Compliance Specialist, IACUC

Cornell University; Ithaca (MI); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Health care options

Retirement contributions

Tuition benefits

Paid leave & holidays

Job summary

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY is seeking an IACUC Compliance Specialist to support the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. You will guide researchers, assess protocols for compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, and serve as a subject matter expert on IACUC requirements.

Responsibilities include training, coordinating meetings, updating policies, and partnering with CARE, EHS, and animal facilities to ensure responsible research while maintaining strict confidentiality and timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a life science and 3–5 years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of research involving live vertebrate animals and experience working with faculty or researchers.
• Demonstrated customer service orientation.
• Proficiency with computers and office applications, especially Word and Excel.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions on some projects without oversight.
• Excellent attention to detail and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to cultivate inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Experience or familiarity with IACUC or quality assurance is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Develop and present IACUC training sessions and other resources for faculty, students, committee members, and staff.
• Manage IACUC meetings, including facilitation of agenda and material preparation, preparing meeting minutes, and following up on action items.
• Coordinate with the Office for Sponsored Programs on protocols with external funding and compare grant applications and approved protocols.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues within the protocol management system and contribute to testing and implementation of new software.
• Participate in development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure continued compliance.
• Benchmark best practices and provide recommendations for new policies or programs.
• Assist with development and review of internal and external reports related to the IACUC.
• Engage with CARE, EHS, and animal facility staff to answer questions related to animal care and use policies.
• Contribute to gap analyses relating to compliance.

Skills

Life sciences background

Live vertebrate animals experience

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Sound judgment

Independent work

Deadline-driven

Attention to detail

Inclusive collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life science

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Protocol management system

Job description

The Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA) at Cornell University seeks an experienced research professional to join our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) team. Well-qualified candidates will have a background in life sciences, hands-on research experience involving live vertebrate animals, and strong organizational and communication skills. Ideal candidates will enjoy serving as a trusted advisor, helping researchers accomplish their objectives responsibly and in compliance with animal welfare standards. This is a unique opportunity for someone with a strong science background looking to explore new career paths, even if they never considered a career in compliance and ethics before.

The Opportunity

As an IACUC Compliance Specialist, you will provide support to the Committee and the Cornell research community through expert guidance relating to research protocols to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and other regulatory requirements. You will perform independent assessments of IACUC protocols and amendments and assist committee members in the review and approval process. You also will serve as a subject matter expert for faculty and other researchers, assisting in interpretation of IACUC requirements and preparation of animal use protocols.

With access to sensitive information, you will be expected to maintain strict confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and consistently meet strict deadlines.

Other responsibilities will include:

• Developing and presenting IACUC training sessions and other resources and tools for faculty, students, committee members, and staff
• Managing IACUC meetings, including facilitation of agenda and material preparation, preparing meeting minutes, and following up on action items
• Coordinating with the Office for Sponsored Programs on protocols that have associated external funding and performing comparisons of grant applications and approved protocols
• Troubleshooting and resolving issues within the protocol management system, and contributing to the testing, training and implementation of new research administration software
• Participating in development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure continued compliance
• Benchmarking best practices and providing recommendations for new policies or programs
• Assisting with the development and review of internal and external reports related to the IACUC
• Engaging with the Cornell Center for Animal Resources and Education (CARE), Environment, Health and Safety (EHS), and animal facility staff to answer questions related to animal care and use issues and policies
• Contributing to gap analyses relating to compliance

As part of the Cornell community, you will help foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for evidence of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in a life science (for example, biology, biomedical engineering, animal science, or veterinary technology), and 3-5 years of relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
• Knowledge of research involving live vertebrate animals and experience working directly with faculty or researchers conducting, managing or reviewing research proposals
• Demonstrated customer service orientation
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers and office applications, especially Microsoft Word and Excel
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to meet strict deadlines consistently
• Ability to work independently and maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions on some projects without additional oversight
• Excellent attention to detail and superior written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members

Additionally, the following would be helpful:

• Advanced degree in life sciences or related field
• Experience conducting research or working within a research-focused setting
• Experience performing quality assurance reviews, especially of research projects
• Experience developing or reviewing policies and procedures
• Previous experience working in an IACUC or quality assurance office, including working with protocol management systems

About Us

The Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA) supports the Cornell research community by providing guidance on research integrity and responsible conduct of research. ORIA oversees research compliance programs at Cornell in research integrity, financial conflicts of interest related to research, export and import controls, research with live vertebrate animals, human participants, and regulated biological materials. ORIA establishes research integrity and research assurance in the following functional areas: Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee; Institutional Biosafety Committee; Institutional Review Board; Conflicts of Interest; Responsible Conduct of Research; Export Controls; and Research Security.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is located in Ithaca, New York on the campus of Cornell University. It is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with the expectation of weekly work on campus. Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions, we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
• Cornell’s impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.

University Job Title

Compliance Associate III

Job Family

Administration

Level

F

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Range

$78,812.00 - $91,592.00

Remote Option Availability

Hybrid

Company

Endowed

Job Titles and Pay Ranges

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement.

EEO Statement

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “… any person … any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-10-28