Associate Vice President, Research Integrity and Assurance

Associate Vice President, Research Integrity and Assurance

George Mason University’s Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact invites applications for an Associate Vice President, Research Integrity and Assurance position. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Department:

The Office of Research Integrity & Assurance (ORIA) is part of Mason’s Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI). It promotes ethical and responsible conduct of research through serving as a resource for researchers, providing policies, procedures, support, training, and advice to aid researchers with research compliance related to federal, state, university, and local regulations.

ORIA works to foster the advancement of Mason’s research endeavors and to promote an environment and culture that sustains the highest standards of research, scholarship, and integrity. The office also identifies compliance risks and communicates those risks to the research community. Finally, ORIA monitors and investigates instances of noncompliance to protect the university’s research reputation.

About the Position:

The Associate Vice President (AVP) for Research Integrity and Assurance provides leadership for six major compliance functions: (1) human subjects research; (2) animal subjects research; (3) research integrity and compliance, and responsible conduct of research; (4) secure research (5) export control and sanctions laws and regulations; and (6) conflicts of interest. These activities are critical to meeting Mason’s strategic goals.

Responsibilities:

To carry out the following duties, the AVP provides ongoing leadership development to direct reports so that they effectively manage their own teams and programs. The AVP also has overall responsibility for budgets to support these activities:

The primary duties of this position include:

Research Integrity and Compliance

• Provide leadership for the following legal/regulatory required programs: human subjects protection, animal care and use, conflict of interest, classified and controlled unclassified research, research misconduct, and export and economic sanctions compliance. Provide institutional compliance oversight, ensure appropriate resources are allocated to support compliance, serve as the primary point of contact for oversight agencies, and provide leadership to the teams responsible for implementation of these programs;
• Provide overall leadership of Mason’s Research Integrity Program, consistently sending a message promoting high-quality ethical research. Serve as the Research Integrity Officer, the institutional official responsible for receiving and addressing misconduct allegations, direct responsible conduct of research education and training, and provide outreach and guidance to Deans, Associate Deans, and faculty on ethical matters related to research;
• Provide leadership to several faculty boards focused on integrity and compliance matters: the Institutional Review Board (IRB) which reviews all human subjects research, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) which reviews all interactions with animals in teaching and research, the Insider Threat Committee for classified research programs, and the faculty advisory board for policy development which enables consistent policies that meet regulatory requirements while also considering the needs of Mason’s faculty researchers;
• Ensure the support and provision of effective and compliant core facilities for the support of animal research and related activities. This includes providing direction to the Attending Veterinarian and animal health program in addition to allocating appropriate resources to ensure the welfare of all laboratory animals on campus;
• Oversee the secure research, export control, and sanctions compliance program. This includes overall oversight for implementing and monitoring secure research procedures, controlled unclassified information procedures, and managing export control and secure research staff. This includes site visits of secure research space, evaluation and correction of management practices, and ensuring secure storage of materials when needed. Supervising staff who draft and maintain technology control plans and related system security plans, applying for and maintaining documentation related to export licenses, maintaining appropriate documentation, and serving as a point of contact related to records for federal agencies during audits and inspections; and
• Serve as the primary point of contact for advice, resources, education, and coordination of research integrity and compliance to senior leadership and the broader Mason community.

Institutional Compliance Activities

• Serve as the Empowered Official for export and sanctions compliance. This program provides resources and oversight for all institutional activities that trigger compliance requirements with the Department of State, Treasury, and Commerce related to U.S. export controls and economic sanctions against individuals, entities, and countries;
• Serve as the Institutional Official responsible for Mason’s Human Subjects Protection Program;
• Serve as the Institutional Official responsible for Mason’s Program of Animal Care and Use;
• Direct the conflict of interest disclosure and review process, reviewing all circumstances that trigger Federal or Commonwealth Conflicts of Interest requirements; and
• Participate in the Enterprise Risk Management Council. Provide strategic leadership to ensure enterprise risks are evaluated and conveyed to senior administration.

Required Qualifications:

• A terminal degree in scientific, engineering, regulatory, or policy field (PhD, JD, MD), or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience supporting research programs at a university or other research organization;
• Knowledge of and experience implementing appropriate institutional policies and programs in response to regulatory requirements;
• Ability to pass and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; and
• Experience successfully interfacing with federal agencies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree and 10 years’ experience;
• Experience with research misconduct investigations; and
• Knowledge of and experience implementing appropriate regulations including those promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Department of Commerce, Defense Security Service, Department of Defense, Department of Treasury, Department of Justice including, but not limited to, EAR, ITAR, OFAC, and the NISPOM.

Special Instructions to Applicants  

For full consideration, applicants must apply to position number FA776z at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, current resume/CV, and a list of at least three professional references with contact information.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.