Research Compliance Consultant

Attain Partners
United States
Remote

Who this role is best for

Candidates with compliance expertise and experience in research operations will find this remote role emphasizes collaboration with university assurance functions and federal regulatory adherence.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a background in federal compliance and research operations experience in higher education institutions.
    — “university clients’ research security and export controls compliance programs”
  • Individuals who can act as a subject matter expert and lead institutional-wide research security initiatives.
    — “the position will serve as the subject matter expert on research security export controls for our institutions”
  • Professionals with proven ability to build relationships across departments and coordinate compliance efforts.
    — “builds relationships with individuals and areas across the institution impacted by research security”

Things to consider

  • The role involves managing restricted party screening and requires coordination with multiple institutional offices.
    — “manages restricted party screening program. Works with users of screening software and with the vendor”
  • Candidates must maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving federal regulations and enforcement trends.
    — “advises the university's community on trends in regulation and enforcement impacting research”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in managing export control licenses and coordinating with federal agencies.
    — “manages the license process with applicable federal agencies”
  • Emphasize your ability to lead cross-functional compliance initiatives and build institutional credibility.
    — “builds credibility, and works collaboratively with faculty, staff, students”
  • Showcase your track record in developing and implementing research compliance programs.
    — “proven experience in developing and implementing research compliance programs”
  • Demonstrate your familiarity with ITAR, EAR, OFAC, and other federal export control regulations.
    — “maintains expertise related to ITAR, EAR, OFAC regulations”
  • Include examples of how you have supported international travel compliance and promoted safe practices.
    — “promotes travel hygiene by providing travelers with information about security risks”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • promoting a culture of compliance
  • overseeing adherence to federal regulations
  • managing restricted party screening program
Typical background
experience in research security and export controls compliance

Skills & requirements

Required

Research SecurityExport ControlsCompliance Program ActivitiesITAREAROFAC Regulations

Preferred

Risk AssessmentsWork PlansCorrective ActionCompliance

About the role

Original posting from Attain Partners via Greenhouse

Attain Partners is an innovative consulting firm dedicated to disrupting the status quo to change the world and improve the lives of those we touch. From strategy to technology and everywhere in between, our experts use their unique skills to advance the important missions of education, nonprofit, healthcare, and state and local government clients.  

People are at the center of all we do, and that’s why we empower career growth, provide industry-leading benefits packages, encourage a flexible work environment, and foster a culture of inclusion to support the needs of our team. We share a collective passion for our mission and our people. Guided by our seven core values, The Attain Way, our vision is the foundation of our culture—to be and attain the best. 

The Research Security Officer will be responsible for implementation and maintenance of our university clients’ research security and export controls compliance programs. The position will serve as the subject matter expert on research security export controls for our institutions and will partner with other functional leaders throughout the system to effectuate the research security and export controls compliance programs. 

Job Duties

Promotes a culture of compliance and oversees adherence to federal regulations as well as institution and sponsoring agency policies and procedures related to research security and export controls.

Executes compliance program activities, including conducting risk assessments, developing work plans, and taking corrective action as necessary. Partners with other institution assurance functions (e.g., Compliance, Office of General Counsel, etc.) to operate efficiently. 

Serves as the institution’s research security point of contact. Responds to requests for information from external parties. 

Serves as the institution’s point of contact in administering the institution’s export control program and its obligations, policies and procedures.  Makes all export control determinations and serves as the empowered official for ITAR.  Assesses whether export control licenses are required and manages the license process with applicable federal agencies. 

Executes the Research Security and Export Controls Manual by working closely with key institution representatives, faculty and staff regarding export control obligations and safeguards. Partners with other operational units to update policies and procedures to support export control compliance. 

Establishes and sustains effective working relationships, builds credibility, and works collaboratively with faculty, staff, students.  Coordinates operational functions and builds relationships with individuals and areas across the institution impacted by research security and export controls to promote a culture of ethics and compliance.

