Job Description

Position Information

Position Type Professional Staff Faculty Track Position Title Senior Director of Research Integrity and Compliance Employment Status Full Time Months 12 Campus Both ME Campuses Description

The Senior Director of Research Integrity and Compliance is a senior leadership position within the Office of Research and Innovation responsible for ensuring that the University’s research enterprise complies with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements while fostering a culture of ethical research. Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Innovation, this role collaborates across the institution to support extramural programs, research operations, and compliance initiatives.

The Senior Director brings leadership experience overseeing externally-funded research portfolio, with deep expertise in ensuring compliance with evolving federal regulations governing biomedical and behavioral research. Demonstrated success administering research integrity and compliance programs that support multiple NIH-funded centers, program projects, clinical and translational research initiatives, and investigator-initiated awards.

Provides strategic oversight of institutional compliance with relevant policies and regulations, including human subjects protections, financial conflict of interest (FCOI), responsible conduct of research (RCR), data management and sharing requirements, clinical trial oversight, and research security expectations. Partners with institutional leadership, investigators, and sponsored programs to proactively address regulatory changes, mitigate risk, and sustain a culture of ethical, compliant research while facilitating growth in the University’s research enterprise.

Recognized for developing scalable compliance infrastructures, leading successful federal audits and accreditation activities, capable of managing research misconduct and compliance investigations, and implementing policies that strengthen institutional accountability without impeding scientific innovation. Combines a collaborative leadership style with a comprehensive understanding of relevant federal grant requirements, research compliance operations, and the regulatory landscape affecting academic research institutions.

About The University of New England

UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

Benefits Overview

• Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
• Up to 8% retirement plan match.
• Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.

Educational benefits:

• UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
• UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full-time service.
• 50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full-time service.

For more information about our outstanding benefits, please visit: UNE Benefits Overview

Responsibilities

• Lead the University’s research integrity and compliance program.
• Oversee research compliance committees, such as but not limited to:
• Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
• Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
• Conflict of Interest (COI) program
• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training
• Ensure compliance with regulations from agencies such as but not limited to:
• NIH
• NSF
• FDA
• OHRP
• USDA
• Export control and research security requirements
• In collaboration with the VPR, develop and implement institutional policies related to research integrity and compliance.
• Investigate or coordinate investigations of research misconduct allegations.
• Provide strategic guidance to faculty, staff, and administrators on regulatory and ethical research issues.
• Oversee compliance reporting, audits, monitoring, and corrective actions.
• Develop educational programs and training for faculty, students, and research staff.
• Collaborate with Sponsored Programs, General Counsel, Environmental Health & Safety, Human Resources, and academic leadership to further the research and innovation mission at the University.
• Supervise research compliance personnel and manage departmental operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Leadership

UNE’s Office of Research and Innovation emphasizes collaboration among research operations, integrity, and training functions to support the research and innovation priorities of the University.

In collaboration with the Vice President for Research and Innovation, this role will:

• Build a university-wide culture of responsible research.
• Balance regulatory compliance with enabling innovative research.
• Advise senior leadership on emerging federal research requirements.
• Lead institutional responses to audits and compliance reviews.

Qualifications

Masters degree (PhD, MD, JD, or equivalent preferred)

• Significant experience administering research compliance programs in higher education or academic medicine
• Extensive knowledge of:
• Human subjects protections
• Animal research regulations
• Biosafety
• Research misconduct regulations (42 CFR Part 93)
• Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI)
• Responsible Conduct of Research
• Export controls and research security
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
• Strong policy development, investigation, and risk management skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.

Suggested qualifications

Masters degree required with a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, research integrity, research compliance, or sponsored research within higher education, academic medicine, healthcare, government, or a research-intensive organization.

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience supervising professional staff and managing research compliance or research administration operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading institution-wide initiatives requiring collaboration among faculty, research staff, academic leaders, compliance committees, legal counsel, and administrative units.
• Demonstrated experience administering one or more major research compliance programs, such as IRB, IACUC, IBC, FCOI, research security, research misconduct, or Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal regulations and guidance governing human subjects research, animal research, conflicts of interest, research misconduct, clinical research, and research security.
• Experience developing, implementing, and revising institutional policies, procedures, and compliance programs.
• Experience conducting or overseeing compliance reviews, audits, investigations, corrective action plans, or regulatory reporting activities.
• Experience advising investigators, administrators, and senior leaders on research compliance and regulatory matters.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated through policy development, regulatory correspondence, training, presentations, or executive reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.O., Pharm.D., or related terminal degree) in a health, biomedical, behavioral, or related research field.
• Certified IRB Professional (CIP), Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPIA), Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), or similar professional certification.
• Experience supporting institutions with significant federally funded research portfolios, including NIH, NSF, DoD, FDA, or other federal sponsors.
• Experience leading institutional responses to federal audits, accreditation reviews, site visits, or compliance inspections.
• Experience managing research misconduct allegations and investigations.
• Experience implementing research security, export control, data management and sharing, or foreign influence compliance programs.
• Experience supporting clinical, translational, biomedical, behavioral, or public health research programs.
• Experience managing departmental budgets and strategic planning initiatives.
• Experience working in a complex higher education, academic health center, or research-intensive environment.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

Vaccination Statement (PLEASE NOTE)

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

Additional Note

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship.

Anticipated Pay Range $155,000 - $175,000

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number 2022PS0981P Open Date 09/08/2026 Close Date Open Until Filled Yes