Director of Ethics

Company Description

Genomics England partners with the NHS to provide whole genome sequencing diagnostics. We also equip researchers to find the causes of disease and develop new treatments – with patients and participants at the heart of it all.

Our mission is to continue refining, scaling, and evolving our ability to enable others to deliver genomic healthcare and conduct genomic research.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Job purpose

The Director of Ethics is responsible for ensuring that Genomics England fulfils its ethical, policy and research regulatory responsibilities towards participants and society, so that everyone can benefit from genomic healthcare. 

This role supports the Chief Ethics and Engagement Officer (CEEO) and works across the organisation and its partners to provide comprehensive and aligned ethical, policy and research regulatory advice and support. The Director of Ethics will work closely with our Ethics Advisory Committee to anticipate emerging ethical issues in genomic research and healthcare and set the ethics agenda at Genomics England. They will also work with our Access Review Committee to ensure access to participant data aligns with our National Genomic Research Library governance framework.  

Job Description

Lead the development and embedding of ethics-informed approaches to strategy, delivery and organisational culture, alongside engagement and equity considerations, as a key pillar of our organisational strategy 
Lead on the prioritisation of relevant ethics projects, policies, SOPs and processes that uphold our participants’ expectations and demonstrate we are a trustworthy steward of genomic data and technology 
Lead and provide line management of the Ethics team, to ensure it is an inclusive, high-performing team with the right skills, professional development, objectives and priorities in place to deliver our mission 
Lead a team who provide expert advice to the organisation on ethics, governance and research regulatory issues affecting our research programmes, support for delivering the Genomic Medicine Service and provision of our Research Environment to the research community 
Participate and provide advice and steer to the internal Ethics and Data Protection Group, which brings legal, data protection and ethics perspectives together to support colleagues in handling issues relating to participant consent and data use 
Act as a “thought leader” for the genomics ethics community nationally and globally via research, blog posts, papers, presentations and professional networks 
Build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, partners and individuals including regulators, ethics-oriented think tanks and research groups 
Keep abreast of global regulatory updates which may impact the organisation and ensure that Genomics England is aligned on relevant regulation and emerging best ethical practice 
Provide regular progress reports for the Boards and Committees as needed and reporting to and support of the Chief Ethics and Engagement Officer, deputising for them as required 
Manage and ensure good governance and compliance with all relevant requirements including budgets, workforce plan, and all data and IT requirements 
Know and understand the meaning behind our virtues and leadership behaviours and embody them in all aspects of your role. 

Qualifications

N/A

Additional Information

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 14th October at 23:59

Salary from: £104,500

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including: 

Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, additional leave for long service, and the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), and a Give As You Earn scheme.
Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.Equal opportunities and our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace 

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. 

Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity and will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor.  

Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour is contrary to