Herc-Higher Education Recruitment Consortium

Assistant Director, Research Integrity and Assurance (Compliance)

Position Summary

Princeton University seeks a highly motivated, well-qualified individual to serve as Assistant Director, Research Integrity and Assurance (RIA), reporting to the RIA Director. RIA is responsible for developing and implementing research compliance programs in the areas of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for animal research, the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for research using biohazardous agents and conflicts of interest (COI). This senior level position presents a unique and challenging opportunity to support and advance the university’s world-class research enterprise by ensuring a successful compliance program.

Employing strong leadership, strategic, and interpersonal skills, the Assistant Director will oversee the COI Program for Dean of the Faculty appointees at Princeton University. The role is newly created to reflect the increased prominence and attention that COI has received in this evolving geo- and political landscape. Early in this role, the Assistant Director will hire a full time, direct report.

Responsibilities

Conflicts of interest at Princeton University include conflicts of commitment (time and effort), conflicts of resources (use of students, equipment of space), and financial conflicts of interest (significant financial interests that have the potential to bias research). The current COI Program encompasses identifying and managing real or potential conflicts involving work for outside organizations, management and fiduciary responsibilities, purchasing and contracts, gifts and solicitations, nepotism, use of resources (students, staff, space, equipment), significant financial interests, financial COI, inappropriate foreign influence (IFI) and foreign government talent recruitment programs (FGTRP) (estimate 50% effort). Current determinations of whether conflicts exist and how to manage them are siloed and this new role is designed to centralize this process, write guidelines and policies to create an effective program, and deploy an infrastructure and process to improve the efficiencies with which COI determinations are made, mitigation strategies are developed and management plans are implemented.

This position will manage the COI in Research Panel, which currently meets semi-annually to discuss COI related issues, and deliberates COI policy (estimate 10% effort). The role works closely with the Office of Research Projects Administration (ORPA) to ensure that internal and external disclosures are congruent, that COI training has been completed, and that all appropriate contracts, agreements, management plans, etc. have been reviewed and implemented as required to meet regulations required for successful grant proposal and award (estimate 10% effort). The role demands broad-base knowledge of university policies across multiple offices within the university organization including, but not limited to the, Dean for Research (DFR), Dean of the Faculty (DOF), Office of the Dean of the College (ODOC, undergraduate studies), Dean of the Graduate School, Office of Research Projects Administration (ORPA), Corporate Engagement and Foundation Relations (CEFR), Office of Technology Licensing (OTL), Human Resources (HR), Office of General Counsel (OGC), and the Vice Dean for Innovation.

The COI office gathers sensitive information from researchers and makes recommendations to the DFR or COIR Panel on determinations of financial COI and other COI matters. Where appropriate, the COI office develops management plans, implements them, and reports to federal agencies as required (this effort is included in the 50% effort above). The office provides COI-relevant training across a wide range of faculty, staff, students, and COIR Panel members (estimate 10% effort). Working with the DFR, ORPA and OGC, this role is responsible for writing and influencing university policies, guidelines, and communications involving a broad range of COI issues including updates to COI policy and guidance documents (university, federal, state), IFI, FGTRP, contracts and agreements, internal and external disclosures, and any other issues involving COI (estimate 10% effort).

The position will oversee the technology solutions of the university in the COI management arena. The university is currently assessing its COI needs across a wide range of stakeholders with the goal of purchasing and implementing a robust electronic management system capable of interfacing with various other systems currently in place at the university (estimate 10% effort).

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the COI field in a research environment in higher education
• Demonstrated strong understanding of research compliance topics and government requirements specific to COI regulations across federal funding agencies (NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD, etc.).
• Strong information technology and data management IT system skills including best practices to work with highly sensitive data
• Experience in developing and implementing institutional policies, guidelines, and procedures
• Ability to work flexible hours outside of normal work schedule
• Experience and ability managing staff
• Exceptional organization and project management skills including the ability to plan, schedule and successfully carry out multiple projects at the same time with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative and identify, prioritize, and plan activities necessary to meet department and university goals
• Exceptional communication skills involving sensitive subjects with key research personnel balancing the need for regulatory management and oversight with
• Ability to apply confidentiality rules and procedures when dealing with sensitive materials
• High level of competency and experience working with electronic management systems and databases
• Attention to detail
• Ability to innovate and solve complex problems
• Evidence of successful experience in providing superior customer service
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people at all levels
• Strong commitment to diversity and inclusion goals
• High degree of personal integrity and ethics with uncompromising standards
• Proven ability to form partnerships with faculty to accomplish compliance objectives
• Excellent training skill sets with proven proficiency, including ability to monitor progress and success of training applications
• Commitment to professional development with options to travel to national and regional meetings for training updates, networking, presentations, and continuing education.

Desired additional qualifications

• Advanced degree (masters or beyond), JD, PhD or other professional degree (DVM, DDS, MD)
• Knowledge around entrepreneurship, innovation and start-up companies
• Experience in online course development and website content development
• Membership in outside professional organizations
• Knowledge of Export Control

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

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