Associate Vice President for Research

Company: Northwestern University
Location: Evanston
Posted on: February 18, 2021

Job Description:

Department: Office for Research
Salary/Grade: EXS/18 Job Summary: The Associate Vice President (AVP), reporting to the Vice President for Research (VPR), is a key member of the senior leadership team in Northwestern University's Office for Research (OR). The AVP is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the efficient and effective operations of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Office, the Office for Research Integrity (ORI), and the Conflict of Interest Office (COI), the latter which is a dotted line report shared with the University's Compliance Office. The AVP keeps the VPR informed of developments, particularly at the federal level, within and related to the AVP's areas of responsibility, providing recommendations and seeking counsel from the VPR in order to ensure the ongoing delivery of outstanding service to Northwestern's research community while maintaining and enhancing compliance with ethical and regulatory requirements. Specific to the University's Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), the AVP serves as the Institutional Official under the University's Federalwide Assurance, as well as pursuant to the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) accreditation, and is hence responsible for the appropriate functioning of the HRPP. Additionally, as the University provides human research, animal research, and conflict of interest administrative support to the University's clinical affiliates (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute), the AVP is actively engaged in building and maintaining relationships with these entities. Through service on various University committees, including Research Compliance, IRB Chairs, IACUC (ex-officio), Conflict of Interest Oversight, Feinberg School of Medicine Conflict of Interest, the AVP influences policy and process, building consensus and consistency in coordination with other units and schools. The AVP will support the OR mission and values by exhibiting and promoting the following: empathy, accountability, fairness, community and creativity. Specific Responsibilities :

• Collaborate with the VPR, other AVPs and unit directors in OR to create a collegial and mutually reinforcing management team in alignment with the OR Values.
• Understand and keep abreast of federal and state regulatory environments and University policies relating to all reporting areas in order to ensure the VPR and senior leadership are apprised of research regulatory issues and significant new developments.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the IRB Office, IACUC Office, ORI and COI, ensuring they are structured and resourced to provide efficient and effective support to the research community in compliance with regulatory and legal obligations.
• Collaborate with schools and units across the University, addressing areas of concern and enhancing support for the research enterprise.
• Responsible for the appropriate functioning of the University's Human Research Protection Program (HRPP):
• Serve as the Institutional Official for the University's Federalwide Assurance, assuring compliance with the U.S. federal regulations for the protection of human subjects in research;
• Serve as the Institutional Official for the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) accreditation, indicating that the university follows rigorous standards for ethics, quality, and protections for human research.
• Provide guidance on research related COI policy, procedures and emergent matters; over 90% of COI matters are within the research context. The research COI program covers 4,437 active Investigators on > 10,000 projects. Projects include sponsored research agreements, grants, and protocols for research involving human participants submitted to the IRB Office.
• Ensure the units have robust electronic systems to support the university's research enterprise.
• Provide guidance to and consult with reporting unit Directors on relevant policies to ensure alignment with best practices in enabling the research enterprise. Provide oversight on new policies, policy interpretation and revisions when needed.
• Influence policy and process through service on various University committees, including Research Compliance, IRB Chairs, IACUC (ex-officio), Conflict of Interest Oversight, Feinberg School of Medicine Conflict of Interest. Build consensus and consistency in coordination with other units and schools.
• Actively engage in building and maintaining relationships with the clinical affiliates to which the University provides human research, animal research, and conflict of interest administrative support: Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute.
• Engage at the national level on matters relating to areas of responsibility through professional meetings and national forums.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications:
  • At least 10 years of experience in a research or regulatory environment, particularly in compliance and research administration.
  • Advanced degree (e.g., MA, MS, JD, PhD). Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)
    • Effective leadership and management skills, with ability to develop staff while delegating authority and responsibility.
    • Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, and the ability to interpret those requirements to a broad range of audiences.
    • Strong interpersonal, communication, analytical and organizational skills.
    • Ability to deal effectively with difficult situations.
    • Ability to work effectively with wide range of internal and external constituencies, including faculty members, staff across the University, students and oversight agencies.
    • Ability to maintain a working environment characterized by effective teamwork and collaboration with peers.
    • Commitment to high ethical standards.
    • The ability to manage confidential information.
    • A deep appreciation of and respect for academic values and culture and an understanding of the critical role that basic and translational research serves in sustaining and broadening the intellectual rigor of an elite research university.
    • Ability to excel in a team environment. Preferred Qualifications:
      • A demonstrated track record of effective leadership in higher education.
      • Experience with federal oversight agencies and officials at those agencies. Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)
        • Ability to learn quickly on the job.
        • Ability to translate complex and abstract regulatory and legal requirements into practical guidance.
        • Experience with interfacing with various and overlapping components of the research compliance organization within the University.
        • A high level of confidence, with just as high a level of intellectual and interpersonal flexibility.
          Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.

Keywords: Northwestern University, Evanston , Associate Vice President for Research, Executive , Evanston, Illinois