Research and Academic Compliance Officer

Harvard Central Administration (CADM) Talent Acquisition; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Wellbeing resources

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University Central Administration seeks a Research and Academic Compliance Officer to lead risk management across the university, focusing on financial conflicts of interest, export controls, and international collaborations. You will partner with schools and units, ensuring compliance with laws and policies while providing consultation and training.

This role requires strong communication, independent work, and the ability to manage complex, confidential information within a large

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 7 years in research or academic compliance or research administration.
• Advanced degree and domain expertise in COI/FOI, export controls, and international activities preferred.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and project leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary non‑financial research compliance liaison for a large academic portfolio.
• Provide input on policies and guidelines for pre/post‑award, financial, and research compliance.
• Advise administrators, faculty and staff on risk and compliance issues campus‑wide.
• Guide decision‑making on international collaborations and foreign activities based on risk profiles.
• Represent ORAC on university committees and inform leadership decisions.
• Develop and manage export controls and risk workflows involving international collaborations.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Export controls

International collaborations

Policy guidance

Stakeholder communication

Research administration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Compliance systems

Job description

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high‑quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Job Description

Department Profile

Harvard’s Office of Research and Academic Compliance (ORAC) within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research aims to promote and support a culture of integrity in research and education by providing specialized administrative and operational expertise, including proactive risk assessment, consultation, and mitigation, to help Harvard’s schools, departments, and research communities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies. ORAC leads and directs risk and compliance activities for various schools and units across campus and is responsible for a broad spectrum of risk assessment and mitigation, compliance, research security, operations, and education/training in the major compliance domains, including financial conflicts of interest, conflicts of commitment, outside activities, export controls, and international collaborations and activities. ORAC works as a central administration clearinghouse for non‑financial compliance issues and operates in close collaboration with the research and academic community and the relevant administrative units (e.g., School research administration offices and Dean’s Offices, the Office for Sponsored Programs, the Office of Technology Development, the Office of the General Counsel) to ensure timely service delivery, risk management, and compliance with all applicable regulatory, funder, and university requirements.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of the Office of Research and Academic Compliance, the Research and Academic Compliance Officer (RACO) will manage compliance and risk management activities/functions in areas across the university. The Officer will provide direct and vital support to constituents in all risk areas and attend to their compliance, operations, and policy needs with strong emphasis on financial conflict of interest, conflicts of commitment, export control, international collaborations and other foreign activities, while managing and integrating as necessary across other compliance domains. The RACO partners closely with community members and leaders to ensure risks are understood, controls are designed and operating effectively, and activities support safe and secure research and academic practices in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Job‑Specific Responsibilities

Leadership and Expertise

• Act as the primary non‑financial research compliance liaison from ORAC to a large portfolio of academic and research areas encompassing hundreds of faculty, students, and administrators.
• Maintain knowledge of and provide input for sponsored research policies, procedures, and guidelines in functional areas to include pre‑award, post‑award, financial, and research compliance.
• Provide consistent consultative expertise and guidance to administrators, faculty, staff, students, visitors, and other constituencies around campus in issues related to research and academic compliance.
• Guide decision‑making of school and university faculty, administrators, and leaders in accepting or denying international collaborations, students, scholars and visitors based on risk profiles.
• Represent ORAC on university‑wide committees, task forces, and working groups to inform decision‑making by leadership.
• Provide consultation to faculty related to risk areas and potential impact on Harvard for academic, research, and professional work outside of the university.

Risk Mitigation and Management

• Create risk profiles for individuals and entities by performing extensive background research including gathering data, analyzing business connections, and assessing threats to university security and reputation.
• Develop and manage workflows in the areas of export controls, international collaborations, and conflicts of interest including writing rationales, communicating to constituencies around campus, and maintaining proper records and auditable files on behalf of the university.
• Provide regulatory review of and provide terms for contracts with industry partners for the Office for Technology Development (OTD) to evaluate compliance‑related clauses in agreements.
• Conduct export control reviews for educational and research activities, including classifying technology in accordance with U.S. regulations, vetting end‑users, determining applicability of U.S. sanctions, and collecting and analyzing data regarding the research purposes and potential end‑users of Harvard‑owned or created technology.
• Conduct deemed export reviews in conjunction with academic visa applications, data sharing, and other domestic activities.
• Review all planned international collaboration activities within grant applications prior to submission to sponsor for risk of foreign influence, noncompliance, and risk to the university and create expectations around operational compliance for the research team.
• Develop Technology Control Plans to mitigate risk related to access of Harvard systems and resources.
• Develop fCOI management plans to ensure compliance with the University fCOI policy and all applicable sponsor requirements.

Compliance and Operations

• Conduct audits and investigations as necessary on behalf of ORAC, OVPR, and academic units in response to allegations of noncompliance to gather evidence, create risk reports, and mitigation/corrective action plans.
• Create written expectations for operational compliance among faculty and research teams and provide referrals to campus resources related to research security and compliance where applicable.

Education, Training, and Communication

• Create and deliver educational programs and training seminars to members of academic departments, laboratories, centers, institutes, etc., about non‑financial compliance in research and education through established operations channels.
• Develop content and guidance for research compliance and other functional areas.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications are the minimum requirements a candidate must meet to be considered for this role.

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 7 years in research and/or academic compliance and/or research administration in an academic or industry research setting required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Advanced degree and research experience highly preferred. Knowledge and experience in research or academic compliance field with strong emphasis on conflicts of interest/commitment, export control, international activities, and research or academic operations preferred.

Excellent interpersonal and oral/written communication skills including a demonstrated ability to develop strong working relationships are essential.

Ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and competing interests and work independently with minimal supervision is necessary, as are the skills to lead and manage a project from inception to completion with superior results.

Experience in assessing existing operations to determine the need for new or enhanced policies and procedures and ability to support and promote an effective, ongoing regulatory compliance program is essential. Thorough knowledge of compliance issues, laws and regulations relating to research and academic compliance and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex and technical issues both verbally and in writing are essential.

Demonstrated highly effective interpersonal skills for working closely with internal organizational units and for effective representation of organizational positions on issues with external parties and groups is necessary. Ability to handle highly complex and confidential information with discretion is essential.

Additional Information

• Visa Sponsorship: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
• Pre‑Employment Screening: Harvard University requires pre‑employment reference and background screenings: Identity and Education.
• Other information:
  • This position will have a 3‑month orientation and review period.
  • OVPR is hiring two Research and Academic Compliance Officers.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non‑Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard‑designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard‑registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks.

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non‑Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes. Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non‑discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non‑discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.