Director of Research Integrity & Consultation

The Director of the Research Integrity and Consultation Program (RICP) assumes a critical role in the research enterprise at Virginia Tech (VT). The incumbent's primary responsibilities are to ensure that all aspects of research conducted under the university's auspices are carried out in compliance with institutional, local, state, and federal research integrity regulations, and the highest ethical standards. Specific responsibilities include to 1) serve as VT's research integrity officer (RIO); 2) direct and administer VT’s research integrity/responsible conduct of research (RCR) training program; 3) direct and administer VT’s research ethics consultation service (RECS); 4) develop and provide a comprehensive program of training experiences to infuse ethical and regulatory knowledge and expertise across VT's scholars, researchers, and students; 5) advise the Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance regarding all matters significantly impacting the integrity of research conducted and supported by VT; 6) lead a team of professionals to mitigate university-wide enterprise risk related to sponsored research compliance with federal and state regulations; 7) lead and manage stakeholders from across the university to plan and confirm committee composition on federally-required review committees and/or state- or university-required committees, working groups, and task forces; and
8) develop and confirm compliant and pragmatic university policies that reflect federal and state requirements.

The RICP director collaborates with other university units and personnel that conduct research, including faculty, students, as well as departmental, college, institute, and university leadership. The RICP director leads all strategic and operational initiatives of the Research Integrity and Consultation Program, engages the VT community to promote and foster ethical excellence in research, and interfaces with federal, state, and local officials, and other external agencies to ensure transparent implementation of research misconduct regulations. The position reports to the Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance.

- Advanced degree plus progressively advanced experience in science, engineering, education, or other research field
- Operational knowledge of research regulations (e.g., research misconduct, human subjects protections, animal care and use, biosecurity, conflict of interest) promulgated from various federal agencies (e.g., HHS, NSF, DoD)
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and proprietary information, and maintain confidentiality with discretion and good judgment
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, customer service orientation, and ability to effectively interact and build trusted relationships
- Proven ability to effectively organize, prioritize, and perform multiple job functions and complex tasks, meet deadlines with short turnaround times, and manage changing situations.

- Training or experience in research ethics
- Experience conducting ethics consultations
- Experience as a Research Integrity Officer
- Experience leading responsible conduct of research or research ethics training in a fast-paced, customer service-oriented setting
- Experience with animal care and use, human subjects, biosafety, or conflict of interest regulations
- Interest in contributing to the scholarly literature in the field of research integrity and research ethics

Regular

Commensurate with experience

March 18, 2024

Position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement and the details of that work arrangement will be confirmed upon hire.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.