Assistant Vice Provost for Research Compliance

Job Summary

The Assistant Vice Provost for Research Compliance provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and institutional guidance for research compliance, research security, and research integrity across the University research enterprise. This position oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of compliance programs supporting human subjects research, animal care and use, biosafety, export controls, research security, conflict of interest, research misconduct, responsible conduct of research, and related regulatory and ethical research obligations. The AVP serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, faculty, and research administrators while advancing a culture of integrity, accountability, service, and responsible research conduct in alignment with TCU’s strategic research growth goals.

Duties & Essential Job Functions

• Provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for institutional research compliance and regulatory affairs programs, including IRB, IACUC, IBC, conflict of interest, export controls, research security, research integrity, and responsible conduct of research programs.
• Develops and implements institutional policies, procedures, and governance frameworks to ensure compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and university regulations governing research activities.
• Serves as a senior institutional advisor to the Vice Provost for Research, deans, faculty, and university leadership on research compliance, regulatory risk, and strategic research initiatives.
• Oversees research compliance committees and associated administrative operations, ensuring timely protocol review, regulatory guidance, training, and monitoring activities.
• Collaborates closely with Sponsored Programs, Research Contracts, Institutional Compliance, Environmental Health & Safety, Information Security, and other university offices to support compliant and efficient research administration.
• Leads development and delivery of research compliance education and outreach programs for faculty, staff, students, and research personnel.
• Oversees institutional responses to allegations of research misconduct, noncompliance, and regulatory investigations in collaboration with university leadership and legal counsel.
• Develops operational metrics, dashboards, risk assessments, and reports related to institutional research compliance and research integrity activities.
• Supports institutional growth in externally funded research by developing scalable compliance infrastructure and faculty-centered research support processes.
• Represents the University with federal agencies, sponsors, professional organizations, and peer institutions on matters related to research compliance, security and integrity.
• Maintains awareness of evolving federal regulations, sponsor expectations, and national trends impacting research compliance operations.
• Executes research compliance recommendations provided by external third-party advisors based on current status of TCU processes of protected data and information.

Required Education & Experience

• Master’s degree or higher
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, research compliance, regulatory affairs, research compliance contracts, or related higher education administration.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing research compliance programs, committees, or administrative units within a complex research environment.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal regulations related to human subjects research, animal research, biosafety, export controls, research security, conflict of interest, and research integrity.
• Experience advising senior leadership and collaborating across academic, administrative, and legal functions.
• Experience developing policies, operational frameworks, and scalable compliance infrastructures supporting research growth.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Ph.D., Juris Doctor (J.D.), or other terminal degree.
• Professional certifications or affiliations related to research administration, compliance, contracts, export controls, or research integrity (e.g., NCURA, PRIM&R, IAPP).
• Experience in a growing research university environment supporting federal, industry, and international research activities.
• Experience leading research security, export control, regulatory offices, or institutional risk management initiatives.
• Experience negotiating or overseeing complex research regulatory frameworks.

Required Licensure/Certification/Specialized Training

• None

Preferred Licensure, Certification, And/or Specialized Training

• Certification in Human Subjects Research (IRB), Animal Care and Use (IACUC), Biosafety and Biological Research Compliance (IBC), and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
• Training in Research Integrity and Research Misconduct, Conflict of Interest and Commitment, Research Security and Export Controls, Data Management and Research Governance, Regulatory Training and Education Programs, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Disclosure Governance