Director of Conflict of Interest & Export Control

SUMMARY

The Director of the Conflict of Interest & Export Control is responsible for the administration of the Conflict of Interest (COI) Committees and the COI / Export Control Office.

The Director promotes and supports the oversight and management of the COI and Export Control Programs, ensuring that individuals engaged in the conduct of research and performing UTSW responsibilities are free of conflicts of interest and commitment and any export-controlled activities are in accordance with institutional policies and applicable US federal regulations.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Ten (10) years progressively responsible, related experience in COI management, regulatory compliance, or research administration or management, to include at least three (3) years in supervisory capacity.

PREFERRED

• Graduate degree preferred.
• Preference will be given to individuals who have progressive experience with managing COI Programs, fiscal or regulatory compliance programs, submitting regulatory documentation, and working with regulatory agencies.

In addition, the successful candidate will have previous supervisory experience, and a background in research and / or regulatory laws and policies.

JOB DUTIES

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversee and direct regulatory functions and activities for the Export Control, COI, and Outside Employment / Activity Programs to assure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to governing agencies, including documentation, resolution, and reporting of non-compliance.
• Directs, analyzes, coordinates, and evaluates program operations and procedures of the export control program at UTSW.
• Develops, cultivates, and maintains working relationships with internal / external departments and agencies involved in oversight of export control.
• Develop, implement, and monitor procedures promoting compliance with COI policies and plans, including interaction and integration with other committees, such as the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and offices, including Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) and the Office of Technology Development (OTD), and purchasing and contracting functions at UT Southwestern.
• Provide regulatory and ethical consultation to faculty, research teams, staff, and committee members, in coordination with COI / Export Control Office, COI Committee, ICOI Committee, IRB and IACUC Chairpersons.
• Responsible for administration of the COI committees, including, but not limited to, pre-review, initial and continuing COI disclosure reviews;
• development of management plans; coordination with reporting to committees, sponsors, UT System and other federal agencies;

monitoring active COI management plans and programmatic processes for quality improvement; and compliance programs associated with the Export Control, COI Program and Outside Employment / Activity Program.

• Serve as a primary liaison with regulatory agencies and provide periodic updates and recommended actions to senior management as issues arise that demand institutional responses.
• Prepare and present reports for COI Committees, the COI / Export Control Office, the Research Compliance Committee, and other departments / offices as needed.

Ensure submission of appropriate reports to state and federal regulatory agencies and funding sponsors. Communicate with departments to provide noncompliance reports and escalate to administration as necessary .

• Serve as a liaison with multiple offices and departments across the UTSW campus, to ensure coordination, efficiency and effectiveness of the COI and Export Control Programs, and to resolve any conflicts.
• Lead continuous process and operational improvement initiatives to reduce cycle-times, improve overall compliance posture, and remove unnecessary administrative burdens associated with Export Control, COI and Outside Employment / Activity documents, processes, and reporting tools.
• Establish key operational metrics, publish periodic performance reports to research community to maintain maximum efficiency and meet performance objectives.

Develop, implement, and maintain quality assurance and monitoring programs to measure compliance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Direct on-going educational and training programs, including written materials and website content, for faculty, staff and research study members concerning the interpretation of policies and their application to individual circumstances.

Assist employees with the financial interest disclosure process and the outside employment request and approval process.

• Handle proprietary and confidential information and matters with appropriate discretion and confidentiality.
• Manage program budget expenditures and scheduling. Manage and train lower level supervisors and / or subordinate staff, to include establishing priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Work requires ability to manage and direct staff.
• Work requires ability to monitor and maintain budget.
• Work requires ability to work with confidential information on a daily basis.
• Work requires ability to effectively interpret, apply, and adhere to organizational policies, procedures, and systems.
• Work requires good interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Work requires demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and exercise decision-making and problem solving skills.
• Work requires ability to read, write, develop plans, procedures, and coordinate persons and other resources to accomplish goals.
• Work requires excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Work requires knowledge of personal computers.
• Work may require ability to lead committees as appropriate.
• Work may require telephone and personal contact with all levels of internal and external personnel and organizations.

The following is the acronym, PACT , and is fundamental to all non-clinical positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center :

Ø P-Problem Solving : Employees take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently, and to the satisfaction of customers, or managers.

They show initiative in addressing areas of concern before they become problems.

Ø A-Ability, Attitude and Accountability : Employees exhibit ability to perform their job and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner reflecting a professional environment readily assuming obligations in a dependable and reliable manner.

Ø C-Communication, Contribution, and Collaboration : Who are our Customers?Anyone who requests our help, needs our work product, or receives our services.

Employees focus on customer service with creative solutions while improving the customer experience through clear, courteous, and timely delivery and communication.

Sharing ideas with others helps expand our contribution to department goals.

Ø T-Teamwork : Employees work to contribute to the department’s success by supporting co-workers, promoting excellence in work product and customer service, and in maintaining a satisfying, caring environment for each other.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed primarily in general office environment.
• Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums require prior approval of Vice President for Human Resources or his / her designee.
• This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code 51.215.
• To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit
• UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community.

As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.