Director of NYSPI HRPP

Job Title: Director of NYSPI HRPP

Grade: 37

Salary: $167,905 - $190,003

NYSPI's mission is to contribute to the knowledge base of the mental health field through leading-edge research, clinical care, policy, and training, while always ensuring the highest ethical standards in clinical practice and the conduct of research. The New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) is dedicated to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and well-being of every participant involved in research. We foster a culture of respect, responsibility, and transparency, ensuring that all research adheres to the highest ethical standards in support of the NYSPI research community's groundbreaking advancements in science and mental healthcare. Through continuous education, rigorous oversight, and collaborative partnerships, we support researcher efforts to explore new frontiers with integrity and compassion. Together, we are shaping a future where research respects humanity at its core.

NYSPI seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to join our team as the Director of the Human Research Protections Program Office. This pivotal role will oversee and enhance our commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of research participants, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and regulatory requirements. The HRPP Director will collaboratively lead all employees who support and serve the research protection mission and activities of the Human Research Protections Program, while collaborating with researchers, institutional leadership, and external stakeholders. The Director is expected to be an engaged and well-respected leader, strategic thinker, and able to influence and serve as a champion for the training and teamwork necessary to ensure the ethical foundation, responsibility, and integrity of the program. This pivotal role will oversee and enhance the overall development, implementation, and continuous quality improvement of human research protection compliance at NYSPI.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Human Protection Administrator identified on NYSPI's Federalwide Assurance (FWA) and advise on institutional compliance with the terms of the FWA
• Oversee all federal reporting requirements, including ensuring that other cognizant federal agencies or sponsors are informed as appropriate

• Provide guidance to HRPP staff, Principal Investigators, research staff, and administrators regarding the interpretation and application of regulations, laws, and policies

• Lead the ongoing HRPP program development with specific focus on IRB reliance processes
• Collaborate with partners across the enterprise
• Contribute to research policy development and serve on NYSPI's Policy Committee

• Oversee and maintain quality assurance, improvement, and monitoring functions of the HRPP, including for-cause audits of research protocols and investigation of potential non-compliance.
• Ensure that comprehensive human research protection education and training are available and completed by investigators, key study personnel, the Institutional Official, and all employees who participate in the HRPP.
• Build and maintain collegial relationships with leaders and researchers across NYSPI, RFMH, OMH, Columbia, and beyond, cultivating a culture of compliance.
• Proactively monitor, identify, and respond to emerging challenges in the field of human research protection and maintain updated knowledge of guidance and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An M.A./M.S. Degree or equivalent related experience, with certified IRB Professional (CIP) certification preferred;

• A minimum of (7) years of experience in a Human Research Protections Program setting at an academic medical center, with supervisory or management experience;
• A minimum of (7) years of experience in demonstrated understanding of federal regulations and agency guidelines for human subjects, including HHS, FDA, HIPAA, FERPA, and other agency-specific regulations (such as DOD, DoED, NIH, etc.);

Preferred Qualifications:

• Managerial experience and proven success in developing a reliance program;
• Membership in a professional HRPP networking group or society

• Proven leadership and management skills, including establishing and measuring goals and objectives, optimizing and monitoring work assignments, facilitating career development, prioritizing staff retention, and managing change;
• Ability to apply flexibility and creativity to a complex array of compliance issues;
• Skill in establishing relationships with human subjects and regulatory agencies on state and federal levels;
• Excellent analytical and independent problem-solving skills as well as organizational, coordination, and prioritization skills;

• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources to produce succinct, detail-oriented, and accurate documents, policies, reports, and announcements.
• Excellent communication (written and oral), organization, and customer service skills. Ability to communicate with different stakeholders, including faculty, research support staff, and NYSPI/OMH/RFMH leadership.
• Ability to formulate broad policy recommendations for NYSPI and RFHM regarding human research protection issues, including educational and training requirements for HRPP members, staff, and investigators;

Work Location: 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032

To Apply: Submit an application through our website at https://rfmh.applicantpro.com/jobs/. Please note only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

The Mission of the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH) is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. RFMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, RFMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring that RFMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. RFMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

The Research Foundation is a private not-for-profit corporation and is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. Excellent Benefits Package. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer - Disabled/Veteran, 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) compliant.