"Data representative & executive secretary Institutional Review Board"

Job Description

Join Us as a Data Representative and IRB Executive Secretary. Are you eager to support and advise our scientists in safeguarding research integrity? In this role, you will play a key part in monitoring and strengthening ethics, data management, and compliance with the GDPR. As our data representative and executive secretary of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the School’s ethics review committee, you will be the first point of contact for both scientists and faculty support staff.

Your Role

In this position, you will combine your expertise in data management and GDPR with strong skills in policy advice and administrative compliance. You will play a pivotal role in supporting ethical and responsible research at our School.

• First point of contact: You are the go-to person for researchers with questions about ethics, data management, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• Executive Secretary of the Institutional Review Board (IRB): You provide essential support to the chairperson and IRB members, overseeing the timely progress of proposals submitted for review and ensuring well-informed decision-making. This includes advising on policy, preparing meetings, and conducting the initial assessment of submitted requests.
• Data Representative: You review IRB submissions for data management and GDPR compliance, organize and conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and ensure researchers meet required standards.
• Agreements and contracts: You advise researchers on the appropriate agreements required for their projects, manage research data agreements (such as non-disclosure, research data sharing, and processing agreements) and collaborate closely with the university’s legal department.
• Policy and implementation: You oversee the School’s research data archiving policy and its application in practice.
• Workflow coordination: With around 100 reviews and 40 research agreements each year, you manage diverse processes and timelines, requiring strong organizational skills.
• Innovation in processes: You contribute to the design and development of a university-wide IT application to streamline IRB procedures, ensuring it is both compliant and practical for our School. You also play a key role in communication, training, and implementation.
• Policy advice: You provide both solicited and unsolicited advice to TiSEM researchers, the Management Team, and the Vice-Dean of Research on research ethics and data policy issues.
• Training and support: You deliver training and information sessions to departments, PhD candidates, and academic staff, raising awareness of ethical and GDPR requirements.
• Cross-campus collaboration: You are part of a wider expertise network that includes Legal Affairs, Central Policy Officer, the Research Data Office, and data representatives and ethics officers across Schools.
• Team collaboration: Within your direct team (AS-RST TiSEM), you work closely with the research policy officer and data steward/research software engineer.

How Your Day Could Look Like

Your day starts with answering a researcher’s question about GDPR compliance in their upcoming project. After that, you assess the new projects submitted to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and discuss your conclusions with the chairperson. You also prepare the agenda and supporting documentation for an IRB meeting scheduled later in the week. Mid-morning, you have a call with colleagues from Legal Affairs to finalize a research data agreement, before joining your own team to discuss improvements for the data package policy. In the afternoon, you help shape the new IT tool that will streamline the IRB process, making sure it’s both compliant and user-friendly. Later, you give a short training session for PhD candidates on data protection and ethics. You end your day by advising the Vice-Dean of Research on a new policy question, knowing your input helps strengthen ethical and responsible research across the School.

Requirements

Who are you? For this position, we are looking for a candidate who brings a strong combination of expertise, integrity, and communication skills: An academic level of working and thinking, with a clear affinity for academic research. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Dutch. Proven work experience and/or formal training in the field of GDPR. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, enabling effective collaboration across diverse stakeholders. A well-developed moral compass and a strong sense of integrity. A customer-oriented, proactive mindset, combined with the confidence to advise and guide researchers. Experience in academic research is considered an advantage.

Conditions of Employment

What we offer: Tilburg University is among the top employers in the Netherlands and offers excellent employment conditions. Specifically: Employment of 1.0 fte (40 hours per week). Salary between € 3,546 - €5,538 gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Policy Officer 4, salary scale 10). This is a vacancy for a position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 1 CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 12 months. If, in the opinion of the employer, you perform well, there is continuation in the same position and equal financial and organizational conditions, you will be given a permanent contract after this. 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus. 41 vacation days per year for a 40-hour work week. Excellent fringe benefits, including a customizable benefits package and relocation allowance. A dynamic working environment on a green campus, easily accessible by public transport. Ample opportunities for personal development, such as training in leadership, effectiveness, and career development. An inclusive workplace culture that values diversity. Pension scheme via ABP, and for international candidates, potential eligibility for the 30% tax ruling.