Sr Research COI Administrator

University of Rochester•City of Troy, NY

1d•$64,200 - $96,200•Onsite

About The Position

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive. Reporting to the Office of Research Integrity, Stewardship & Ethics (ORISE) Research Integrity Director, the Senior Conflicts of Interest Administrator serves as a senior subject-matter resource for the University’s research conflict of interest and commitment (COI/COC) program. This position supports the development, implementation, and ongoing operation of centralized research COI/COC processes, including disclosure review, committee support, management plan development and monitoring, policy implementation, stakeholder guidance, and records management. The role works closely with ORISE leadership, faculty, researchers, schools, departments, the Office of Research Project Administration (ORPA), Office of Counsel, Research Security, UR Ventures, and other institutional partners to support consistent, timely, and well-documented review and management of research-related conflicts of interest and commitment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in research administration, compliance, public administration, business, public health, higher education, administration, law, ethics, science, or a related field and 6 years of experience in research administration, research compliance, conflict of interest, sponsored programs, academic administration, regulatory compliance, or a related area, including substantial experience with research COI/COC processes or comparable research compliance workflows required
Strong knowledge of research conflict of interest and conflict of commitment principles, processes, disclosure review, relatedness analysis, and management strategies required
Ability to analyze complex disclosures, research relationships, outside interests, institutional relationships, policy requirements, and sponsor expectations required
Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear summaries, management plans, guidance, correspondence, minutes, and committee materials required
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with faculty, researchers, senior administrators, committee members, schools, departments, and institutional partners required
Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment, professionalism, and confidentiality in sensitive, high-risk, or complex matters required
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, cases, follow-up obligations, and confidential records required
High attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation, recordkeeping, and process consistency required
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, federal regulations, sponsor expectations, and institutional requirements required
Ability to support change management in a developing centralized office and work constructively across decentralized academic units required

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, JD, MLS, MPH, MPA, MBA, or related advanced degree preferred
Significant experience with research conflict of interest and/or conflict of commitment processes in a research university, academic medical center, health system, or similar complex research environment preferred
Experience supporting or managing COI committees, disclosure review processes, management plans, sponsor reporting, or institutional COI/COC workflows preferred
Familiarity with federal research conflict of interest requirements, including PHS/NIH financial conflict of interest regulations and sponsor disclosure expectations preferred
Experience with academic research administration, sponsored research, technology transfer, research security, IRB, IACUC, or related research compliance functions preferred
Experience developing procedures, templates, guidance, training materials, electronic disclosure workflows, or process improvements preferred
Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified IRB Professional (CIP), or other relevant research compliance certification preferred

Responsibilities

Review and analyze annual disclosures, transactional disclosures, outside activities, outside interests, sponsored research-related disclosures, and other matters that may implicate research COI/COC requirements; identify matters requiring additional review, escalation, committee consideration, management, or coordination with other University offices.
Draft, revise, implement, and monitor research COI/COC management plans in coordination with ORISE leadership and institutional stakeholders; track management plan requirements, reporting obligations, renewal dates, monitoring activities, required follow-up, compliance documentation, and changed circumstances.
Conduct outreach and provide senior-level guidance to faculty, researchers, departments, schools, and administrative offices to gather relevant information, clarify disclosures and disclosure obligations, explain review processes and management plan requirements, and support timely resolution of COI/COC matters.
Coordinate and support COI committee activities, including agenda development, preparation of meeting materials, case summaries, issue analyses, minutes, documentation of determinations, and follow-up on committee actions.
Support the development, implementation, and refinement of research COI/COC policies, procedures, templates, guidance documents, standard operating practices, process maps, workflow designs, system requirements, and electronic systems supporting disclosure, review, management, and reporting.
Maintain accurate and complete COI/COC files, records, tracking tools, reporting data, metrics, and sponsor or institutional documentation in accordance with federal, sponsor, and institutional requirements.
Develop or contribute to guidance, training materials, communications, and educational resources related to research COI/COC; support outreach, special projects, risk assessments, audits, process reviews, and mentoring or training of staff supporting COI/COC workflows.