Position Overview
Under the supervision of the AVP, the Director of Research Protection and Compliance at Merrimack College will strengthen the institutional infrastructure for promoting faculty research and scholarly development across the College. The Director will help to produce, manage and implement a suite of critical programs and services designed to facilitate faculty research. This includes acting as the IRB Director, overseeing institutional data management and sharing compliance for research studies, and acting as the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) Administrator for externally funded research projects.
Responsibilities include:
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Oversee Merrimack’s Institutional Review Board including IRB exchange.
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Assist faculty with data safety management plans and assembling data safety monitoring boards.
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Assist with the implementation and utilization of REDCap.
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Assist with the development of IP policies for research in coordination with the Office of the General Council.
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Administer data use agreements and material transfer agreements.
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Analyze data and prepare and present audit reports and summaries; provide feedback to researchers and the IRB as appropriate; ensure the maintenance of databases pertaining to human subject research audit information.
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Work closely with the Associate Vice Provost of Research and the Senior Associate Vice President of Research Administration, to encourage best practices, facilitate strategic planning, convene forums, perform data analysis, and develop and deliver training workshops.
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Participate in working groups and committees to identify and develop resources that support research and increase public awareness of Merrimack research efforts.
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Ensure that human subject protection training is available and completed by investigators, key study personnel, the Institutional Signatory Official, and all staff who participate in the human subjects protection program, including oversight of the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) certification program at Merrimack.
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Oversee the quality assurance monitoring of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), including research protocols and investigation of matters of non-compliance. Ensure implementation of corrective action, as needed, in accordance with policies and IRB policies and procedures.
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Maintain current knowledge of human research protection guidance and regulations as they evolve. Stay current on emerging issues. Monitor federal regulatory websites and other research-related resources so as to stay current with regulatory changes in human research protections guidelines and policies. Communicate pertinent information to staff in a timely manner.
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Develop strong partnerships with third-party vendors and attend workshops and conferences pertaining to research technologies and development, particularly as they relate to data safety, management and sharing.
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Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications:
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Master’s degree, required.
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At least 5 years of research experience in an academic or industry setting, preferred.
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Working knowledge or research processes from project start-up, to maintenance, to close-out.
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Experience in academic or industry research and development.
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Prior supervisory experience preferred but not required.
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Working knowledge of IRB requirements and familiarity with research ethics and compliance.
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Ability to work effectively with remote collaborators.
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Ability to think about project planning at a multi-year scale, while also being available to address day-to-day operations.
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Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
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Ability to balance multiple tasks and shifting priorities under tight deadlines and chart a clear path forward for a project at an accelerated pace when necessary.
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Ability to oversee multiple research platforms and databases.
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Experience with REDCap utilization, development, and maintenance as well other Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems such as Oracle.
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Experience with electronic Institutional Review Board (IRB) systems.
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Prior research management/coordination experience including project initiation and closeout.
Application materials should include:
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Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.
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Resume or Curriculum Vitae
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Names and contact information for three (3) professional references.
This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Required Vaccinations:
This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community. Merrimack College currently has a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Students, faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.
Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Augustinian mission, our Catholic faith and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and some 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College comprises five schools: liberal arts, science and engineering, nursing and health sciences, the Winston school of education and social policy, and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 34th out of 175 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2022. Merrimack also ranked 3rd in the Most Innovative Schools category. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
