Job Description

Director, Human Research Ethics

Research Ethics and Infrastructure provides support for high quality and ethical research activities at the University of Saskatchewan, turning discoveries into solutions the world needs.

Primary Purpose: This Director position aligns, directs and advances innovative, effective and reliable internal and external communications strategies to promote the Office of the Vice-President Research\'s strategic goals and raise the university\'s research profile regionally, nationally and internationally.

Critical to this role is the need for strong relationships with the various leadership positions in the Colleges and Schools. Communication and effective relationship building along with the inherent need of determining, developing and implementing strategies that create long-term sustainability of the USask Human Ethics Office. All of this is aimed at establishing the Human Ethics Office as a key core research support infrastructure at the University of Saskatchewan. This is accomplished by determining, developing, implementing strategies that create long-term sustainability of the USask Human Ethics Office, and Ethics Office in general, establishing the Ethics Office as key core research support infrastructure at the University of Saskatchewan.

Nature of Work: Reporting to the Associate Vice President Research (AVPR) - Ethics and Infrastructure, the Director of Human Research Ethics works collaboratively with heads of research centres and institutes, researchers, research staff, and facilitators to determine, develop and implement strategies for research ethics review, guidance and approvals with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

The Director advises and participates in decisions that will affect the university\'s research reputation and the Office of the Vice President Research\'s (OVPR\'s) success and ongoing aspirations to move USask up in university rankings. The work is performed under the pressure of deadlines and is expected to positively influence the university\'s research funding, activity, impact and reputation.

The work is unstructured, often with high volume and complexity that requires management of competing interests with satisfactory outcomes for all involved. The position requires discretion, a high level of integrity, and independent judgment. Attention to detail and the need for concentration over sustained periods are required.

The Director manages multiple responsibilities with frequent change and shifting priorities. The ability to manage conflicting needs and timelines is essential. The Director also provides managerial support to the Human Ethics Office on campus comprised of behavioural and biomedical ethics staff.

Accountabilities:

• Working closely with the AVPR, ensure that the research ethics support at the University of Saskatchewan is provided in a timely and leading-edge manner with the goal of maximizing development of new knowledge and training of HQP through the research enterprise.
• Develop and implement a sustainability plan for the Human Ethics Office that includes:

• Completion of and ongoing review of ethics processes and procedures at this institution as well as leading edge ethics processes and procedures at other leading institutions.
• Completion of an assessment and recommended solutions for emerging research ethics needs such as multi-jurisdictional research projects, indigenous lead and indigenous partnered research and multi-institute research to name a few.
• Determination and potential implementation of a single board of record for the province. (Should USask be the board of record?)
• Provide support to a 5 and 10 year human resource needs plans
• Development of business, financial and budgeting plans to sustain the ethics office
• Update and development of policies and procedures documentation required for human research ethics
• Mentor and liaison with the Director of Animals Ethics to implement sustainability initiatives for that side of the Ethics Office
• Develop and/or update Policies and Procedures for the Research Ethics Boards.

• Including the process for members to move to Vice-Chair and Chair positions
• Lead work, with the AVPR, to consult with Deans, Department Heads and/or unit leaders to develop a sustainable long-term plan and procedure to populate Research Ethics Boards.

• Including compensation and/or relief funding required for service by faculty on REBs
• Lead the input from the Human Ethics Office in regard to determining the replacement for UnivRS
• Work with the Director of Animal Ethics to:

• Review services and users fees at other comparable universities and determine reasonable and fair cost recovery fees for Animal Ethics supplies and services.
• Develop a schedule of fees for researchers and implement these fees for a reasonable time period.
• Work with the OVPR Senior Strategic Business Advisor to ensure cost recovery fees are used to support the full Ethics Office portfolio.
• Other duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President Research

Qualifications
Education: Minimum of a PhD degree and/or sufficient experience in a related field.

Experience: At least 10 years of directly related experience in university research ethics. Previous experience at the University of Saskatchewan and knowledge of the university\'s culture, goals and stakeholders would be assets.

Skills: Demonstrated skills, knowledge, and experience in stakeholder management, and design and execution of communications and public relations activities (including crisis communications). A complete understanding of the compliance requirements associated with human experimentation and research. Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational, time management and interpersonal skills. Superior writing, copy-editing, fact-checking, and verbal communication skills. Keen attention to detail. Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment. Experience in leading or overseeing the design and production of print materials, advertisements, publications, and videos. Computer literacy in word processing, website content management, data base management and page layout. Diplomacy and tact. Commitment to working with shared leadership. The ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.

Department: Research Ethics&Infrastructure
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: Exempt
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $115,770.00 - 193,800.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable):
Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 4
Posted Date: 9/19/2023
Closing Date: 10/9/2023 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask\'s Alternative Workspace Guidelines

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where \'Yes\' is indicated below. Further information is available at:

Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver\'s License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan\'s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the M\xc3\xa9tis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and M\xc3\xa9tis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.

University of Saskatchewan