Director of Research Compliance, Integrity, & Safety (#5043)

Northern Illinois University

Office of Research Compliance, Integrity, & Safety (ORCIS)

Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships

Job Description

Director of Research Compliance, Integrity, & Safety  (#5043)

 

Department, University, and Community description: ORCIS works to help researchers and the university as a whole, to achieve and maintain ethical principles and maintain compliance with federal, state, and university regulations governing research. The office acts as a liaison between the Vice President for Research (the Institutional Official designated with compliance oversight) and the various committees required to monitor research activities. In addition, the office is charged with overseeing reported noncompliance issues and providing training to faculty, staff, and students in order to proactively mitigate concerns in the future.  

Northern Illinois University is a comprehensive research university offering programs from the baccalaureate through the doctorate. Colleges include business, education, engineering and engineering technology, law, liberal arts and sciences, health and human sciences, and visual and performing arts. On-campus enrollment is approximately 18,000 students. The university also offers more than 200 extension courses each semester to students in communities throughout northern Illinois.

The main campus is located in DeKalb, 65 miles west of Chicago's "Loop" and 40 miles southeast of Rockford. In addition to the main campus, NIU has three education centers in Hoffman Estates, Rockford, and Naperville. DeKalb/Sycamore, with a population of about 50,000, is a modern paradox, a rural/urban community. It is simultaneously recognized for its manufacturing and rich farmlands. The site of the first manufacture of barbed wire and the development of hybrid seed corn are evidence of its diversified history. The blend of industry and agriculture, coupled with the cultural and recreational facilities of the university and supplemented by easy access to Chicago and Rockford, provide an enjoyable environment in which to live.

Function of the Job

 

The Director of Research Compliance, Integrity, and Safety in the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS) will work to help ensure researchers, scholars, artists, and the university achieve and maintain ethical principles and compliance with federal, state, and university regulations governing research. The Director has managerial and supervisory responsibilities for a staff of five who are responsible for the full array of compliance programs at a high researcher activity doctoral university. The Director will work with the Vice President of RIPS to expand and strengthen a culture of research safety and compliance across the university.

 

The Director for ORCIS reports to the Vice President of RIPS to ensure University research, scholarly, and artistic programs comply with all regulatory requirements and are safely executed. In doing so, this person interacts with faculty, support staff, and students across the university campus and with external regulatory agencies. This position has three direct reports: An Associate Director, a Laboratory Safety Manager, and a Research Compliance Coordinator responsible for human and animal subject protocols. The Director also represents RIPS on laboratory safety and protocol committees and liaises with the University Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

 

USA citizenship or legal permanent USA residency is required for this position.

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

The Director of Research Compliance, Integrity, and Safety will be expected to contribute to the routine functioning and advancement of the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships through, but not limited to, the following duties:

 

• Management of ORCIS staff
• Oversight of compliance responsibilities
• Maintenance of a culture of compliance, research integrity, and safety
• Professional development activities
• Other duties as assigned by VP RIPS

 

Required Qualifications

 

Successful candidates will have:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in law, public administration, science, or engineering
• A minimum of five years experience in research compliance, integrity, or safety
• Strong project management, organizational, and leadership skills with the ability to handle multiple, complex tasks and projects concurrently
• Excellent verbal and written communication; strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills; and independent judgment
• Knowledge of academic research methods and a broad, in-depth knowledge of compliance issues
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituents including faculty, staff, attorneys, sponsors, and industry representatives

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

Successful candidates may also have:

• A PhD or equivalent in law, public administration, science, or engineering
• Experience supervising professional staff
• Experience developing and overseeing strategic approaches and initiatives in a complex organization
• Experience in public higher education compliance and/or safety administration
• Demonstrated collaboration with faculty, graduate students, and administrators to advance a culture of safe research and innovation

 

Required Applicant Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
4. List of references

Optional Applicant Documents

1. Transcripts #2 (unofficial with official required at hire)
2. Transcripts #3 (unofficial with official required at hire)
3. Certifications/Licensure #1
4. Certifications/Licensure #2
5. Other

Please submit application and documents through NIU online employment system at http://employment.niu.edu/postings/44768. For additional information see https://www.niu.edu/divresearch/compliance/. Review of completed applications will begin on 5/22/2019; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  For questions contact the search committee chairs Patricia Wallace, pwallace@niu.edu

 

EEO Statement and Visa Policy

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

 

Acting Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator

Altgeld Hall 238

TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu

815-753-5560

 

Office for Civil Rights

U.S. Department of Education

Citigroup Center

500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475

Chicago, IL 60661-4544

312-730-1560

OCR.Chicago@ed.gov

 

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document upon hire.