Assistant Director, Office of Animal Care & Institutional Biosafety

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition waivers

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago seeks an Assistant Director in the Office of Animal Care & Institutional Biosafety to guide regulatory compliance for animal research. You will collaborate with ACC/IBC committees, veterinary staff, EH&S, and researchers to ensure compliant protocols and timely approvals.

The role emphasizes interpreting NIH guidelines, coordinating with grant offices, and supporting a culture of research integrity within a major R1 institution in Chicago.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biomedical, health science or related field required; Master's preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in animal research and molecular biology or infectious agent research.
• Knowledge of federal regulations and NIH guidelines governing animal research.
• Strong analytical, communication, and collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise faculty, Principal Investigators, and staff on regulatory and institutional requirements involving animal research and biohazardous materials.
• Evaluate ACC/IBC protocols and guide submissions through review and approval processes.
• Interpret federal regulations and institutional policies to make regulatory determinations on research protocols.
• Assist investigators in addressing review comments to achieve timely approvals.
• Provide high-level support to ACC and IBC Chairs and committees to ensure effective oversight.
• Serve as a liaison among investigators, veterinary staff, EH&S, and sponsored programs colleagues.
• Explain funding congruency requirements related to animal research to investigators and coordinate with ORS as needed.
• Prepare correspondence documenting regulatory determinations and required revisions for stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Regulatory interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in biomedical/health science or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Word

Excel

Adobe

Access

Job description

Assistant Director, Office of Animal Care & Institutional Biosafety

Hiring Department: OVCR, Office of Animal Care & Institutional Biosafety

Location: Chicago, IL

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000 -$100,000. The final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation's preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent "Best Colleges" rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

At UIC, groundbreaking research requires more than great ideas. It requires knowledgeable professionals who can help investigators navigate complex regulatory requirements while advancing research responsibly, safely and efficiently. We are seeking an Assistant Director in our Office of Animal Care & Institutional Biosafety (OACIB) to play an important role supporting UIC's Animal Care Committee (ACC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). This is an opportunity to bring your background in research, molecular biology, infectious agents, biosafety or research compliance to a major R1 research university and become a trusted resource to faculty and research teams.

You will work directly with Principal Investigators, committee leadership, veterinary professionals, Environmental Health and Safety and research administration colleagues to help ensure that innovative science moves forward in accordance with federal requirements and institutional standards.

If you enjoy science, solving complex problems, interpreting regulations and working collaboratively with researchers, this could be the next step in your career.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with researchers. Advise faculty, Principal Investigators, and research staff on regulatory and institutional requirements involving animal research, recombinant or synthetic DNA, infectious agents and other applicable biohazardous materials.
• Review research protocols. Evaluate ACC and IBC protocols and modifications, identify regulatory considerations, communicate required changes and guide submissions through the review and approval process.
• Apply your expertise and professional judgment. Interpret federal regulations, NIH Guidelines, institutional policies and other applicable requirements and make regulatory determinations on research protocols and modifications.
• Help research move forward. Work with investigators to resolve veterinary, ACC and IBC review comments and help research teams successfully complete approval requirements.
• Support critical research oversight committees. Provide knowledgeable, high-level support to ACC and IBC Chairs and committee members and contribute to the effective operation of UIC's research oversight programs.
• Collaborate across UIC. Serve as a liaison among investigators, veterinary staff, Environmental Health and Safety professionals sponsored programs colleagues, and other research partners.
• Connect research compliance and funding. Help investigators understand funding congruency requirements associated with animal research and coordinate with the Office of Sponsored Programs as appropriate.
• Communicate complex information clearly. Prepare correspondence documenting regulatory and committee determinations, required revisions and other compliance matters for investigators and institutional stakeholders.
• Support a culture of research integrity. Contribute to regulatory documentation, reports, policies, guidelines, non-compliance matters, web resources and special initiatives designed to strengthen UIC's research protections programs.

What You Will Bring

We are are looking for someone who understands both the science and the responsibility that comes with conducting research in a highly regulated environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in biomedical, health science or related field is required; Master's degree preferred.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in animal research and molecular biology or infectious agent research. Additional prior experience with regulatory oversight of research with animals, rDNA, and infectious agents is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the federal regulations and guidelines that govern the conduct of research involving animals, recombinant/synthetic DNA, infectious agents, and other biohazardous agents.
• Demonstrated analytical skills to gather, interpret, organize and present compliance-related data.
• Demonstrated success working collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams of external and internal individuals. Strong communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge of information systems (Word, Excel, Adobe, Access and other database applications).

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.