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Employment Opportunities
Manager, Research Ethics — Queen’s University
Job Summary
The Manager, Research Ethics, reporting to the Director, Research Ethics, Training and Compliance
(RETC) is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the General Research Ethics Board
(GREB) and Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board (HSREB). This role
manages the work activity of the HSREB and GREB Ethics Coordinators, with the focus of ensuring
prompt processing and conformity of research protocols within Queen’s University and regulatory
guidelines while providing timely and satisfactory solutions to issues arising among investigators, the
Research Ethics Boards (REBs), funding and regulatory agencies.
Job Description
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• On behalf of the REB Chairs, independently conducts delegated ethical reviews and assesses research
ethics applications for ethical acceptability and compliance with a broad range of international, national,
and institutional guidelines.
• Assumes a leadership role for the development of new and revised operational guidelines and
standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to delegated and coordinated review to ensure
conformity with international, national and institutional requirements.
• Works with the Chair/Vice Chairs to ensure compliance with regulations, guidelines and policies
throughout ethics review, approval and ongoing monitoring processes.
• Fosters, develops and implements effective communication with external stakeholders, such as
researchers and their research teams at other organizations, sponsor representatives and regulators.
• Serves as a resource for researchers/research teams and others on regulations and guidelines
governing the ethical conduct of research.
• Actively participates in research ethics educational programs for investigators and research staff.
• Engages in special activities as required, such as training and orientation (e.g., new REB staff);
outreach, process improvement, policy and procedures development.
• Communicates with the Director, Research Ethics, Training and Compliance and the other Research
Ethics staff on a regular basis to discuss policy and procedures, the status of the ethics database, and to
share information on ethics matters.
• Provides high quality and timely advice to the Chair(s) and members of the REBs regarding the work of
the Boards regarding policies, procedures, historical precedents and current issues. Prepares
correspondence for the Chairs and often responds on their behalf.
• Leads, trains, and manages the Research Ethics Coordinators and ensures a positive and productive
working environment consistent with the mission, vision and values of the VP Research portfolio and
one which will maximize staff engagement.
• Manages the day-to-day operations of the Research Ethics Team.
• Plans, prioritizes and manages the work of employees, providing advice, guidance, and coaching.
Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective
recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance
and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assesses staff training and development needs and ensures that employees receive training required
to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigates, addresses and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including disciplinary matters.
Makes decisions or effective recommendations on matters involving possible discipline, discharge and
probationary termination.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Completion of a master’s degree in a discipline related to clinical and health-oriented research.
• 5 or more years of practical and related experience.
• Sound knowledge of the regulations and guidelines governing clinical research and research ethics
(i.e., the protection of human research participants), including those articulated by the Tri-Council Policy
Statement, Health Canada, the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Good Clinical Practice,
US Food and Drug Administration and the US Office for Human Research Protections, and privacy
legislation.
• Sound understanding around best practice with respect to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience
SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Experience in interpreting regulations and methods, and ability to analyze complex documents.
• Ability to handle details with a high degree of accuracy and to organize and prioritize a high volume of
work to meet both internal and external deadlines.
• Proven ability to multi-task and prioritize with an eye to consistently producing high quality work and
meeting deadlines in a demanding environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating a collaborative team approach with a focus on fostering a
diverse and inclusive work environment within the unit and across the organization.
• Independent, proactive administrator with exceptional communication (oral and written),
organizational and presentation skills, ensuring effective interaction broadly within the university and
with external agencies.
• Strong client service orientation, demonstrating tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
DECISION MAKING:
• Evaluates job candidates and makes effective recommendations on suitable hires.
• Makes decisions and/or effective recommendations regarding transfers and promotions.
• Evaluates employee performance and decides on appropriate training or coaching to address lack of
proficiency in carrying out responsibilities, or remedial action for staff disciplinary situations.
• Assesses investigation outcome of grievances and makes effective recommendations on appropriate
course of action or next steps on grievances.
• Makes effective recommendations on level of discipline up to discharge and probationary termination.
• Sets priorities regarding personnel workload.
• Reviews and approves delegated ethical reviews and assesses research ethics applications for ethical
acceptability and compliance with a broad range of international, national, and institutional guidelines.
• Ensures operational guidelines reflect best practices for ethical review from national and international
perspectives.
• With others, helps identify areas that may create extraordinary risk or institutional liability and
problem solve and develop possible solutions with the REB Chair(s) and Director, RETC.
• Determines when to refer issues to the Director, RETC and when to act independently.
Posting closes on February 12, 2023
