Assistant Director, Research Security, Office of Research Support and Compliance

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

30d

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Research Security is responsible for daily operational oversight of risk-based monitoring and risk analysis activities in the Research Security Office (RSO) within the Office of Research Support & Compliance (ORSC). The Assistant Director, Research Security plays a key role in facilitating safe and productive international engagements, ensuring research security related activities and processes operate efficiently, enhance institutional compliance with federal and state requirements, and provide optimal support to university researchers. Key responsibilities for the position include continually monitoring the research security environment, collaborating with the Senior Director to ensure the university remains responsive to the evolving research security landscape, providing outreach to the research community related to the benefits and risks of international collaborations, facilitating collaboration across institutional units to ensure compliance, and leading risk based monitoring and risk analysis processes related to international activities. The Assistant Director, Research Security supervises research security analysts. This position is a member of the Research Support and Compliance leadership team, with shared responsibility for accomplishing research security related goals and objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline.
A minimum of 5 years of experience related to national security and foreign counterintelligence activities.
In-depth knowledge of federal and state research security requirements, such as NSPM-33, CHIPS and Science Act, Texas EO GA-48 and HB127.
Demonstrated ability to conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation plans for international collaborations, sensitive research, and high-risk activities.
Experience with open-source intelligence (OSINT) and data mining tools.
Strong leadership and team management skills including supervising and mentoring staff.
Ability to analyze complex information/issues and formulate solutions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft institutional responses, develop outreach materials, and present to diverse audiences.
Ability to collaborate across institutional units, engage stakeholders, and build cross-functional partnerships.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects without frequent direction.
A commitment to continuous quality improvement to ensure ongoing programmatic efficiency and effectiveness.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
Experience in research compliance, export controls, or research administration within a university or research setting.
Demonstrated experience developing and delivering training programs on research security, compliance, or export controls.

Responsibilities

Manage Research Security Program Operations
Manage policies and processes for monitoring foreign activities of university personnel.
Manage policies and processes for reviewing and monitoring foreign visitors to the university.
Implement risk-based processes for ongoing monitoring of foreign activities, including situations that may trigger an audit.
Routinely monitor internal disclosure systems for financial interests, outside activities, foreign travel, foreign gifts, and any other relevant information to assess international activity.
Conduct risk-based reviews of international activities including research collaborations, foreign travel, and professional appointments.
Assist individuals with assessing risks associated with international activities.
Provide risk analysis guidance to faculty, staff, and trainees.
Continually assess processes for quality and efficiency, seeking areas for improvement as needed to ensure compliance while facilitating international collaborations.
Develop and implement updates to programs and processes as needed.
Assist with external or internal inquiries related to foreign influence compliance issues.
Draft institutional responses to external inquiries.
Manage the International Collaboration and Review Committee (ICRC) activities including membership, scheduling, submission intake and assessment processes, and communicate review outcomes to researchers.
Support the Research Security Office
Continually monitor the evolving research security environment.
Work with RSO leadership to pursue strategic initiatives to ensure ongoing compliance with federal and state research security related requirements and support international activities.
Collaborate with relevant university offices and departments to assess and strengthen physical, technical, and administrative controls to protect intellectual property, individuals, and the institution.
Serve as a liaison between research administration offices and university personnel on issues related to foreign activities.
Provide outreach, education, and guidance to the university community related to research security and international collaborations.
Advise faculty regarding internal and federal sponsor disclosure requirements.
Maintain informative and effective website information.
Participate in the development, maintenance, and continuous quality improvement of electronic systems used to facilitate the work of the research security program.
Support Open-Source Intelligence Operations
Assist with OSINT reviews conducted by the Information Security Office by clarifying requests received from UT System institutions, ensuring all pertinent information is provided for the OSINT review, and provide results to the requesting institution with appropriate guidance on interpretation of the information.
Supervise Staff
Manage and provide mentoring and supervision to research security program personnel.
Conduct regular evaluations and provide consistent opportunities for feedback.
Facilitate professional growth and development of direct reports.