Job Description

Research Integrity Compliance Officer

(Audit & Compliance Officer 1 - MR 10)

Office of Research Integrity

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The Research Integrity Compliance Officer works in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) to ensure compliant, safe, ethical, and responsible conduct of research activities across the University. This position manages the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Research Conflict of Interest (RCOI), Responsible & Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) and Safe and Inclusive (SAI) compliance programs. They develop, implement, and maintain IBC, RCOI, RECR and SAI compliance policies and procedures, and monitor research controls. They advise faculty, staff and students involved in research and teaching activities with regards to research compliance policies and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMITTEE (IBC) ADMINISTRATOR

• Advise and educate researchers regarding IBC policies, procedures, and application development

• Manage registration life cycle: conduct intake reviews of all IBC registrations; review all registrations for consistency, completeness, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and institutional policies; communicate action steps to researchers to facilitate IBC review; route registrations to committee members for review; document & communicate to researchers registration approval, annual review, modification & closure determinations

• Develop and maintain the IBC registration tracking database: includes registration intake, initial & annual reviews, modifications, personnel training records, and lab inspections

• Manage IBC meeting schedule and agenda, lab inspection schedule; record IBC meeting minutes; assist ORI Director with IBC administration

• Develop and revise IBC policy and procedures in collaboration with ORI Director and IBC Chair

• Responsible for maintaining IBC forms, registration archives, and compliance documentation

• Assist in conducting lab inspections; mitigation of any research integrity/compliance concerns or issues involving biosafety

RESEARCH CONFLICT OF INTEREST

• Review outside interest disclosures for university personnel involved in the design or conduct of externally sponsored research

• Communicate with faculty and staff who disclose outside interests to clarify nature of commitments; prepare summary for review by the university COI Committee as required

• In coordination with COI Committee, develop and implement management plans when necessary

• Assist Research Security Compliance Officer with the development and implementation of compliance policies and procedures for the identification and disclosure of foreign influence in research activities

RESPONSIBLE & ETHICAL CONDUCT OF RESEARCH (RECR); SAFE & INCLUSIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT ADMINISTRATOR

• Advise and educate researchers regarding RECR and National Science Foundation (NSF) SAI policies and procedures

• Ensure compliance of RECR and SAI requirements by researchers with NSF, USDA NIFA, and NIH awards

• Develop and maintain RECR and SAI tracking database, compliance documentation, and archives

• Develop and revise RECR and SAI policy and procedures in collaboration with ORI Director

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with mitigation of any research compliance concerns or issues involving IBC, RCOI, RECR & SAI

• Prepare reports as necessary for the ORI Director and the Vice Chancellor for Research

• Stay up-to-date with federal, state, and UT policies pertaining to IBC, RCOI, RECR & SAI to ensure UTC's policies and procedures are accurate and implemented promptly (via trainings, conferences, workshops, etc.)

• Participate in professional organizations and attend national conferences, workshops, and seminars to gain knowledge in the latest approaches for compliance within a university setting

• Maintain UTC IBC, RCOI, RECR & SAI websites and coordinate with Division webmaster to update as needed

• Assist ORI with policy and regulation, education, and training for UTC faculty, staff and students

• Assist with other research compliance activities as assigned (e.g. secondary coverage for Institutional Review Board functions)

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• In-depth knowledge of federal and state regulations pertaining to research with biological materials, research conflict of interest, and responsible & ethical conduct of research (e.g. NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules; RCOI, RECR and SAI Policies of PHS, NSF, NIH, USDA, etc.)

• Knowledge of research administration and compliance principles, procedures, and terminology applicable in academia

• Strong knowledge of research methodology

• Knowledge of best practices for working with biological materials and biohazard storage and disposal

• Computer skills, including word processing, database development and management

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Strong critical thinking and communication skills

• Ability to review and process complex information and adapt to an evolving regulatory environment

• Ability to make independent judgments, problem-solve, meet deadlines and manage compliance programs with minimal supervision

• Ability to learn, use and train end users on new software platforms (e.g. Huron Research Suite)

• Skill in collaborating, building and maintaining relationships with faculty, staff and students across multiple disciplines (e.g. STEM)

• Skilled in reviewing, interpreting and providing guidance to others regarding ethical frameworks and federal regulations

Review of applications will begin August 15, 2024, and continue until the position is filled.

Minimum Qualifications : Requires a bachelor's degree in STEM, research administration, research compliance, or a relevant field and one year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience .

Preferred Qualifications: A master's degree in a relevant field; 2 or more years of experience in research, research administration, compliance related experience, knowledge and experience in, IBC, RCOI and/or RECR is preferred.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

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