Research Compliance Manager

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Office of Research Integrity and Engagement (ORIE) partners with the Swarthmore research community to support ethical research involving human participants, vertebrate animals and biohazards, and is guided by governing federal, state, local and institutional policies and regulations.   We offer guidance relating to research integrity programs, ethical community engagement and compliance responsibilities, and facilitate review processes related to conflicts of interest, data management, export controls, responsible and ethical conduct of research, research misconduct concerns and various research-related agreements.

The opportunity:

The Office of Research Integrity and Engagement invites applications for a part-time (17.5 hours per week), hybrid, benefits eligible,12-month position for a Research Compliance Manager. This position will report to the Director of the ORIE and support the office in process implementations and administration of research supported by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

In addition, the Research Compliance Manager may be asked to collaborate in the development of educational resources and programs related to the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Conflicts of Interest (COI) and Exports Controls, contribute to maintenance of ORIE’s website, and participate in service work for the College.

Essential Responsibilities

• Processes/conducts initial reviews of submissions to compliance committees for completeness, and provides feedback to the Director, noting relevant areas of compliance for review (e.g., training, grant-funding, Export Controls, Safety Concerns, Private Health Information (PHI), Vulnerable Populations).
• Facilitates ORIE’s administrative/review processes related to Student Summer Opportunities Awards.
• Assists in development and implementation of policies and procedures related to research integrity.
• Develops and maintains working knowledge of relevant regulations and policies, and communicates with faculty, staff, and administrators to understand planned research and the relevant compliance requirements.
• Establishes open lines of communication with campus partners, including Sponsored Programs, Provost’s Office, Office of General Counsel, Environmental Health and Safety, and Procurement to assist in administration of research proposals/awards involving complex sets of regulatory criteria.
• Assists the Director of the ORIE in the development and implementation of educational resources and programming.
• Conducts special projects to support the office as assigned.

Who you are: 

Comfortable in a collaborative environment, with an interest in supporting talented researchers, you are willing to see administrative tasks through to completion, over the life-cycle of a project.  You are able to prioritize, and think flexibly while also adhering to regulatory guidance, and established policies.  You are able to work as a team player to accomplish institutional goals, in addition to having the ability to work independently. You exercise good judgment, and communicate clearly, while balancing the demands of a deadline-driven environment, and are interested in developing the necessary expertise to assist researchers in identifying steps to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to their research.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least one year of job-related experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, etc.); working knowledge of Google Work apps (Docs, Sheets, etc.); strong data management and database skills.
• Ability to use and learn eRA tools such as Cayuse.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on a college campus with diverse faculty, staff, and administrators to help them meet regulatory requirements related to their r