Director, Research Security and Export Controls

About the role

The Director of Research Security and Export Controls provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Virginia Tech’s research security and export controls/sanctions compliance programs within the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance (OESRC). Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Research Security and Chief Research Security Officer, this position leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of university-wide programs that ensure compliance with federal research security, export control, and sanctions regulations.

Primary Duties

• Lead the university’s research security and trade compliance programs, establishing strategic priorities and ensuring alignment with institutional and federal requirements.
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and compliance programs supporting research security, export controls, sanctions compliance aligned to National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM – 33), CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, export controls, sanctions, controlled unclassified information (CUI), and other applicable federal regulations.
• Lead complex, cross-functional projects from planning through implementation to strengthen the university’s research security and compliance infrastructure.
• Research security reviews and risk assessments of international collaborations, including travel, proposed foreign person employees and visitors, and funded and non-funded proposals/agreements.
• Development and monitoring of research security risk mitigation plans and Technology Control Plans (TCPs).
• Manage OESRC program operations, supervise and develop professional and administrative staff, establish performance expectations, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and deliver education, training, and outreach programs while serving as the university’s subject matter expert on research security and export controls/sanctions compliance for faculty, staff, students, and university leadership.
• Partner with university leadership and administrative units, including Information Technology, International Affairs, Legal Counsel, Human Resources, Office of Research and Innovation, and Audit, Risk and Compliance, to develop coordinated compliance strategies and support institutional research objectives.
• Oversee program monitoring, maintain required documentation, and prepare internal and external reports to demonstrate compliance with applicable regulations and sponsor requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Must be a US citizen
• Advanced degree or training, certifications, and progressively advanced experience in lieu of an advanced degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Political Science, or other relevant field
• Eligible for, and able to obtain and maintain at least a Secret-level security clearance as required to perform assigned duties
• Demonstrated knowledge of research security regulations (NSPM-33, CHIPS and Science Act, agency-specific policies related thereto)
• Knowledge of NIST 800 series security requirements and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program requirements
• Demonstrated working knowledge of export controls and sanctions regulations and controlled unclassified information, including experience working with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), or Foreign Assets Control Regulations (FACR)
• Experience working with export controls and sanctions licensing programs
• Demonstrated working experience developing policies and procedures such as detailed documentation and training resources
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex technical and contractual language and its applicability to research security and export controls/sanctions laws and regulations
• Experience reviewing, evaluating, or negotiating U.S. Government or commercial grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously but also within a team environment
• Demonstrated excellent customer service and communication skills
• Highly motivated, self-starter with ability to multitask

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated working experience at an accredited institution of higher education
• Program or project management experience and/or certification (e.g., PMP, PMI)
• Prior supervisory experience
• Current or previous Department of Defense security clearance
• Current or previous designation as an Empowered Official

Additional Information

Due to access to sensitive information, position is restricted to US citizens. The successful candidate must be eligible for, and able to obtain and maintain, at least Secret level security clearance as required to perform assigned duties. The role is eligible for hybrid work arrangement and follows the OESRC team’s hybrid work model, with flexibility to work remotely one day per week and four days based in our on-campus office in Blacksburg, Virginia. The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.