Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity & Safety

Posting Details

Posting Details

Posting Number F2059P

Working Title Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity & Safety

Department VPR-Research Compliance Admin

About the University of Georgia

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,000 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.

About the College/Unit/Department

College/Unit/Department website

Posting Type External

Retirement Plan

Employment Type Employee

Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible

Underutilization

Advertised Salary

Anticipated Start Date 10/01/2024

Effective End Date (for Limited-Term postings)

Job Posting Date 08/06/2024

Job Closing Date

Open until filled Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

All inquiries and applications must be received by September 6, 2024.

Location of Vacancy Athens Area

EEO Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.



Position Details

Position Information

Classification Title Assoc/Asst Vice President

FLSA

Faculty Rank Administrative Faculty

Contract Type Fiscal (12 mo.)

Tenure Status Non-Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D., JD, DVM, MBA, or similar advanced degree.

Position Summary

The University of Georgia (UGA) is searching for a dynamic and experienced individual to step into the role of Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity and Safety. This full-time, non-tenure track position reports to the Associate Vice President for Research, who is responsible for the Office of Research Integrity and Safety (ORIS) within the Office of Research. This newly created position is tasked with leading several university-wide compliance and support programs that are critical to the operation of UGA's research enterprise. These programs and job tasks, such as the Research Occupational Health and Safety program, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act program, ORIS-wide Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC), ORIS Support Services, including developing training programs for university researchers, compliance committee members, and ORIS staff, management of ORIS data and performance metrics, and supervision of dedicated ORIS administrative professionals and IT manager, play a critical role in upholding the highest standards of research integrity and safety in the research enterprise at UGA.

The Assistant Vice President will possess relevant technical knowledge balanced with soft skills, including managing complex projects, strong interpersonal abilities, compelling messaging, and a thorough understanding of academic and research environments. Organized, complete, and timely follow-ups with internal and external stakeholders are essential. The Assistant Vice President must also stay current on regulatory and legal issues relating to research integrity and regulatory compliance.

The Assistant Vice President is not just a leader but an essential member of the Office of Research and the ORIS leadership teams. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to serve in an advisory capacity, collaborating with the Associate Vice President for Research-ORIS in strategic planning, program development, and special projects. A collaborative approach to shaping this new Assistant Vice President position is vital to meeting ORIS, Office of Research, and UGA goals and offers a stimulating and rewarding work environment.

The Assistant Vice President will assist the Associate Vice President-ORIS and individual ORIS unit Directors in institutional efforts to meet compliance needs and work with the Associate Vice President-ORIS to report compliance matters to appropriate agencies in areas under the Assistant Vice President's purview. As applicable, the Assistant Vice President acts as a liaison between the university and regulatory agencies.

The Assistant Vice President will work with the Vice President for Research, the Associate Vice President for Research-ORIS, and associate deans for research to establish good working relationships and advise them on compliance matters. The individual will act as a regulatory expert regarding compliance matters in disciplines under their purview and advise on federal regulations, state laws, and local policies. As needed, the Assistant Vice President will serve as a member of university compliance and oversight committees and other university committees to represent ORIS, the Associate Vice President-ORIS, and the Office of Research.

The Assistant Vice President will collaborate with the Associate Vice President-ORIS and other ORIS leadership to develop, collect, curate, analyze, and present relevant data and performance metrics for ORIS units. These data/metrics will be used to track service and compliance parameters, prepare reports, assist in managing and evolving ORIS, and inform ORIS clients and UGA administrators. This role will also serve as a liaison between the university and regulatory agencies; assist with strategic planning, program development, and special projects in ORIS; and manage ORIS-related data, performance metrics; and supervise dedicated administrative professionals and an IT manager.


ORIS is fundamentally a service unit with compliance and oversight responsibilities. The Assistant Vice President must provide service-oriented leadership for the UGA research community by developing and implementing an ORIS-wide QA/QC program to ensure efficient, streamlined business processes and reduced administrative burden while ensuring regulatory compliance and research integrity are not undermined.

Additional Requirements

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Three years of experience in similar compliance or comparable role in an institution of higher education or equivalent experience absent a terminal degree.
• At least five years of relevant work experience in a university research environment.
• Record of excellence in supervision within a research compliance role, preferably in higher education.
• Background with diverse research portfolios, including biomedical, agricultural, engineering, and animal and human health disciplines.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and project management.
• Advanced knowledge of research compliance and scholarly integrity in areas traditionally associated with the Responsible Conduct of Research.
• Strong regulatory research skills. Strong communicator who can translate complex regulatory requirements and issues into terms readily understood by the organization.
• Demonstrated expertise in a higher education environment working with administrators and faculty members on compliance matters and problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to implement academic compliance programs effectively.
• Possess a record of service-oriented leadership expertise and the ability to provide efficient, streamlined business processes within a research compliance role.
• Demonstrated passion for collaborating collegially with a wide range of internal and external constituencies.
• Documented leadership of significant projects.
• Service-oriented leadership expertise.
• Ability to problem solve. Excellent critical thinking and analytical skills. Uses sound judgment in decision-making.
• Clear and accurate written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Demands

Is this a Position of Trust? Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? Yes

Does this position require a P-Card? No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes

Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.



Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities

Research Occupational Health and Safety Program (ROHSP) and Drug Testing Program

Working directly with the Research Occupational Health and Safety Nurse, the half-time administrative professional, and the contract occupational health physician, the Assistant Vice President leads and facilitates the ROHSP and Drug Testing program, which ensures the provision of high-quality occupational health services to the UGA research community. These services include ongoing risk assessment, respiratory protection, vaccination, testing, and education and outreach to meet our ethical obligations to protect UGA personnel engaged in potentially hazardous research. Streamlining and expanding services provided by the ROHSP and developing the educational and outreach components are goals for the program. Random drug and alcohol testing is part of the personnel reliability program for UGA's Select Agent program. There will be ongoing collaborations with the Environmental Safety Division; the Offices of Animal Care and Use, Biosafety, and Research Safety; the University Health Center; and other key stakeholders in addressing ROHSP needs for UGA researchers. The Assistant Vice President assists with ROHSP policy and SOP development as needed.

Percentage Of Time 15 Duties/Responsibilities

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Program

The Assistant Vice President leads and facilitates the efforts of the Institutional NAGPRA Coordinator, the NAGPRA Compliance Professional, the NAGPRA Committee, and other key stakeholders to meet the compliance obligations compelled by the Act. Importantly, the NAGPRA Program ensures the university meets its compliance obligations while extending a culture of care to the university's Native American ancestral remains and related cultural items and engaging transparently and respectfully with Tribal Nations partners. The Assistant Vice President assists with NAGPRA policy and SOP development as needed.

Percentage Of Time 20 Duties/Responsibilities

ORIS Support Services (ORISSS)

In collaboration with the ORIS Support Services Coordinator, the Assistant Vice President oversees developing and continually updating comprehensive required and optional training for researchers. The Assistant Vice President works with the ORISSS team to review and improve compliance committee members' initial and continuing education and, collaborating with ORIS unit directors, the initial and ongoing training for ORIS staff members. The Assistant Vice President is responsible for creating a professional development program within ORIS and an ORIS-specific onboarding process. All training and education will employ contemporary adult education practices that leverage a full spectrum of training modalities, including the UGA Professional Education Portal or PEP.

Percentage Of Time 20 Duties/Responsibilities

ORIS-Wide Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)

The Assistant Vice President will establish and develop a QA/QC program for all ORIS units as appropriate that is focused on ensuring a high-quality client experience when interacting with ORIS units. The focus of this program is to achieve efficient operations and timely, accurate, clear, and collegial communications. The Assistant Vice President will troubleshoot service issues and reduce administrative burden for researchers and ORIS staff. Ongoing interfacing with unit QA/QC personnel, in some cases (e.g., HRPP), to facilitate and maintain the accreditation is needed.

Percentage Of Time 15 Duties/Responsibilities

Managing ORIS data and performance metrics


The Assistant Vice President will collaborate with the Associate Vice President-ORIS and other ORIS leaders to create, gather, curate, analyze, and present pertinent data and performance metrics for ORIS units. These data and metrics will be utilized to monitor service and compliance standards, prepare reports, support ORIS management and development, and provide information to ORIS clients and UGA administrators.

Percentage Of Time 15 Duties/Responsibilities

Supervision of dedicated ORIS administrative professionals and IT manager

The Assistant Vice President will supervise and manage a shared pool of at least three administrative professionals assigned to ORIS. These key staff members' efforts must be distributed equitably amongst the ORIS units to provide needed service, support, and assistance in conducting the ongoing daily business of ORIS and periodic special events. The Assistant Vice President also supervises with the ORIS IT manager by providing direct support, assisting with data management and reporting, leading special projects, troubleshooting IT issues, and liaising with the Office of Research IT unit.

Percentage Of Time 5 Duties/Responsibilities

Other duties as assigned

The Assistant Vice President will periodically be assigned other duties, tasks, and special projects. These may include responding to Open Records requests, working on special reports, and coordinating non-compliance investigations.

Percentage Of Time 10

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). Applicant Documents Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents