Senior Access Governance Manager in UK at Jobgether

This position is posted by Jobgether on behalf of a partner company. We are currently looking for a Senior Access Governance Manager in United Kingdom.

This role sits at the heart of a major national health research initiative, ensuring that researchers can securely and efficiently access one of the most valuable health datasets in the world. You will shape and continuously improve governance processes that balance rapid research enablement with strict ethical, legal, and compliance standards. Acting as a key guardian of access integrity, you will oversee how data, biological samples, and participant re-contact requests are reviewed and approved. The role combines strategic oversight, operational leadership, and hands-on governance execution in a highly mission-driven environment. You will lead a specialist team, collaborate with senior stakeholders across research, policy, and healthcare, and help ensure transparency and trust in all access decisions. This is a high-impact position where your work directly contributes to advancing medical research that aims to improve outcomes for millions of people.

In this role, you will lead the governance and operational delivery of access processes that enable secure and ethical use of health research resources.

• Oversee and continuously improve the end-to-end Access Process, ensuring timely, compliant, and efficient access to datasets, biological samples, and participant re-contact opportunities.
• Manage Access Board governance, including meeting coordination, agenda preparation, documentation, and tracking of decisions and actions.
• Lead reporting and performance reviews of access governance activity, ensuring transparency, accountability, and ongoing process improvement.
• Manage and develop the Access Governance team, fostering collaboration, capability building, and high performance.
• Drive enhancements to systems, policies, and workflows to improve efficiency and researcher experience while maintaining compliance standards.
• Act as a subject matter expert for access-related queries, advising internal teams and external research stakeholders.
• Support strategic decision-making by providing governance insight and recommendations to leadership.

You bring strong governance expertise and a passion for enabling high-impact health research through secure and ethical access frameworks.

• Proven experience in governance within health research, public sector, or regulated environments involving sensitive data.
• Experience managing access processes in large-scale research programmes or complex multi-stakeholder organisations.
• Strong people management experience, with the ability to lead, develop, and motivate teams.
• Deep understanding of ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations in health data, genomics, or human tissue research.
• Knowledge of research governance frameworks, ethics committees, and research tissue bank operations.
• Familiarity with Trusted Research Environments (TREs) and secure data access models.
• Strong project and change management capabilities, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strategic thinking combined with strong attention to detail and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Collaborative, adaptable approach with a strong commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards.

• Salary from £58,000 per annum
• Generous pension scheme with employer contributions up to 12%
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Enhanced parental leave policies
• Cycle to Work scheme with significant savings on bikes and accessories
• Retail and home savings schemes (e.g., IKEA and Currys via salary sacrifice)
• £1,000 employee referral bonus
• Comprehensive wellbeing support including Mental Health First Aiders, 24/7 online GP access, and Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible and remote working options with a Central London office available