Senior Research Compliance Specialist

Boston College Introduction

Founded in 1863, Boston College is a Jesuit, Catholic university located six miles from downtown Boston with an enrollment of 9,654 full-time undergraduates and 5,072 graduate and professional students. Ranked 37 among national universities, Boston College has 923 full-time and 1,336 FTE faculty, 2,822 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion, and an endowment in excess of $3.9 billion.

Job Description

The Research Compliance Specialist will provide critical support for compliance programs overseen by the Boston College Office of the Vice Provost for Research's Office of Research Security, Integrity, and Compliance (RSIC), as well as the University's Foreign Influence Working Group and its subcommittees. Because there are significant criminal, civil, and administrative penalties for violating export control, sanctions, and research security laws, and complying with these laws in an academic setting presents unique challenges, the support provided by the Research Compliance Specialist is critically important.

The Research Compliance Specialist will report to the Associate Director of Export Control and Sanctions Compliance and support the Boston College Export Controls and Sanctions Program by: screening and classifying outgoing international shipments; reviewing international travel by faculty, staff and students; screening foreign nationals on campus; identifying research and scientific equipment that require the implementation of Technology Control Plans and other safeguards; maintaining compliance records and documentation in accordance with regulatory requirements; and completing other duties as assigned.

The Research Compliance Specialist will also work directly with the Director of Research Security, Integrity, and Compliance, to support the Boston College Research Security Program and the University's Foreign Influence Working Group (FIWG). The Research Compliance Specialist's duties will include: assisting with drafting of federally-mandated Risk Mitigation Plans; assisting with internal inquiries and investigations of alleged Research Security violations; monitoring research grant proposals to identify researchers applying for federal funding; tracking and maintaining research compliance training records; attending FIWG quarterly meetings and subcommittee meetings, drafting meeting summaries, and tracking action items.

Requirements

• Proactive initiative to identify, navigate, and propose solutions to complex problems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to apply technical scientific information and varied facts against complex federal regulations to identify compliance issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective cross-functional teamwork and stakeholder interaction.
• Detail-oriented organizational and prioritization skills to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and tasks simultaneously.
• Complete honesty and integrity, maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information with tact and discretion.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent is required; preferably in a STEM field.
• The Research Compliant Specialist will be expected to obtain Export Compliance Professional (ECoP(r)) Certification within six months of hire.
• A minimum of one to three years of work experience in an office setting, preferably at an academic or research institution.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and produce finished work products that reflect attention to detail.
• Experience working both as an individual contributor and as part of a team is preferred.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours may be necessary due to the volume and/or urgency of compliance activity and other University requirements and priorities.

Title and salary commensurate with relevant experience based on the following titles and full-time equivalent hiring ranges:
Senior Research Compliance Specialist: 5+ years of professional related experience - $68,950 - $86,200
Research Compliance Specialist: 1-5 years professional related experience - $62,350 - $77,950