Compliance Specialist, IACUC

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University’s Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA) seeks an experienced IACUC Compliance Specialist to support the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and Cornell researchers. The role focuses on guidance for protocols to ensure Animal Welfare Act compliance and ethical animal use in research.

The successful candidate will assess protocols, assist in review and approval, and train faculty, students, and staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences with 3–5 years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge of research involving live vertebrate animals and experience collaborating with faculty/researchers.
• Demonstrated customer service orientation.
• Proficiency with computers and office applications, especially Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and maintain strict confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on research protocols to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and regulatory requirements.
• Perform independent assessments of IACUC protocols and amendments; assist in review/approval.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for faculty and researchers on IACUC requirements and protocol interpretation.
• Develop and present IACUC training sessions and related resources for stakeholders.
• Coordinate with CARE, EHS, and animal facilities staff to address questions on animal care and use policies.
• Assist with development, review, and reporting of internal and external IACUC-related documents.

Skills

Life sciences

Animal research experience

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

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 organisational 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.

What We Need

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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 Ass