Maintains expertise related to ITAR, EAR, OFAC regulations, NSDD-189, CUI policies, NSPM-33, CHIPS & Science Act of 2022, federal funding agency policies, and federal contracting requirements. Coordinates institutional-wide initiatives to respond appropriately to federal regulations as they apply to research security and export control requirements. Advises the university's community on trends in regulation and enforcement impacting research. 

Manages restricted party screening program.  Works with users of screening software and with the vendor to grant access and train users. Reviews screening matches and adjudicates matches, coordinating with research Centers, Human Resources, the Office of General Counsel, and other offices as needed. 

Reviews international visiting scholar, staff and student requests (J-1, O-1, or H-1B) for export control considerations. Coordinates with the Office of International Students and Scholars, academic departments, Human Resources, and the Office of General Counsel as needed. 

Develops process to capture and review international travel requests and supports traveler compliance with funding agency requirements and export control regulation. Promotes travel hygiene by providing travelers with information about security risks and safe travel practices as requested.

Develops processes and training for employees around tracking export controlled equipment and international shipments.

Consults with faculty, staff and students as needed to ensure compliance with U.S. sanctions, technology export concerns, and security risks. 

Reviews research proposals, grant awards, confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements, and other contracts for which research security terms and conditions or export controls may apply.  Provides advice and guidance to the institution’s signature authority and/or Authorized Organizational Representative and to center business units in order to navigate regulatory and institutional requirements.  

Supports the implementation of technology control plans. Partners with principal investigators and other operations units (e.g., IT, Facilities, etc.) to develop appropriate controls. Monitors technology control plans for compliance.

Partners with the Office of Sponsored Research, CRSO, and OINV to develop, review, and monitor risk mitigation plans as required by federal funding agencies.

Leads and/or participates in various committees and ad-hoc working groups related to research security, export controls, and other research-related matters.

Supports research security-related reporting requirements, including development and submission of the Foreign Gifts and Contracts Report (Higher Education Act Section 117) and Foreign Financial Disclosure Reporting (CHIPS and Science Act Section 10339B). 

Minimum Requirements

In-depth understanding of ITAR, EAR, OFAC regulations, and federal contracting requirements.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively.

Proven experience in developing and implementing research compliance programs, global trade compliance, and/or research operations.

A Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of direct experience or equivalent combination of relevant advanced degree and experience. 

Equipment Knowledge 

None 

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience working in academic research or other non-profit 

Work Skills (e.g., written and verbal communication skills) 

Skill in developing robust online training materials

Experience interpreting federal regulation; synthesizing and distilling disparate and complex sets of regulation

Strong interpersonal communication skills and experience building partnerships across departments 

Additional Requirements:

Demonstrated ability to build trusted advisor relationships with clients

Experience supporting sales and business development

Position requires flexibility to travel periodically based on business and client needs

Additional Information

Attain Partners values your mental, emotional, and physical health and wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits package starts on your first day of employment and includes benefits such as:

Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage, HSA and FSA accounts, life and disability insurance, fertility and family planning benefits, and employee assistance and discount programs

11 paid federal holidays and flexible unlimited time off (UTO)

Generous 401(k) matching with immediate vesting

Flexible career paths – our career tracks provide advancement, mobility, and flexibility as you continue to grow with us

A healthy environment where we value unique experiences, and care about everything that makes you, you.

Attain Partners is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Individual compensation will be commensurate with experience, education, and skills.

Attain Partners is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The individual base salary for this position is unique to each candidate and will be commensurate with experience, education, and skills. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

Interested in this position but the compensation isn’t quite right? Let us know your expectations, and we’ll see if we can make it happen based on your qualifications.

Salary Range$125,000—$140,000 USD 

Attain Partners is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. For more Information visit EEO, EEO Poster Supplement, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA). 

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process. 

Source: Attain Partners careers (Greenhouse)

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