Senior Research Compliance Administrator

General Description

The Research Integrity and Compliance (RIC) team in the Office of Research at The City University of New York (CUNY) is seeking a motivated and engaged expert to serve as Senior Research Compliance Administrator. This professional will primarily support IRB administration and Conflicts of Interest Committee administration, as well as work collaboratively to provide policy and procedure development, education and training, and quality improvement and assurance for all areas of research compliance. 

In a single integrated university system of 25 colleges and schools, the CUNY Office of Research is responsible for the strategic leadership of university-wide initiatives aimed at building research capacity for members of the CUNY community, from students to senior faculty. Their research, scholarly, and creative pursuits are supported through three OR divisions: Research Development and Programs; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Research Integrity and Compliance. Jointly, these divisions encourage collaborative and transdisciplinary research innovations; foster startups and commercialization both within and beyond the CUNY community; and ensure adherence to the standards that govern research ethics and sponsored program administration. 

Other Duties

Reporting to the University Executive Director of Research Integrity and Compliance, the Senior Research Compliance Administrator will join a collaborative team of professionals supporting all areas of research compliance and integrity across CUNY. The Administrator’s specific responsibilities will include but will not be limited to: 

• Advise CUNY researchers, IRB members, and college HRPP Coordinators regarding human subject protection regulations and policy. 
• Perform administrative pre-review of research submissions to determine IRB requirements, identify expertise required, and determine additional reviewer or consultant needs when appropriate. 
• Oversee convened IRB processes and meetings, facilitate convened IRB discussions, and create complex minutes of controverted issues, resolutions, and determinations. 
• Serve as primary liaison for support and process improvement initiatives around electronic IRB submission, review, and databases. 
• Develop, support, and evaluate best practices for continuous improvement of IRB reliance agreement processes and oversight.  
• Assist Office of Research leadership in developing financial conflict of interest and conflict of commitment policies and procedures. 
• Provide guidance to Conflicts Committee members, researchers and College Conflicts Officers. 
• Oversee Conflicts Committee processes, including meeting preparation and preliminary reviews, as well as create complex minutes of deliberations, determinations and actions.  
• Collaborate with RIC colleagues to develop and implement CUNY-wide policies and procedures. 
• Create and deliver compliance training initiatives for a variety of stakeholders across CUNY including College Conflicts Officers, IRB members and HRPP Coordinators. 
• Respond to potential noncompliance concerns, assist with audits, and support other quality assurance and improvement activities. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the University Executive Director of Research Integrity and Compliance and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred. 
• 6 years of relevant experience required. 
• Certification as an IRB professional (CIP) preferred. 
• Experience conducting research or supporting systematic research compliance programs, including experience with human subjects research. 
• Knowledge of current laws, regulations, and requirements related to human subjects research, conflict of interest and commitment, and other areas of research compliance. 
• Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze and apply regulations to research protocols; detail-oriented and precise with strong research, writing, and analytical skills.  
• Strong communication and presentation skills and the ability to explain complex information verbally and in writing to diverse stakeholders.
• Advanced organizational and project management skills to develop objectives, set and adapt to changing priorities, manage competing demands/changes, and meet deadlines. 
• Proactive, flexible and collaborative work style with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to forge successful relationships with diverse faculty, staff, and external partners. 
• Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and broad problem-solving abilities. 
• Commitment to public service, service excellence, inclusion, equity, ethics, and integrity to manage highly sensitive information and material discretely.
• Computer proficiency using academic, administrative, and financial systems, databases, and programs, Microsoft Office and remote/virtual meeting and collaboration tools (MS Teams, Zoom, etc.). 

About the Research Foundation

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) was established as a not-for-profit educational corporation chartered by the State of New York in 1963. RFCUNY supports CUNY faculty and staff in identifying and obtaining external support (pre-award) from government and private sponsors and is responsible for the administration of all such funded programs (post-award).

RFCUNY stands between CUNY’s principal investigators (PIs) and the sponsors who support them and strives to fulfill its essential responsibilities to both groups. Working closely with individual PIs and Grants Officers on the campuses, RFCUNY oversees employment, accounting, audit, reporting, purchasing, and special responsibilities that include management of a planned giving program; liaison with governmental agencies and foundations; negotiation of agreements; facility construction and renovation; protection and commercialization of intellectual property; and compliance with applicable standards in research involving human subjects, animal care, environmental and radiological safety, and conflicts of interest.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.