Team Lead, Research Ethics

Alberta Innovates is seeking a Team Lead for Research Ethics. This position is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and activities of the Ethics Unit, HREBA board and HREBA staff. Responsibility includes providing leadership, guidance and subject matter expertise to the ethics team, and research/project teams to ensure compliance with regulatory policies, procedures, and guidelines. This position requires an expertise in ethical oversight and requires strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders and HREBA board members.

The role reports to the Director, Research Ethics, and is expected to coordinate activities of 4-6 other staff members. This is a full-time position based in our Edmonton Development & Research Park (south side location). This role has the potential to work either full-time on-site or in a hybrid model.

Are you our next Team Lead, Research Ethics? You would be a good fit for this position if you:

• Have strong leadership skills and a passion for helping and mentoring a high-performing team
• Are a systems thinker who develops policies and practices to ensure quality assurance
• Are innovative in solving diverse and complex challenges

We are game changers

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st-century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre, and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance the well-being of Albertans through research and innovation.

Our subsidiary, InnoTech Alberta, offers a diversified range of scientific engineering and technological research and testing capabilities, and the facilities to support technology scale-up. Our multidisciplinary team has the depth of experience to work across all sectors, from energy to health to food and fibre. InnoTech Alberta offers you access to research talent, technical expertise, and unique facilities that can help accelerate technology development that serves both the private and public sector.

Intrigued? Here’s some more information about the position:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Research Ethics Operations (40%)

• Manages day-to-day operations and activities of the Ethics Unit, HREBA board.
• Ensures that the membership and operation of the Research Ethics Board (REB) is in compliance with various regulatory requirements.
• Manages the implementation of policies, procedures and guidance related to HREBA administrative processes, committees, and research activities.
• Monitors and interprets policies and regulatory protocols and requirements; ensures processes/requirements are understood; resolves issues; provides insights and recommendations.
• Remains as subject matter expert on internal policies and procedures to guide the team to ensure the day-to-day operations are efficient and compliant.
• Responds to queries requiring interpretation of the SOP and applicable regulations e.g., TCPS2, HIA, OIPC governance, ICH GCP, Health Canada Div 5.
• Works with researchers to answer questions from site audits by Health Canada, European Medical Agencies, U.S FDA; develops policies following monitoring reports as needed.
• Reviews and implements process updates and operational communications on the website.
• Provides support to study teams, board members, and ethics staff, ensuring that all have appropriate training within the Institutional Research Information Services Solution (IRISS) system and regulatory requirements.
• Reviews study team members' CVs and registers them into the ethics electronic application system - IRISS.
• Assists the Director with internal and external audits, program review etc. Assists the supervisor in coordinating training and professional development activities for the team and the board members.
• Assists the supervisor in developing best practices to maintain service standards.
• Manages the functioning of CVCA committee to discuss issues related to each review committee and develop best practices and policies.
• Anticipates long term and broader impact of policies to manage future and unanticipated challenges.

Stakeholder Relationship Management (30%)

• Provides leadership, guidance and subject matter expertise to research/project teams on applicable guidelines, interpretations, best practices, and regulatory requirements related to human participant research.
• Identifies trends, emerging issues and develops effective streamlined processes for continuous improvement while maintaining quality.
• Develops and maintains relationships with researchers, study teams, and internal stakeholders, to understand priorities, collaborate on development initiatives, and facilitate the management of project/initiative deliverables.
• Collaborates with other Canadian REBs in development of policies and procedures to cover a broader impact of the review process in compliance with Canadian regulations.
• Works with service providers (e.g., IRISS, REBx etc.) on policies and practices to improve the efficiency of the unit.
• Collaborates with other Canadian REBs in development of policies and procedures as applicable.

Leadership and People Management (30%)

• Manages staff and contractor activities, establishing team goals and objectives, assigning and directing work, monitoring productivity, work quality and workloads, ensuring adherence to policies and practice standards, managing recruitment and performance review activities, and ensuring the availability of skill development, coaching and training opportunities.
• Develops metrics and benchmarks for performance evaluation, provides efficiency and improve cycle times.
• Assists with planning and coordinating events such as retreats, conferences, seminars, and workshops.

Qualifications and skills we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in a Health or Social Sciences discipline, preferably with Master’s degree in a Health or Social Sciences discipline.
• TCPS2 (Tri-council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans).
• Good Clinical Practices.
• Minimum 8 years experience in research ethics.
• Minimum 2 years leadership and project management experience.
• Proven expertise in ethical oversight and managerial experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining collaborative relations with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage change and create innovative solutions.
• Preference will be given to candidates with advanced knowledge of research ethics, with 3-5 years of project management experience.

Why Alberta Innovates?

We offer our employees opportunities to work on projects that will expand their skill sets while witnessing the visible impacts of their efforts. We value the development of our employees and create opportunities for working in capacities that allow new skills to be learned. We know that the wellness of our team is the most important part of our business, so we offer a strong benefits package and generous vacation and paid time off programs to promote work-life balance.

At Alberta Innovates, we respect diversity and embrace an inclusive culture. We value uniqueness and different perspectives as they play a critical role in our success. To achieve this, individuals are selected based on qualifications, merit, and abilities and we encourage applications from all backgrounds to apply.

The final candidate will be required to undergo a security clearance and provide credible references. Qualified and interested candidates are urged to apply immediately because this competition closes as soon as suitable candidates are found.

ALBERTA INNOVATES IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUITY IN EMPLOYMENT AND ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS FROM ALL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. WE WISH TO THANK ALL APPLICANTS FOR THEIR INTEREST. HOWEVER, ONLY THOSE INVITED FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED.