Research Ethics Manager

The Hospital:

The Royal Children’s Hospital’s (RCH) Vision is “A world where all kids thrive”.

RCH is a cornerstone member of the Melbourne Children’s Campus, partnering with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

RCH has cared for the children and young people of Victoria for more than 150 years since it was founded in 1870. A full range of paediatrics and adolescent health services are provided plus tertiary and quaternary care for the most critically ill and medically complex patients in Victoria, Tasmania, southern NSW and other states around Australia and overseas. The Hospital has more than 6,000 staff, a budget of $850M, 12 wards and 350 beds. Annually, the RCH has 300,000+ Specialist Clinic appointments, 90,000+ Emergency Department presentations and 20,000 elective surgeries.

The RCH is committed to the Child Safe Standards. 

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact.

For further Information on RCH is available here.

Research Ethics Manager

About The Role:

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) is seeking an experienced Research Ethics Manager (Fixed Term, Part Time) to provide strategic and operational leadership within the Research Ethics & Governance (REG) Office.

Reporting to the Director, Research Operations, this role oversees the ethical and governance review of human research across the Melbourne Children’s Campus, ensuring compliance with national standards, legislation and institutional policies. You’ll lead and mentor a small team, support ethics committees, provide expert advice to researchers, and drive continuous improvement in ethics and governance processes.

Key requirements:

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline (health, science, law, ethics or similar)

• Demonstrated experience in research ethics and governance within a hospital, university or medical research institute

• Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and judgement in complex ethical matters

Classification for this role is: Grade 6 Level 1–5 (AO61–AO65), plus superannuation. 

What we offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted on-site car parking
• Culture of continuous improvement
• Flexible work options available

If this sounds like you, please click here for the position description.

Other requirements:

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Current NDIS Worker Screening Check, or willing to obtain (if applicable to the role)
• Compliance with RCHs “Staff Immunisation - Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases” procedure

Application Process:

Join a values-driven organisation committed to ethical research that improves outcomes for children and families.

If you have any questions, please contact either Jennifer Luplow, Research Ethics and Governance Manager (Jennifer.Luplow@rch.org.au 03 9345 5452) or Kaya Gardiner, Director of Research Operations (kaya.gardiner@rch.org.au 03 9345 6945).

Why work at the RCH?

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact. We offer the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, surrounded by Royal Park and only a short tram trip from the heart of Melbourne city.

We also offer discounted staff parking, salary packaging, and an award-winning health and wellbeing program.

The RCH is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse background, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

It is a requirement of your employment that you be vaccinated against Influenza annually for Category A and B roles, in compliance with any public health orders in place at the relevant time, unless you have a medical exception in line with those public health orders, which has been accepted by The Royal Children’s Hospital.  Applicants will be required to provide their Australian Government Immunisation History Statement, it is a requirement of the RCH to collect, record and hold vaccination information.

It is also a requirement of your employment that you comply with any direction given by The Royal Children’s Hospital that you be vaccinated against, or prove immunity to, any other disease, unless you have a relevant exemption, and offers of employment are conditional on successful completion of background checks including reference checks. 

Are you ready to join our team? 

 Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” button

Applications close 16 February, 2026.