Associate Vice President for Human Subjects Protection

The University of Rochester seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Associate Vice President for Human Subject Protection (AVP-HSP).  Reporting to the University’s Vice President for Research, the Associate Vice President is responsible for the staff, resources, systems, and policies that enable research involving human subjects, sustaining safety and compliance while advancing knowledge.

Key functions of the Office of Human Subject Projection (OHSP) under the AVP-HSP’s responsibility include Research Subject Review Board (RSRB), Research Education and Training, and Research Quality Improvement. At any given time, there are more than 2,000 active research studies being conducted by approximately 3,000 investigators, across more than 100 departments, centers, and labs at the University and University of Rochester Medical Center. The AVP-HSP must be forward-thinking and proactive in considering the impact that evolving regulations and external factors may have on University-wide research plans, programs, and operations. They are the University leader in human subject-research risk-assessment and risk-mitigation discussions.

As OHSP is a University-wide resource, the AVP-HSP collaborates with research deans across the University as well as the Office of Research and Project Administration, the Office for Clinical Research, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and the Office of General Counsel. Alongside research deans from each school and key members of the Office of the Vice President for Research, the AVP-HSP is a member of the University’s Research Executive Committee. Rochester’s human-subject protection program has been AAHRPP-accredited since 2004.

The AVP-HSP must be a highly visible member of the University community and continuously engaged with University stakeholders, communicating and demonstrating OHSP’s commitment to being a collaborative partner with departments and divisions across the institution. The AVP-HSP ensures that the 14-member OHSP team is likewise knowledgeable, skilled, trained, and engaged in serving the good of the broader University community in thoughtful, thorough, and objective engagements.

The AVP will have well-developed and tested leadership and collaboration qualities, extensive research compliance expertise, and experience working with clinical, translational, and behavioral researchers. They will have the highest level of integrity and will demonstrate a track record of developing, mentoring, and supporting diverse and high-functioning teams.

Viable candidates will have at least 10 years of directly relevant experience, including in positions in which they had supervisory responsibility. If they are not coming from a peer academic or medical institution, they will demonstrate the ability to learn quickly and will have relevant research leadership experience with large, matrixed, and highly complicated organizations. A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree in a field that entails working with human subjects and Certified IRB Professional designation are preferred.

A full version of the position description can be found here.

University of Rochester researchers are among the nation's leaders across virtually every discipline. At the University’s River Campus, research spans a wide array of fields from engineering, the natural and social sciences, the humanities, and education to music and business. The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is distinguished in professional education, biomedical research, and clinical care. It is the home of the University’s health research, teaching, and patient care missions, and includes Strong Memorial Hospital, the Wilmot Cancer Institute, Golisano Children’s Hospital, and affiliated healthcare systems in the region comprising five additional hospitals and numerous clinical locations, as well as long-term care facilities.

The University enrolls over 12,000 undergraduate and graduate/professional students, both domestic and international, and employs over 3,300 full- and part-time faculty. The University of Rochester’s overall annual consolidated budget is approximately $5 billion, including all aspects of URMC.

In FY 2022, the University reported $432 million in research expenditures, denoting the high value placed on scholarship. With over 60 research centers and institutes, the University allows students, faculty, and research staff to pursue their academic goals in an environment that empowers and supports their efforts.

The University of Rochester has retained Opus Partners to support the recruitment of this position. Craig Smith, Partner and Abigail Maynard, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations should be sent by email to Abigail (abigail.maynard@opuspartners.net). The search process will unfold with the greatest possible attention to candidate confidentiality. Required application materials include a resume and cover letter. The cover letter should reflect how qualifications and experience match those described in this leadership profile, including examples of demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the context of the AVP-HSP role.

The University of Rochester values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for persons regardless of age, color, disability, domestic violence status, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law. Further, the University complies with all applicable nondiscrimination laws in the administration of its policies, admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs and activities.