Associate Director, Office for Human Research Studies

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Brookline, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston seeks an Associate Director of OHRS to oversee departmental operations and supervise IRB Analysts, coordinating with the DF/HCC consortium and guiding expedited reviews in compliance with human subject regulations.

You will develop SOPs, manage staff workflows, and represent OHRS at internal and external meetings, ensuring regulatory alignment and support for investigators across Harvard-affiliated sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5 years in a cancer center or with an academic IRB/research office.
• 3 years of staff management experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational activities within the department.
• Supervise IRB Analysts.
• Develop SOPs for consortium sites.
• Conduct expedited IRB reviews.
• Coordinate with Harvard institutions and related offices.
• Represent OHRS at meetings and conferences.
• Assist with projects as directed by OHRS leadership.
• Identify and address operational improvements.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

HIPAA knowledge

Communication

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Independent work

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

CIP certification preferred

Job description

This position's work location is fully remote with occasional time onsite as needed. The selected candidate may only work remotely from a New England state (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI).

Reporting to the Director, the Associate Director oversees operational activities within the department and supervises IRB Analysts. Responsibilities include identifying high level operational issues and devising appropriate management plans, assisting the Director with operational priorities, goals and on-going work-flows, and coordinating operations and administrative management of protocol review related activities and processes. The Associate Director also oversees problem solving for the research community on an ad hoc basis and updates processes as needed, consistent with relevant regulations. In addition to the above responsibilities, the Associate Director of Operations will also serve as an alternative IRB member as needed and conduct expedited IRB reviews as needed.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages operations impacting staff workflow and work instructions for training and employee reference.
• Develops standard operating procedures related to consortium member sites and ensure internal consistency related DF/HCC operations.
• Serves as an IRB member (or alternate) on IRB panels as needed.
• Conducts expedited IRB reviews ensuring compliance with the human subject regulations and HIPAA.
• Communicates with the clinical trials offices, and other research-related offices, of the five Harvard institutions that comprise the DF/HCC consortium (e.g., BIDMC CCTO, MGH CCPO and DFCI CTO). Responsive to research community’s operational needs.
• In conjunction with senior leadership, represents the OHRS at meetings of the DF/HCC, including but not limited to the RIO working group meetings.
• Liaises with study teams regarding submissions and manage issues escalated up for operational resolution (e.g., OHRS Inbox).
• Liaises with other offices within DFHCC on operation-based office needs.
• Represents OHRS at outside conferences and meetings (e.g., PRIMR, AAHRPP).
• Assists with projects as directed by the OHRS Directors and Senior Director.
• Identifies office-improvement needs on an operational basis.
• May also actively serve as the senior OHRS representative at specific IRB meetings and be tasked with assisting with the IRB reviews and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• May also be responsible for supervising the work of IRB analysts on the committee and the review of the IRB minutes.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated expertise in application of federal regulations to clinical research.
• Knowledge of HIPAA regulations as they relate to research.
• Knowledge of Federal, state, and local regulatory information regarding the protection of human subjects in biomedical research.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills necessary to allow productive communication between OHRS, DF/HCC Leadership, Investigators and other research personnel.
• Problem solving, decision-making and analytical skills necessary to identify problems and proposed solutions and the ability to implement solutions.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively.
• Flexibility and motivation to work on special projects relating to the mission of OHRS as directed by the Directors and Senior Director.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years of experience in a cancer center and/or working with an academic IRB or research office.
• 3 years of staff management experience.

License/Certification/Registration Required:

CIP certification preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Directly supervises IRB staff (Analysts, Meeting Coordinators, etc.)

Patient Contact:

None

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

EEO Poster

Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

$106,400.00 - $118,000.00