Director, OARC - Office of Animal Research Compliance
- Employer
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Location
- Urbana, Illinois
- Salary
- The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000 - $120,000
View more categoriesView less categories
- Administrative Jobs
- Academic Affairs, Research Staff & Technicians, Other Academic Affairs Jobs, Institutional & Business Affairs, Assessment, Accreditation & Compliance
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.
Job Summary
The Director of the Office of Animal Research Compliance (OARC) will lead and manage the institution's animal compliance program, ensuring adherence to all federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies. This position will support the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and provide expert guidance to the research and teaching community on issues related to animal use activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance and Oversight:
- Ensure that animal activities are reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and that those activities are subsequently conducted in accordance with international, federal, state, and local regulations and guidance, adhering to funding agency-specific guidelines, and aligned with institutional policies and procedures.
- Provide leadership and support to the IACUC Chair, committee members, and OARC staff on ethical principles, laws, regulations, policies, and processes regarding the review and conduct of animal use in research and teaching contexts.
- Coordinate and improve processes involving the conduct of semi-annual facility inspections and generation of reports to the Institutional Official (IO) and relevant campus units that manage animal facilities.
- Assist with post-approval monitoring of IACUC-approved animal activities in coordination with Animal Care Program (ACP) administrators and staff.
- Serve as a primary contact for external regulatory bodies and manage required communication channels, including generating annual compliance reports within purview of the IACUC.
- Coordinate with other institutional offices to ensure proper documentation for subawards and memoranda of understanding involving IACUC-approved animal use activities.
- Collaborate with administrators and staff under the OVCRI’s oversight and with other University administrative units to ensure compliance with regulations and support of the University’s mission and objectives.
IACUC Support and Management:
- Act as a non-voting member of the IACUC, providing expert guidance on protocol reviews and compliance issues.
- Oversee the development and implementation of IACUC/OARC policies and procedures.
- Manage the IACUC weekly review list by curating protocols, communicating with PIs, and keeping the IACUC Chair informed of required actions.
- Identify and coordinate enhancements to the protocol review process to improve efficiency and compliance for OARC staff, IACUC reviewers, and campus research and teaching personnel.
- Oversee protocol management by IACUC Specialists, coordinate communication between reviewers and PIs, and follow up with other campus compliance organizations to meet all regulatory requirements prior to approval of IACUC protocols.
- Manage IACUC meeting minutes and distribute for review by the OARC team ahead of each monthly meeting, and coordinate correspondence with PIs on tasks requested by the IACUC.
- Coordinate protocol termination/expiration follow-ups with PIs.
- Evaluate the IACUC protocol review process and functionality of the IACUC online protocol system on a regular basis and coordinate technical updates as needed.
- Manage adverse event processing to ensure the workflow is completed for each report received.
- Assist with adoption processes involving research and teaching animals in conjunction with the ACP.
Organizational Leadership and Management:
- Manage OARC and IACUC processes and operations for review, approval, and post-approval monitoring of animal use activities in research and teaching.
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the OARC, including direct supervision of personnel and managing daily operations of the office.
- Oversee hiring, training, oversight, and performance reviews of OARC personnel and manage the OARC team by fostering a professional and knowledgeable environment.
- Ensure a positive working environment that encourages productivity, retention, and professional development.
- Maintain communication with a professional network of IACUC administrators at other institutions, including through the Big Ten Academic Alliance.
- Maintain close administrative coordination with ACP leadership to ensure seamless communication and engagement with this complementary organization.
Training, Outreach, and Customer Service:
- Support ongoing training and professional development opportunities for the OARC team and the animal research and teaching community.
- Develop and deliver required training programs for faculty, students, and staff conducting animal-related activities.
- Offer exceptional customer service to faculty and research teams, assisting them in navigating animal compliance regulations.
- Evaluate and improve turnaround times for service inquiries and requests.
- Monitor and continually update informational resources available on the OARC/IACUC website.
- Establish and maintain effective communication and cooperative working relationships with university administrators, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.
Other Responsibilities
- Engage in continuing education and professional development activities to improve knowledge of technical and ethical aspects of animal use in research and teaching contexts.
- Serve on University and campus committees as requested.
- Other duties as assigned
Additional Physical Demands
- Work is primarily performed in a typical office setting, but hybrid work arrangement may be possible.
- Will require entering various laboratory environments and animal facilities with indirect exposure to animals and related allergens.
- Occasional work outside of normal hours may be required, including evenings and weekends, in case of emergencies or critical compliance issues.
