Privacy and Research Data Protection Program Coordinator

Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA

2d•$60,000 - $72,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance (SIRC) at Virginia Tech supports the business management of the Privacy and Research Data Protection (PRDP) program. SIRC, within the Office of Research and Innovation, supports university-wide strategic initiatives and helps researchers meet their responsibilities for compliance with policies and regulations pertaining to research. The PRDP program provides guidance to help the university’s research community keep data secure and comply with university, state, and federal requirements, coordinating with campus stakeholders to develop and manage supporting processes. Reporting to the Director of the Privacy and Research Data Protection Program, the Program Coordinator supports intake, routing, tracking, documentation, and lifecycle coordination of research data agreements; research data access and compliance monitoring; program metrics analysis; digital resource development; and university-wide efforts to strengthen research data protection and stewardship. The role supports organized, accurate, timely, and professional daily program operations, including coordination of operational workflows, agreement processing, oversight of administrative controls for secure research environments, program systems and reporting, researcher-facing resources, stakeholder liaison work, and administrative support. This is a hybrid position with a weekly on-campus presence. The position requires completion of a telework agreement under Policy 4325; the hybrid schedule will be confirmed after an onsite training period. A criminal conviction check is required. Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor work visas for this position.

Requirements

Degree or equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and professional experience.
Experience managing complex administrative, contractual, compliance, research, or operational workflows.
Demonstrated experience coordinating projects or process-improvement efforts involving multiple stakeholders.
Ability to organize, analyze, document, and maintain complex operational information, records, and workflows.
Ability to create clear documentation and operational resources.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate complex information for varied audiences.
Ability to independently manage multiple priorities, solve problems, exercise sound judgment, and handle sensitive information with discretion.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting research data agreements, data-sharing agreements, or similar agreement intake, routing, tracking, and follow-up processes.
Experience developing operational solutions with Microsoft 365 tools such as SharePoint, Lists, Teams, Power Automate, Power Query, and Power BI, including dashboards, reporting, or workflow automation.
Experience supporting administrative controls for access to research data or secure research environments, including access management, compliance reviews, data governance, or audit activities.

Responsibilities

Coordinate operational workflows and program administration across research data protection, stewardship, and compliance activities with PRDP leadership and university partners.
Support review and processing of research data agreements, including Data Use Agreements and other agreements governing access, use, sharing, protection, and stewardship of research data.
Coordinate PRDP oversight responsibilities for administrative controls in secure research environments, including personnel reviews, access reviews, and related compliance oversight.
Administer and recommend enhancements to program systems and business processes, including SharePoint resources, workflow management, and process improvement initiatives.
Maintain and improve PRDP dashboards, metrics, and program reporting resources using existing university-supported platforms.
Collaborate with the director to create and deliver researcher-facing web content, visual materials, educational resources, guidance, and program-approved standards.
Serve as a liaison among research data governance, program operations, and technology stakeholders to align requirements, processes, and technical solutions.
Support day-to-day program operations by monitoring and responding to the PRDP general email inbox, coordinating meetings, scheduling trainings, and assisting with administrative and logistical activities.