Assistant Vice President for Research, Compliance

Department: Office for Research
Salary/Grade: EXS/17

Job Summary:

The Assistant Vice President for Research, Compliance (AVP), reporting directly to the Chief Research Operations Officer (CROO), is a key member of the senior leadership team in Northwestern University's Office for Research (OR). The AVP is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the efficient and effective operations of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office, and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Office. The Conflict of Interest Office (COI) reports to the University's Risk and Compliance Office, with dotted-line report to the AVP.

The AVP keeps the CROO informed of developments, particularly at the federal level, within and related to the AVP's areas of responsibility, providing recommendations and seeking counsel from the CROO in order to ensure the ongoing delivery of outstanding service to Northwestern's research community while maintaining and enhancing compliance with ethical and regulatory requirements.

Specific to the University's Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), the AVP serves as the Institutional Official under the University's Federalwide Assurance, as well as pursuant to the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) accreditation and is hence responsible for the appropriate functioning of the HRPP.

Specific to the University's IACUC, the AVP serves as the Institutional Official ensuring that the animal care and use program function effectively and that the appropriate resources and support are provided to comply with all regulatory requirements.

Additionally, as the University provides human research, animal research, and conflict of interest administrative support to the University's clinical affiliates (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute), the AVP is actively engaged in building and maintaining relationships with these entities.

Through service on various University committees, including Research Compliance, IRB Chairs, IACUC (ex-officio), Conflict of Interest Oversight, Feinberg School of Medicine Conflict of Interest, the AVP influences policy and process, building consensus and consistency in coordination with other units and schools.

The Assistant Vice President for Research will support the OR mission and values of understanding empathy, modeling accountability, ensuring fairness, embracing community, and valuing creativity.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Vice President for Research (VPR), the CROO, other AVPs and unit directors in OR to create a collegial and mutually reinforcing management team in alignment with the OR Values.
• Understand and keep abreast of federal and state regulatory environments and University policies relating to all reporting areas in order to ensure the VPR, CROO and senior leadership are apprised of research regulatory issues and significant new developments.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the IRB Office and IACUC Office, ensuring they are structured and resourced to provide efficient and effective support to the research community in compliance with regulatory and legal obligations.
• Collaborate with schools and units across the University, addressing areas of concern and enhancing support for the research enterprise.
• Responsible for the appropriate functioning of the University's Human Research Protection Program (HRPP):
  • Serve as the Institutional Official for the University's Federalwide Assurance, assuring compliance with the U.S. federal regulations for the protection of human subjects in research;
  • Serve as the Institutional Official for the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) accreditation, indicating that the university follows rigorous standards for ethics, quality, and protections for human research.
• Responsible for the appropriate functioning of the University's IACUC and animal oversight program. Serve as the Institutional Official ensuring that the animal care and use program function effectively and that the appropriate resources and support are provided to comply with all regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance on research-related COI policy, procedures and emergent matters; over 90% of COI matters are within the research context. The research COI program covers >4,000 active Investigators on >10,000 projects. Projects include sponsored research agreements, grants, and protocols for research involving human participants submitted to the IRB Office.
• Ensure the units have robust electronic systems to support the university's research enterprise.
• Provide guidance to and consult with reporting unit Directors on relevant policies to ensure alignment with best practices in enabling the research enterprise. Provide oversight on new policies, policy interpretation and revisions when needed.
• Influence policy and process through service on various University committees, including Research Compliance, IRB Chairs, IACUC (ex-officio), Conflict of Interest Oversight, Feinberg School of Medicine Conflict of Interest. Build consensus and consistency in coordination with other units and schools.
• Actively engage in building and maintaining relationships with the clinical affiliates to which the University provides human research, animal research, and conflict of interest administrative support: Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute.
• Engage at the national level on matters relating to areas of responsibility through professional meetings and national forums.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of experience in a research or regulatory environment, particularly in compliance and research administration.
• Advanced degree (e.g., MA, MS, JD, PhD).
• Effective leadership and management skills, with ability to develop staff while delegating authority and responsibility.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, and the ability to interpret those requirements to a broad range of audiences.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of internal and external constituencies, including faculty members, staff across the University, students and oversight agencies.
• Ability to maintain a working environment characterized by effective teamwork and collaboration with peers.
• A deep appreciation of and respect for academic values and culture and an understanding of the critical role that basic and translational research serves in sustaining and broadening the intellectual rigor of an elite research university.
• Commitment to high ethical standards.
• The ability to manage confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A demonstrated track record of effective leadership in higher education.
• Experience with federal oversight agencies and officials at those agencies.
• Ability to translate complex and abstract regulatory and legal requirements into practical guidance.
• Experience interfacing with various and overlapping components of the research compliance organization within the University.
• Excellent social skills.
• A high level of confidence, with just as high a level of intellectual and interpersonal flexibility.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $240,000-$290,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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