- May involve some travel to attend conferences, training, or to perform facility inspections.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant science discipline or related field. Alternate degree fields will be considered/accepted depending on the nature and depth of the experience as it relates to this position
- Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPIA)
- At least 5 years of general experience in animal research compliance or a related field
- At least 3 years of experience with IACUC protocol review, laboratory inspections, and regulatory compliance
- At least 3 years of experience in managing, supervising, and supporting a team
- At least 3 years of experience working with international, federal, and state regulations related to animal research (e.g., USDA, OLAW, and AAALACi)
- Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and administrative skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree or higher in a relevant science discipline or related field
- Completion of leadership and/or supervisory skills training courses
- At least 3 years of direct experience as an IACUC administrator or Attending Veterinarian
- At least 3 years of experience in a university or academic research and teaching setting
- Demonstrated experience working with a variety of species, including biomedical and agricultural animals used in research and teaching
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations regarding the care and use of animals in research and teaching (e.g., USDA, OLAW, AAALACi)
- In-depth understanding of IACUC functions, processes, and requirements
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and external regulatory bodies
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership and direction
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet concurrent deadlines
- Commitment to ongoing professional development to keep knowledge and skills current
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close date. The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000 - $120,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on Monday, October 21, 2024. Apply for this position at this application link and upload a cover letter, resume, and names/contact information (including phone number and email address) for three professional references. Incomplete applications and applications not submitted through the above link will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Leslie Lewin Reinhart (217-333-0034). For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.
Organization
Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement.
Faculty
A talented and highly respected faculty is the University's most significant resource. Many are recognized for exceptional scholarship with memberships in such organizations as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering.
Our faculty have been awarded Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, and the Fields Medal in Mathematics.The success of our faculty is matched by that of our alumni: 11 are Nobel laureates and another 18 have won Pulitzer Prizes.
Academic Resources
Academic resources on campus are among the finest in the world. The University Library is one of the largest public university collections in the world with 11 million volumes in its 37 unit libraries. Annually, 53,000,000 people visit its online catalog. Students have access to thousands of computer terminals in classrooms, residence halls, and campus libraries for use in classroom instruction, study, and research.
Research
Students and scholars find the University an ideal place to conduct research. The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is a model for interdisciplinary research, where eighteen research groups from sixteen University departments work within and across three broadly defined themes: biological intelligence, human-computer intelligent interaction, and molecular and electronic nanostructures. The University is also home to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA).
Undergraduate Education
The University has a fundamental commitment to undergraduate education. Nearly 28,000 undergraduate students are enrolled in nine undergraduate divisions, which together offer some 4,000 courses in more than 150 fields of study.
Undergraduate admission is highly selective. In the 2001 freshman class, students in the middle 50% had ACT scores between 25 and 30 and ranked between the 83rd and 96th percentiles of their high school graduating classes.
The University enrolls over 9,000 graduate and professional students in more than 100 disciplines. It is among the top five universities in number of earned doctorates awarded annually in the United States.
Also integral to the University's mission is a commitment to public engagement. Each year about 65,000 Illinois residents participate in scores of conferences, institutes, courses, and workshops presented statewide. Research and class projects take students and professors off campus to share expertise and technical support with Illinois farmers, manufacturing firms, and businesses. In a typical year, student volunteers log more than 60,000 volunteer hours.
The Arts
A major center for the arts, the campus attracts dozens of nationally and internationally renowned artists each year to its widely acclaimed Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The University also supports two major museums: the Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion; and the Spurlock Museum, a museum of world history and culture.
Other major facilities include the multipurpose Assembly Hall (16,500 seats); Memorial Stadium (70,000 seats), site of Big Ten Conference football games; and the Intramural-Physical Education Building, one of the largest recreational facilities of its kind on a university campus.
Inclusive Illinois, one campus, many voices
Inclusive Illinois is the University’s commitment to cultivating a community at Illinois where everyone is welcomed, celebrated, and respected. Illinois is about how we value difference to make a difference. http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/
As evidence of the University’s commitment to enhance the working, living, and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students, the University will encourage a standard of conduct and behavior that is consistent with the values of inclusivity. In an environment of inclusivity, there is no place for acts of hatred, intolerance, insensitivity, bigotry, threats of violence, harassment or discrimination.
Inclusive Illinois, one campus, many voices
Inclusive Illinois is the University’s commitment to cultivating a community at Illinois where everyone is welcomed, celebrated, and respected. Through education, engagement, and excellence, each voice creates the Inclusive Illinois Experience.
How can we appreciate difference to make a difference?
Illinois is the place where we embrace difference. We embrace it because we value it. We value it because we know that we have so much to learn from each other in our living, learning, and working environment.
Illinois is the place where we recognize the power of possibility and where great potential is realized. Inclusive Illinois is the vision of that place: a vision made real by leadership and commitment.
Illinois is the place where consensus is forged by discourse and where everyone’s contributions are recognized: significant contributions that elevate us because they are informed and enhanced by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, physical ability, religion, class, and national origin. We are enriched by these perspectives, and we are united by the very discourse that brings these views together.
It is a process. It is transformative. And we celebrate the remarkable changes we set in motion here … taking an important step … crossing boundaries … starting with our own.
It all starts with each of us: with our willingness to embark on the journey in the search for answers, and with our openness and acceptance of the answers we find. Illinois is the place where it all comes together.
Learn more about how Inclusive Illinois promotes diversity here.
Commitment to Equal Opportunity
The commitment of the University to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on individual merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms, whether or not specifically prohibited by law. Among the forms of invidious discrimination prohibited by the University policy but not law is discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of sexual orientation. Complaints of invidious discrimination in violation of University policy are to be resolved within existing University procedures. The policy of the University of Illinois is to comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations. The University will not engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. This nondiscrimination policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs and activities
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