Director, Research Ethics

Job Category
M&P – AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried – Research and Facilitation, Level F

Job Title
Director, Research Ethics

Department
Leadership Portfolio B AVP Research and Innovation

Compensation Range
$12,383.58 – $19,325.92 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
March 15, 2024

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 Summary:

The position is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring ethical review processes and standards at the University’s three Research Ethics Boards (REBs) and its three affiliated REBs.   The Director raises awareness through education, and promoting compliance with national and international standards.  The Director advises the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI), the Chairs of the Research Ethics Boards (REBs), and academic and other leaders at the University on ethical matters.   The Director provides strategic guidance and supervision to staff of the UBC Research Ethics Boards.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Associate Vice-President, Research & Innovation.  Works collaboratively with the REB Chairs and members.   

Work Performed

• Identifies priorities for activities at the University related to research ethics.
• Provides leadership in developing and implementing the strategic direction and operations of the UBC- and Affiliated REBs. 
• Develops policy and procedures relating to the ethical review process at UBC.
• Oversees educational and promotional programs that raise awareness of human research ethics standards, practices, and requirements.  Key audiences for these programs include scholars and researchers, research and administrative staff, students, and trainees.   
• Demonstrates knowledge of complex ethical questions affecting research with indigenous communities and current approaches to indigenous research ethics.
• Demonstrates knowledge of current institutional policies regarding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), as well as the role of EDI in research.
• Identifies institutional implications of external policy, including the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2), International Conference on Harmonization-Good Clinical Practices (ICH-GCP), Health Canada and (US) Food and Drug Administration regulations, among others.  The Director is responsible for ensuring the University complies with these and all other laws and policy that impact the ethics of human subject research. 
• Understands points of intersection of relevant University policy, including the Research, Human Subject Research, Scholarly Integrity and Conflict of Interest policies.
• Responds to non-compliance in a way that first-and-foremost ensures the safety and wellbeing of human research participants.
• Meets regularly with REB Chairs and Co-Chairs, and provides this group with direction to enable consistent understanding and application of University policy, and applicable standards and regulations.   
• Is a trusted advisor to the Vice-President, Research & Innovation and other leaders at the University on research ethics matters.  This includes offering advice on relevant policy, institutional compliance, and individual ethical matters as they arise, and on strategic matters of UBC, provincial and national importance.
• Leverages a broad network of contacts at UBC and other universities, in industry and government to enhance protections for human research participants.
• Leads and mentors staff in the Office of Research Ethics.  This includes establishing expectations for continuing-education, professional development, performance management and goal-setting.
• Establishes and manages an annual operating budget for the Office of Research Ethics.
• Is accountable for modules in the University’s researcher-information system that are used in the submission, review, approval, and monitoring of research ethics applications

Consequence of Error / Impact of Decisions

Misinterpretation, faulty application, or other lack of compliance with national and international standards and regulations, and requirements of funding agencies could bring harm to human research participants, and disrupt research activities at the University.  Either of these would have dire practical and reputational consequences.  The Director is recognized at the University and beyond as an expert in human research ethics, and their advice is relied upon by diverse stakeholders. 

Supervision Received

Reports to the Associate Vice-President, Research & Innovation, and works with full latitude.  Work is reviewed in terms of the achievement of long-term goals.   

Supervision Given

Manages professional staff who administer processes pertaining to the submission, review, approval, and monitoring of human-subject research. 

Working Conditions

Office at UBC Point Grey Campus.  Frequent travel to affiliated hospital sites within Vancouver.  May require regional, national and international travel.

Minimum Qualifications:

• University degree in business or science or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum nine years of experience in a research environment
• 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:

• Recognized leader in human research ethics, with an extensive professional network.  Preference will be given to candidates with a provincial or national profile in this area.
• Demonstrated success and a reputation as a sought-after people-manager.
• Expertise in strategic and operational planning is a must. 
• Demonstrated contributions to institutional and other policies, operating procedures, and best practices with regards to human research ethics review and approval.   
• Robust understanding of how and why legal and other requirements must be applied to human research ethics issues.
• Demonstrated ability to read and critically analyze complex research, policy, and other papers. 
• Sophisticated knowledge and understanding of national and international human research ethics standards.
• Impeccable verbal and written communication skills that demonstrate tact and nuance when delivering complicated information.
• Exceptional inter-personal skills and demonstrated success in working with a wide range of stakeholders in a research-intensive environment.
• Sophisticated project-management skills
• Ability to manage simultaneously a diverse range of complex projects and activities.