The University of West Florida Office of Research Administration and Engagement (formerly Research and Sponsored Programs) is hiring a full-time Research Compliance Officer (105460). This senior-level position presents an opportunity to support and advance the university's research enterprise by ensuring a successful compliance program. Employing strong leadership, strategic, and interpersonal skills, the Research Compliance Officer (RCO) will oversee the following programs: Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB), Export Controls, Conflict of Interest (including financial conflict of interest), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR), as well as Data Use Agreements (DUA), Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), and Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs). Additionally, this role acts as a liaison with other university departments in negotiations involving research compliance.

The RCO will create a research compliance program that facilitates research while ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations by developing and implementing compliance related policies and processes; conducting training programs for staff, researchers, and administrators; and conducting regular internal audits and risk analyses. To ensure the success of the university’s research compliance program, the incumbent will oversee and navigate important and sensitive interactions with key stakeholders across campus, including senior administrators, university compliance, faculty, students, and staff.

The RCO is responsible for administration and facilitation of regulatory compliance and assurance efforts associated with research activities at the University of West Florida. S/he will monitor and analyze developing trends and changes in regulatory compliance laws, rules, and regulations; advise management of the operational impact of such trends and changes; and facilitate implementation of new and regulatory changes as necessary. This position provides administrative assistance to the IRB, the IACUC, and other regulatory committees as appropriate. The RCO is responsible for educating faculty, staff, and students regarding compliance regulations and responsibilities or human subjects, animal care, and related issues. This includes dissemination of presentations to classes and departments upon request and the maintenance of the electronic training certification system.

On behalf of the IRB, the RCO analyzes protocol submissions to determine potential risk, in accordance with federal and other appropriate regulations, prior to distribution to board members. The incumbent must ensure that IRB, IACUC, RCR, export control, research-related contracts, and COI records are being maintained appropriately and that the records are accessible, upon request, to authorized federal officials. The incumbent will also prepare assurances and other reports. This position is responsible for managing regulatory compliance web pages and a comprehensive database of protocols and their on-going disposition.

Responsibilities:

The research compliance officer will work closely with the assistant vice president for research to plan, develop, implement, modify, monitor, and maintain a comprehensive research compliance operation. The incumbent is responsible for working to ensure compliance with federal regulations, state statutes, and university policy, as well as establishing comprehensive training programs for each compliance area. Compliance responsibilities will be conducted in coordination with the university’s compliance function.