Senior Director, Research Security, Office of Research Support and Compliance

Job Posting Title:

Senior Director, Research Security, Office of Research Support and Compliance

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Hiring Department:

Office of Research Support and Compliance

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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Flsa Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The Office of Research Support and Compliance (ORSC) at The University of Texas at Austin functions to ensure that all research conducted at the University is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies. The ORSC educates and supports the University research community with regulatory guidance concerning human subjects research (Institutional Review Board), animal research (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee), use of biohazardous agents and use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids (Institutional Biosafety Committee), financial conflict of interest in research (FCOI), and research integrity education

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes: 

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage 

• Retirement Contributions

• Paid vacation and sick time

• Paid Holidays

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

The Senior Director, Research Security, reporting to the Associate Vice President for Research Support and Compliance, is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of research security at UT Austin. This includes oversight of export control, mitigation of undue foreign influence, and compliance with controlled unclassified information management. The role ensures alignment with federal and state requirements, advises senior leadership on policy development, and implements risk mitigation strategies to protect university personnel, programs, data, and intellectual property.

Responsibilities

Research Security Program Oversight

• Maintain a robust research security program designed to identify and mitigate risks of foreign influence to the university’s intellectual property and reputation, and which meets the requirements of NSPM-33, CHIPS and Science Act, and other federal and state requirements.
• Advise senior leadership on evolving research security regulations, best practices, and risk tolerance. Develop and implement responsive policies and procedures. 
• Lead the International Collaboration and Review Committee charged with assessing risks of international research collaborations.
• Provide guidance to faculty, staff, and trainees on research security, international collaborations, and high-risk outside professional activities.
• Conduct investigations into research-related activities that pose security risks, and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, research sponsors, researchers, and senior leadership. 
• Serve on the International Oversight Committee to assess and mitigate risks related to international travel. 
• Oversee risk assessments for research collaborations, visiting scholars, exchange programs, licensing agreements, and contracts.
• Collaborate with stakeholder units to implement employee screening processes for data and intellectual property protection. 
• Partner with the Office of Sponsored Projects to ensure institutional compliance with research security requirements and certifications.
• Oversee training, outreach, and guidance related to research security, export control, and restricted research.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly report on research security program effectiveness to senior leadership.
• Serve as point of contact with external sponsors and regulators related to matters of research security and restricted research.

Restricted Research and Export Compliance

• Maintain expertise in export control regulations, NIST SP 800-171, and CMMC compliance. 
• Supervise the export control officer and ensure effective compliance policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Technology (ET) and Information Security (ISO) to develop and implement a restricted research program. 
• Identify and assess research projects requiring compliance with CMMC or NIST SP 800-171. Implement procedures to support research teams as they undertake restricted research projects.
• Develop technology control plans and system security plans.  Provide restricted research compliance monitoring in collaboration with ET and ISO. 

Leadership

• Mentor and supervise staff, fostering engagement and professional development. 
• Facilitate regular team communication and provide constructive feedback. 

External engagement and professional development

• Actively participate in UT System, regional, and national organizations to stay current on regulations and best practices.  
• Attend conferences and educational events to maintain expertise.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree and five (5) years of related experience in research security or national security within a university, military organization, government agency or similarly complex organization; OR bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of related experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of foreign counterintelligence and experience investigating and analyzing threat information.
• Working knowledge of export control and CMMC restricted research requirements. Ability to develop a deep understanding and apply the requirements to a university environment. 
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership responsibility and supervisory experience.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a federal Secret Security Clearance.
• Ability to apply national security risk assessment, foreign counterintelligence strategies, and complex data protection compliance requirements within a university environment based on collaboration and fundamental research. 
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships and foster trust with a wide range of stakeholders, including university leadership, faculty, staff and students.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of grants and contracting policies, specifically as they relate to research and data security.
• Prior experience working with federal research sponsors (e.g., DoD, NSF, NIH)
• Experience managing change and continuous quality improvement.
• Understanding of risk and reputational considerations in a large research enterprise.

Salary Range

Open

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Occasional weekend, overtime and evening work to meet deadlines
• Occasional interstate, intrastate and international travel

Required Materials

Please mark "yes" on the application for required materials. Failure to attach all additional materials listed may affect candidates being considered for the position.

• Resume/Cv

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.

• Letter Of Interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.