Research Compliance Consultant

Attain Partners

2h•$125,000 - $140,000

About The Position

Attain Partners is an innovative consulting firm serving education, nonprofit, healthcare, and state and local government clients. The Research Security Officer will implement and maintain university clients’ research security and export controls compliance programs, serving as the subject matter expert and partnering with functional leaders across each institution. The role promotes a culture of ethics and compliance and advises university communities on regulatory trends and enforcement affecting research. The position administers research security and export controls programs, including risk assessments, corrective actions, export control determinations and licensing, restricted-party screening, review of international appointments and travel, and review of proposals, awards, agreements, and contracts. It develops and updates policies, procedures, training, and technology control plans; coordinates risk mitigation and regulatory reporting; and builds working relationships with faculty, staff, students, institutional offices, and clients. Periodic travel may be required based on business and client needs. The position requires in-depth knowledge of ITAR, EAR, OFAC regulations, and federal contracting requirements; experience developing and implementing research compliance programs, global trade compliance, and/or research operations; and a bachelor’s degree with at least five years of direct experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant advanced degree and experience. The salary range is $125,000–$140,000, with eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus.

Requirements

In-depth understanding of ITAR, EAR, OFAC regulations, and federal contracting requirements.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively.
Proven experience developing and implementing research compliance programs, global trade compliance, and/or research operations.
Bachelor’s degree and at least five years of direct experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant advanced degree and experience.
Demonstrated ability to build trusted advisor relationships with clients.
Experience supporting sales and business development.
Ability to travel periodically based on business and client needs.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working in academic research or another nonprofit.
Skill in developing robust online training materials.
Experience interpreting federal regulations and synthesizing and distilling complex, disparate regulatory requirements.
Strong interpersonal communication skills and experience building partnerships across departments.

Responsibilities

Promote a culture of compliance and oversee adherence to federal regulations and institutional and sponsoring-agency policies and procedures related to research security and export controls.
Execute compliance program activities, including risk assessments, work plans, and corrective actions, and coordinate with institutional assurance functions.
Serve as the institution’s research security point of contact and respond to external requests for information.
Administer the institution’s export control program; make export control determinations, serve as the empowered official for ITAR, assess licensing requirements, and manage license applications with federal agencies.
Implement the Research Security and Export Controls Manual and work with institutional representatives, faculty, and staff on export control obligations and safeguards.
Partner with operational units to update policies and procedures supporting export control compliance.
Build collaborative working relationships across the institution to promote ethics and compliance.
Maintain expertise in relevant regulations and policies, coordinate institutional initiatives, and advise the university community on regulatory and enforcement trends affecting research.
Manage the restricted-party screening program, including user access and training, match review and adjudication, and coordination with relevant institutional offices.
Review international visiting scholar, staff, and student requests (J-1, O-1, or H-1B) for export control considerations and coordinate with relevant offices.
Develop a process to capture and review international travel requests and support compliance with funding-agency requirements and export control regulations; provide travel risk and safety information as requested.
Develop processes and employee training for tracking export-controlled equipment and international shipments.
Consult with faculty, staff, and students on U.S. sanctions, technology exports, and security risks.
Review research proposals, grant awards, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, and other contracts for applicable research security terms or export controls; advise signature authorities, Authorized Organizational Representatives, and center business units.
Support and monitor technology control plans in partnership with principal investigators and operational units such as IT and Facilities.
Partner with the Office of Sponsored Research, CRSO, and OINV to develop, review, and monitor risk mitigation plans required by federal funding agencies.
Lead or participate in committees and working groups related to research security, export controls, and other research matters.
Support research security reporting, including the Foreign Gifts and Contracts Report under Higher Education Act Section 117 and Foreign Financial Disclosure Reporting under CHIPS and Science Act Section 10339B.
Build trusted advisor relationships with clients and support sales and business development.
Travel periodically as required by business and client needs.