Research Security Specialist

Occupational summary

The Research Security Specialist is responsible for supporting the compliance and security of research activities at Duke, including reviewing collaborations between Duke University and Duke Kunshan University (DKU) investigators. This role involves staying informed about relevant regulations, developing and implementing best practices, and providing support, training, and guidance to the research community. The Specialist will collaborate with offices and schools across the institution to facilitate communication and implement and monitor management strategies to maintain a secure research environment. Additionally, the Specialist will review Visiting Research Scholar requests and research collaboration proposals and assist the Research Security Officer in developing risk mitigation plans, procedures, and policies. The Specialist will also maintain website content, newsletter submissions, and training materials, and foster collaborations with faculty, researchers, and other university departments to support awareness of services, process efficiency, and a culture of collaboration and support.

 

Work performed

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of research security regulations and requirements (e.g., NSPM-33, CHIPS+Science, OSTP Research Security Program guidelines, and sponsor agency disclosure requirements).  Draft summaries of new requirements for leadership to inform them of emerging risks and aid in the design of mitigation strategies.
• Develop best practices, training materials, and other documents needed to provide updates to the research community related to research security standards.
• Assist Research Security Officer in development of risk mitigation plans.
• Serve as a resource to the research community and other administrative offices in answering inquiries related to research security, international collaborations, and engagement with foreign entities.  Maintain central e-mail inbox and highlight trends in questions to inform future communication/training needs.
• Collaborate with various central offices to coordinate compliance with Research Security Program requirements (e.g., Export Controls, Duke Office of DKU Relations (DODR), Global Travel Office, OIT/DHTS, etc.).
• Review Visiting Research Scholar requests and advise sponsoring faculty member on required disclosures, as necessary.  Coordinate with local unit(s), central pre-award office(s), and/or Research Security Officer as appropriate.  
• Review grant proposals, upon request, to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and research security guidelines.
• Review proposed collaborations with parterning offices (e.g., DODR) to identify areas of research and/or funding that will require additional analysis related to reporting/management of collaboration.
• Assist Research Security Officer in developing policies, procedures, and other requirements as part of federal Research Security Program requirements including appropriate protocols for research security threat monitoring, incident reporting, and researcher onboarding and exit processes.
• Serve as communicator between Research Security and Duke faculty members working on DKU collaborations related to conveying requirements for disclosures, risk mitigation, etc.
• Foster collaborations with faculty, researchers, and other university departments and offices to understand and address their unique support service needs. Establish excellent working relationships with key stakeholders and groups.
• Maintain website content, newsletter submissions, and training materials related to research security.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

 

Required qualifications at this level

Education/
Training:

Work requires organization, analytical and communication skills