Executive Director, Research Integrity and Ethics
About the Role
The Executive Director of Research Integrity and Ethics serves as the Research Integrity Officer (RIO), and is responsible for implementation of the institution’s policies and procedures for addressing allegations of scholarly and research misconduct. The RIO serves in an ex officio capacity during all phases of the misconduct process. The RIO interacts with federal agencies as appropriate and provide timely reports to the Vice President for Research and Innovation as well as other relevant university leadership, as needed, regarding received allegations, assessment, investigation and final resolution. Develop and implement training and materials relevant to research integrity through workshops, website, presentations, and other venues as appropriate. Direct the Responsible Conduct of Research program, including teaching a 1 credit course every semester for students, trainees, and early career faculty. Promote university-wide RCR awareness and education resources. Establish Management Plans as determined by the COIC or through expedited disposition, communicate with OVPRI entities. Promote adherence to financial conflict of interest policy and federal regulations by interacting directly with researchers to review relationships between their VCU institutional responsibilities and their outside professional activities, industry and business interests, etc. Develop and direct the institutional conflict of interest program for research. Assist the HRPP and ACUP, as appropriate, to maintain accreditation of VCU’s human subjects (AAHRPP) and animal subjects (AAALAC) research programs. Maintain active involvement and prominent positions in relevant national organizations, such as PRIM&R, ARIO, AAMC FOCI-A, and AAHRPP. The Director’s primary role and responsibilities involve the following: 1) Direct the COI in Research Program which includes individual and institutional COI; Chair and direct the activities of the Conflict of Interest Committee. 2 ) Serve as VCU’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO). 3) Develop, coordinate and instruct the Responsible Conduct of Research academic-credit curriculum for university students and trainees; develop university wide RCR content. 4) Develop and deliver training and education programs involving research integrity for university-wide and academic classroom settings. 5) Function in a support and/or advisory capacity regarding matters of research integrity within the OVPRI and university-wide; provide research ethics consultation for investigators, research personnel, the IRB and other entities.
How to apply
VCU’s Executive Search Team is assisting Virginia Commonwealth University in this search. Application materials should be submitted to the VCU job portal located at the link below:
Contact & submissions
Confidential inquiries, nominations and application materials should be directed to Tanya-Lee Giscombe. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected.
With a total student population of more than 31,000, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university located in the capital city of Richmond, VA. The VCU Health System is an urban teaching hospital and is home to VCU Medical Center, the #1 ranked medical center in the Richmond metropolitan area with the only Level I trauma center in central Virginia. Together they make VCU the largest employer in the city of Richmond (22,888 including VCU and VCU Health employees).
Founded in 1838 and currently belonging to the elite group of R1 – Doctoral Universities with Highest Research Activity by Carnegie Classification, VCU enrolls students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 108 countries. Students choose from 59 undergraduate, 69 master’s, 42 doctoral programs, three first-professional programs and 44 certificate programs offered by 11 schools and three colleges. With two main campuses on 173 acres in the historic downtown area, as well as satellite campuses located across the state and internationally, VCU boasts a diverse campus community, including approximately 43 percent of the student body identifying as minority, as well as an 18:1 student-faculty ratio, and more than 500 student clubs and organizations.
One of the largest academic health centers in the nation with a 52-acre footprint one block from Capitol Square, VCU Health System also maintains over 2.5 million square feet of facilities in satellite locations surrounding the city, including research space at the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park. In addition to VCU Medical Center, the $3.2 billion health system includes Community Memorial Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, the Virginia Premier Health Plan (a 220,000-member non-profit Managed Care Organization), and the MCV Physicians (a faculty practice plan with more than 700 members and 770 residents and fellows).
For more information about VCU, visit the VCU website. For more information about VCU Health, visit the VCU Health website.