Research Compliance Administrator

About the role

Grand Canyon University! One of Arizona's leading institutions of higher learning. Located in the Valley of the Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. GCU is an institutionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University.

The Research Compliance Administrator supports the day-to-day administration of the university's research compliance programs within the Office of Research and Grants. This role oversees processes related to the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), research training compliance, and authorization for research involving GCU data or populations.

Working with a high level of independence, the Administrator manages research submissions, evaluates readiness for review, makes delegated exempt determinations and routine site authorization decisions, and provides guidance to investigators regarding regulatory and institutional requirements. The position also administers electronic compliance systems and research training programs, prepares reports, supports special projects, and provides additional assistance to research and grants initiatives as needed.

What you will do

IRB Administration and Investigator Support

• Manage the IRB submission workflow from intake through closure, including setting priorities, assigning protocols to reviewers, and resolving delays.
• Pre-review submissions against regulatory and institutional requirements, and decide whether a submission is ready for review or must be returned for revision.
• Make exempt and "not human subjects research" determinations under 45 CFR 46 and HRPP policy, as delegated, and issue determination letters.
• Advise faculty and students on IRB requirements, consent, and submission questions, and resolve inquiries received through the IRB office channels, referring only novel or complex matters to the Director or the IRB Chair.
• Identify possible noncompliance and reportable events in submissions and correspondence, and refer them to the Director and the IRB Chair with a recommendation.
• Plan and run investigator training sessions, office hours, and the monthly IRB team meetings.
• Ensure protocol records and regulatory documentation meet federal regulations and institutional record-retention policy.

Site Authorization

• Evaluate site authorization requests from researchers, primarily internal, who want to use GCU institutional data or survey or recruit GCU students, faculty, or staff.
• Approve or deny routine requests under institutional policy, and refer non-routine or higher-risk requests to the Director with a recommendation.
• Determine whether requests for student or employee data meet FERPA and institutional data-use requirements.
• Work with data owners such as Institutional Research, the Registrar, and Human Resources to resolve concerns about individual requests.
• Decide the timing of approved surveys to manage overlap and survey burden across the GCU population.
• Issue authorization letters and maintain the record of approved requests, data released, and survey activity.

IACUC Administration

• Manage administration of the IACUC, including pre-review of protocol submissions, deciding whether they are ready for committee review, and assigning them to reviewers.
• Plan the semiannual program reviews and facility inspections, follow up on corrective actions, and report unresolved items to the IACUC and the Director.
• Manage IACUC meeting preparation, minutes, and committee records so they meet regulatory requirements.
• Prepare required regulatory reports, such as the OLAW Annual Report and the USDA annual report, where applicable, for the Director's review.

Research Training Compliance (CITI Program)

• Administer the institutional CITI Program subscription, including assigning required courses by role under institutional policy.
• Decide whether training completed elsewhere satisfies institutional requirements, and resolve individual training questions.
• Verify that personnel have current training, and hold submissions from approval until requirements are met.
• Report training compliance status to the Director and for audits.

Systems, Records, and Reporting

• Administer the electronic IRB management system (iRIS), including managing user accounts and permissions and updating forms, templates, and automated notifications.
• Coordinate testing of system upgrades and work with IT and the vendor to resolve system issues.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports on protocol volume, turnaround times, and reviewer workloads for the Director.
• Identify workflow problems and recommend changes to procedures to the Director.
• Coordinate office preparation for annual reporting, accreditation, audits, and compliance reviews.

Procedures and Program Support

• Maintain and update office procedures, forms, checklists, and investigator guidance, and recommend policy changes to the Director.
• Implement new compliance processes and initiatives assigned by the Director.
• Support the Director with briefing materials, correspondence, and special projects, and act as the office's point of contact on routine compliance matters in the Director's absence.

Office of Research and Grants Support

• Advise the Grants team and the Canyon Research Collaborative (CRC) on compliance requirements for their projects, and confirm that required approvals and training are in place.
• Assist the Grants team and the CRC with operational needs during peak periods, as assigned by the Director.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you need

• Bachelor's degree.
• Three or more years' experience in research administration, research compliance, or higher education administration.
• Working knowledge of IRB and human subjects research regulations (45 CFR 46).
• Must successfully pass a background check.
• Provide a positive example to students by supporting the University's Doctrinal Statement, Ethical Position Statement and Mission of Grand Canyon University.

Bonus

• Familiarity with IACUC processes, animal welfare regulations, and FERPA.
• CIP or CPIA certification.