Research Security Consultant

About the role

Attain Partners is an innovative consulting firm dedicated to disrupting the status quo to change the world and improve the lives of those we touch. From strategy to technology and everywhere in between, our experts use their unique skills to advance the important missions of education, nonprofit, healthcare, and state and local government clients. The Research Security Officer will be responsible for implementation and maintenance of our university clients’ research security and export controls compliance programs.

This position will serve as the subject matter expert on research security and export controls for our institutions and will partner with other functional leaders to effectuate the research security and export controls compliance programs. The role promotes a culture of compliance and oversees adherence to federal regulations as well as institution and sponsoring agency policies and procedures related to research security and export controls.

Responsibilities

• Execute compliance program activities, including conducting risk assessments, developing work plans, and taking corrective action as necessary.
• Partner with other institution assurance functions (e.g., Compliance, Office of General Counsel, etc.) to operate efficiently.
• Serve as the institution’s research security point of contact and respond to requests for information from external parties.
• Administer the institution’s export control program, including making all export control determinations and serving as the empowered official for ITAR.
• Assess whether export control licenses are required and manage the license process with applicable federal agencies.
• Execute the Research Security and Export Controls Manual by working closely with key institution representatives, faculty, and staff regarding export control obligations and safeguards.
• Partner with other operational units to update policies and procedures to support export control compliance.
• Establish and sustain effective working relationships, build credibility, and work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Coordinate operational functions and build relationships with individuals and areas across the institution impacted by research security and export controls to promote a culture of ethics and compliance.
• Maintain expertise related to ITAR, EAR, OFAC regulations, NSDD-189, CUI policies, NSPM-33, CHIPS & Science Act of 2022, federal funding agency policies, and federal contracting requirements.
• Coordinate institutional-wide initiatives to respond appropriately to federal regulations as they apply to research security and export control requirements.
• Advise the Seattle Children’s community on trends in regulation and enforcement impacting research.
• Manage the restricted party screening program, including reviewing screening matches and adjudicating them with relevant offices.
• Review international visiting scholar, staff, and student requests (J-1, O-1, or H-1B) for export control considerations.
• Develop processes to capture and review international travel requests and support traveler compliance with funding agency requirements and export control regulation.
• Promote travel hygiene by providing travelers with information about security risks and safe travel practices.
• Develop processes and training for employees around tracking export-controlled equipment and international shipments.
• Consult with faculty, staff, and students to ensure compliance with U.S. sanctions, technology export concerns, and security risks.
• Review research proposals, grant awards, confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements, and other contracts for research security terms and export controls.
• Provide advice and guidance to the institution’s signature authority and/or Authorized Organizational Representative and to center business units.
• Support the implementation of technology control plans and monitor them for compliance.
• Partner with the Office of Sponsored Research, CRSO, and OINV to develop, review, and monitor risk mitigation plans as required by federal funding agencies.
• Lead and/or participate in various Seattle Children’s committees and ad-hoc working groups related to research security, export controls, and other research-related matters.
• Support research security-related reporting requirements, including development and submission of the Foreign Gifts and Contracts Report and Foreign Financial Disclosure Reporting.

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 in developing and implementing research compliance programs, global trade compliance, and/or research operations.
• A Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of direct experience or equivalent combination of relevant advanced degree and experience.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working in academic research or other nonprofit settings.
• Skill in developing robust online training materials.
• Experience interpreting federal regulation; synthesizing and distilling disparate and complex sets of regulation.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted advisor relationships with clients.
• Experience supporting sales and business development.
• Flexibility to travel periodically based on business and client needs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, including HSA and FSA accounts.
• Life and disability insurance, fertility and family planning benefits, and employee assistance and discount programs.
• 11 paid federal holidays and flexible unlimited time off (UTO).
• Generous 401(k) matching with immediate vesting.

Pay

The individual base salary for this position ranges from $125,000 USD to $200,000 USD, commensurate with experience, education, and skills. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.