"Director, Human Research Protection Program"

Director

Company: Texas Tech University

Job Location: Lubbock

Category: Assessment, Accreditation, and Compliance

Type: Full-Time

Position Description
Directs, plans, coordinates and supervises the operations and activities of a specialized unit or small department; develops and implements policies and procedures, administers the budget, organizes tasks and sets priorities. Serves as liaison with university personnel and community at large. Works under general supervision with broad latitude for initiative and independent judgement.

Major/Essential Functions

• Supervise and coordinate HRPP staff activities to ensure efficient and compliant processing of human research protocol submissions, reviews, and approvals. Provide leadership, guidance, and support to maintain high-quality and timely service to the research community.
• Oversee the HRPP budget and resource allocation.
• Facilitate the work of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) by supporting IRB Chairs and committee members in the ethical and regulatory review of research protocols involving human participants. Ensure that reviews are conducted in accordance with institutional, state, and federal requirements.
• Lead efforts to recruit and retain qualified IRB members, coordinate training programs, and implement continuing education initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance and professional excellence.
• Plan, staff, and coordinate IRB committee meetings, including scheduling, preparing agendas and reviewing materials, recording minutes, and documenting deliberations and determinations consistent with regulatory and institutional standards.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for faculty, students, and staff who are preparing, submitting, or awaiting review of IRB protocols. Provide guidance and responsive communication to assist investigators in navigating the submission and review process.
• Acquire and maintain in-depth knowledge of institutional, state, and federal regulations and ethical principles governing human subjects research, including 45 CFR 46, 21 CFR 50/56, and related guidance. Apply this knowledge in daily operations and decision-making. Monitor and interpret changes in human subjects protection regulations and best practices. Update policies and communicate impacts to the research community.
• Coordinate the submission of required reports to OHRP, FDA, sponsors or other regulatory agencies as needed. Support and prepare for regulatory inspections and institutional program assessments.
• Coordinate HRPP activities with related compliance areas such as Financial Conflict of Interest, Research Services, Research Security, Animal Care, and Environmental Health and Services.
• Collaborate with partnering institutions and their HRPP/IRB offices to coordinate review and oversight of multi-institutional and collaborative research projects, ensuring compliance with reliance agreements and review processes.
• Pursue and maintain professional certification as a Certified IRB Professional (CIP) to demonstrate and sustain expertise in human research protection and IRB management.
• Assist in developing and delivering educational programs and training sessions for Texas Tech University IRB members, students, faculty, and research staff on human subject research, and the use of Cayuse IRB for human research protocols.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in related area required plus five years progressively responsible management experience. Additional education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Post graduate or Doctoral degree in job related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal research regulations (45 CFR 46, 21 CFR 50/56, HIPAA Privacy Rule, FERPA) and ethical principles (Belmont Report).
• Demonstrated strong skills and track record in sustained measurement of program outcomes, ability to work independently and with others to achieve desired results.
• Certified IRB Professional (CIP)** credential or eligibility within one year of hire.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong collaborative relationships across academic and administrative units.
• Some IT system background of online submission software.
• Experience in a university or research environment.

Pay Range
$78,000 - $102,600 - $126,200

To apply, visit workattexastech.com

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