Job Information
Case Western Reserve University Executive Director of Research Compliance in Cleveland, Ohio
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The Executive Director of Research Compliance provides operational leadership and oversight for the university's research integrity, compliance, and research agreements portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Vice President, this position establishes the policies and operational framework ensuring the research enterprise meets the highest standards of ethical conduct and contractual stewardship. The executive director oversees institution-wide programs related to research integrity, conflicts of interest (COI), responsible conduct of research (RCR), and research agreements (including data use agreements (DUAs) and material transfer agreements (MTAs).
Serving as the Research Integrity Officer (RIO), the position is the senior administrative authority for applying federal and institutional requirements across all research units. The executive director leads functional directors and program managers helping staff align conflicts of interest and agreement workflows with broader compliance activities and advises senior leadership on institutional vulnerabilities. A core mandate is modernizing the research infrastructure by automating routine tasks and leveraging technologies like AI to enhance accuracy. Through high-level coordination, the executive director strengthens the university's research enterprise and promotes a culture of accountability and transparency.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Promote research integrity and ensure compliance practices. Serve as the university's Research Integrity Officer (RIO) with senior oversight of the receipt, assessment, and management of research misconduct allegations. Ensure inquiries, investigations, and adjudications are conducted in strict accordance with federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and institutional policy. Lead the development and periodic review of institutional policies related to research integrity and ethical conduct. (35%)
Manage agreements and oversee contract administration. Provide high-level technical leadership and contractual oversight for the development, negotiation, and administration of research-related agreements (including but not limited to data use agreements, material transfer agreements, sponsored research, service and collaboration agreements and amendments). Establish standards and optimize processes that promote efficiency and risk-aware decision-making. Coordinate with legal and research administration units to ensure agreements protect university interests and intellectual property while facilitating efficient, collaborative research in compliance with government regulations and sponsor requirements. (25%)
Integrate conflict-of-interest (COI) processes and monitor compliance. Provide executive oversight of the university's COI program, helping staff align disclosure and management workflows with other research compliance and integrity activities. Ensure the COI framework is a cohesive part of the institutional risk management strategy, maintaining transparent and consistent management plan implementations. Serve as the final administrative authority for complex COI determinations. (15%)
Oversee responsible conduct of research (RCR) activities. Provide high-level oversight of institution-wide RCR education programs to ensure compliance with federal sponsor requirements. Establish expectations for curriculum design and delivery, ensuring programs effectively promote ethical research practices. (10%)
Advance systems modernization and evaluate program effectiveness. Establish metrics and reporting mechanisms to evaluate program effectiveness. Identify opportunities for process improvement and system enhancements, specifically implementing automation and leveraging emerging technologies (such as AI) to streamline compliance infrastructure and agreement tracking. Ensure programs remain responsive to the evolving regula