Research Compliance Officer

Overview

Position summary:

The Research Compliance Officer (RCO) is responsible for supporting faculty, staff, and administration by providing customer-oriented research administration services to ensure compliance with university, federal and state regulations pertaining to the responsible conduct of research. This position involves working collaboratively with other RCOs at WWU, Research and Sponsored Programs staff, and stakeholders. This position shares responsibility for the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Conflicts of Interest in Research, Scientific Misconduct, Export Controls and HIPAA, among others.

 

Duties include:

  • Serving as a regulatory expert, coordinating research compliance activities, performing comprehensive analysis of human and animal research protocols and conflict of interest certifications and disclosures.
  • Reviewing IRB and IACUC research submissions and evaluating compliance prior to regulatory committee review.
  • Working with researchers, staff and others to gather information when needed, providing feedback to researchers regarding submission problems and solutions.
  • Coordinating committee meetings and recommending faculty reviewers with applicable expertise, drafting official committee correspondence and meeting notes.
  • Gathering information concerning potential regulatory noncompliance in accordance with scope set by regulatory committee, drafting inquiry/investigation reports and submitting to the committee for appropriate action.
  • Ensuring federally mandated records are maintained.
  • Reviewing and approving administrative modifications to procedures.
  • Providing regulatory and compliance education and training to campus community.
  • Serving as a contact for regulatory audits and program/facility inspections.
  • Preparing reports to agencies and accreditation entities.
  • Collaborating with university committee members and groups to facilitate research approval.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • At least two years’ experience in research compliance administration
  • Demonstrated understanding of compliance policies and regulations
  • Ability to prioritize and work on several complex projects at once with a minimum of supervision
  • Ability to plan and teach workshops about a wide variety of research compliance topics
  • Excellent critical thinking skills, editing abilities, and proven attention to detail
  • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Demonstrated commitment to professional development and keeping current in the field
  • Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders
  • Demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Demonstrated commitment to teamwork, taking initiative, and responsive customer service
  • MS Office Suite or equivalent computer proficiencies
  • See position announcement for complete required and preferred qualifications

About Western Washington University and RSP

Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountains. The city lies between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to U.S. News & World Report. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) supports Western's nationally-recognized research, scholarly, and creative communities through a variety of internal funding programs and by providing guidance and resources for proposal development, submission, post-award management and compliance.

For full job description, please visit: https://hr.wwu.edu/careers-staff?job=49909

Contact Information

Company
Western Washington University
First Name
Jenny
Last Name
Sidwell
Address
Phone
3606503000
Contact Email
jenny.sidwell@wwu.edu
Contact URL
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers-staff?job=499098

Background Information

Education
4-Year Degree
Years of Experience
2
Industries
  • College/University
Categories
  • Research Administrator/Manager
Work Authorization
Authorized to work in the US
Security Clearance
None

Target Job Information

Salary
New hires
Job Type
  • Full Time