CREB Research Ethics Coordinator

Staff – Non Union

Job Category
M&P – AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried – Research and Facilitation, Level B

Job Title
CREB Research Ethics Coordinator

Department
Clinical Research Ethics Board Research Ethics

Compensation Range
$5,468.83 – $7,878.17 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
October 25, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Description Summary
This position is responsible for facilitating and determining whether research proposals submitted to the UBC Clinical Research Ethics Board (CREB) are acceptable and in accordance with CREB review processes and standards. The position also raises awareness amongst UBC faculty and staff at the UBC affiliated institutions by educational initiatives to promote compliance with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research involving Humans (TCPS2 2014) and where applicable, other relevant national and international standards. This position may also assume the CREB Manager s responsibilities and other duties when required.
Organizational Status
Reports to the CREB Manager. Works independently for all aspects of conducting an accurate pre-and-post review of new applications prior to Research Ethics Board (REB) review.
Work Performed
The CREB Research Ethics coordinator must be pro-active in identifying and rectifying any weaknesses in compliance with TCPS2 and other national ethical and legislative standards for clinical research ethics. The position requires an individual with sufficient computer literacy to become quickly conversant with the function of the Researcher Information System – Human Ethics (RISe) and the flexibility to adapt this position to the requirements of this online system.
The responsibilities of the position are detailed in broad functional categories:
Pre-Review for Full Board and Delegated Applications
1. Advises investigators on Canadian federal and provincial regulatory requirements and TCPS2 2014 requirements for conducting human research as well as specific UBC CREB policies standards and requirements.
2. Reviews all applications and attached documents to ensure compliance with CREB standard requirements
3. Communicates with investigators and provides guidance if documents are not in compliance
4. Identifies and synthesizes deficiencies and prepares a written report for distribution to the REB Associate Chair or REB Chair (in the case of delegated review) and to the REB members prior to full board meetings in conjunction with the meeting agenda
5. Attends CREB meetings to take minutes and respond to any questions concerning the pre-review analysis
Post-review
1. Consolidates and reconciles CREB meeting discussion with written comment from CREB members into single decision statements and communicates the modifications (provisos) to researchers
2. Reviews responses from investigators for compliance with CREB requests for modifications and requests changes if necessary prior to final review by the Chair
3. Assists investigators to understand CREB decisions and advises on suitable responses to provisos
4. Approve application amendments that are purely administrative
5. Develop and manage the post-review requirements for amendments, annual review and monitoring
6. Advise researchers of their obligations with respect to maintaining compliance with UBC, TCPS2 and US government regulations for ongoing research and work collaboratively with other UBC staff on matters of oversight of ongoing research
Policies and Other
1. Responds to inquiries or information on CREB policies, standards and requirements and how these apply to specific types of research studies
2. Ensure consistency of CREB policies and decision-making processes when reviewing applications and providing guidance to researchers
3. Advise researchers in relation to new policies and to update CREB documentation and processes
4. Develop and deliver effective education programs to keep the research community informed of procedural requirements and changes
5. Work independently and collaboratively with CREB office staff, managers of other UBC REBs to promote consistency and facilitate multi-site research
6. Establish a broad network of personal contacts in the clinical research community to promote excellence in research ethics
Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position has a significant influence on the quality and effectiveness of the services provided by the CREB. Non-compliance with applicable regulations and guidelines could result in the return of agency funds or loss of institutional capacity to receive funding. Errors in judgment could have a significant impact on the incumbent s ability to carry out the functions of the position effectively and could have adverse consequences on continued positive relationships with faculty and staff. Delays in preparing CREB review documentation will make it difficult to guarantee that all studies are reviewed in a timely and consistent fashion. A perceived lack of consistency could cause investigators to question the validity of CREB decisions. Delays in processing the decisions of the CREB can significantly affect an investigator s ability to secure competitive funding from sponsors, launch the study in a timely manner or can cause a delay in the release of granting agency funds. Lack of a rigorous review and inaccurate approval documentation could also result in investigators questioning the validity and reliability of the CREB s review processes.
Supervision Received
Works with a high degree of independence under the general direction of the CREB Manager
Supervision Given
This position may supervise CREB administrative assistants if required to assume the CREB Manager s responsibilities.
 

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience

Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Experience as a researcher, research assistant, clinical trial coordinator or person with previous experience in ethics. Knowledge of research procedures as well as of Canadian regulatory and policy requirements for conducting research that involve humans. Critical thinking skills, in particular the ability to analyze significant amounts of information for comparison and contrast with specified requirements. Ability to make thoughtful, informed decisions and to exercise good judgment. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively both verbally and in writing. Ability to maintain cooperative relationships with the research community. Ability to read difficult and complicated text analytically and critically, to follow and record Board discussions that may involve research terminology and to summarize relevant information in clear and succinct English. Ability to organize and disseminate information in written policy statements and to present workshops to small and large groups. Ability to handle details with a high degree of accuracy and to organize and prioritize a high volume of work to meet both internal and external deadlines. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues and effectively resolve.