Ethics Committee opinion, allowing local resources to be focussed on successful local delivery of studies.
This post is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that delivers the operational function for HRA Approval. We are looking for individuals who can bring experience of health research and can demonstrate enthusiasm to deliver an effective and efficient approval system for research.
Main duties of the job
They 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 working to complex policies, of working with people at all levels in an organisation and of working to tight deadlines is essential.
About us
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