IACUC/IBC Specialist

Department

BSD ARC - IACUC/IBC

About the Department

The mission of the Animal Resources Center (ARC) is to assist investigators in performing their animal research while ensuring appropriate and humane care of all laboratory animals. The Animal Resources Center (ARC) at The University of Chicago is responsible for the use and care of all research animals on campus. The ARC manages 6 facilities and a business office. Its sections are as follows: husbandry, maintenance, operations, veterinary care, finance and administration. The unit merged with the Office of Shared Research Facilities managing all of the BSD cores on campus.

Job Summary

The job uses best practices and knowledge for regulatory compliance program activities. Anticipates problems and develops systems to identify areas of risk through internal audits. Uses specialized expertise to manage compliance documentation submission and maintenance, compliance training, compliance committee formation, and other programmatic functions.

Provides administrative support to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The IACUC is the faculty committee responsible for reviewing all research and teaching involving live vertebrate animals. The IBC is the faculty committee responsible for reviewing all research involving DNA, infectious agents, or biohazardous materials. Receives IACUC and IBC protocol submissions from investigators, pre-reviews the protocols to ensure the quality and completeness of the submission, and routes protocols through the proper regulatory review processes until a final resolution has been determined by the respective Committees. Provides assistance to investigators and research staff in the preparation of protocols.

Responsibilities

• Serve as back-up manager of the IACUC-IBC administrative office and oversee staff operations in the manager’s absence.
• Serve as a regulatory subject matter expert for IACUC and IBC questions/concerns.
• Act as senior reviewer for IACUC and IBC protocols, focusing on the more complicated and difficult research studies. Receive IACUC and IBC/SA-IBC protocol submissions, performing administrative review of protocols to ensure completeness of submission, verification of completion of training requirements, verification of congruence with related grants. Review investigator responses to all correspondence to ensure completeness of answers prior to forwarding of responses to reviewer. Provide assistance to investigators in the preparation of their protocols and prepare letters to the investigators generated as a result of the review process.
• If IACUC protocol involves biohazardous agents, ensure that an IBC protocol is completed appropriately. Ensure supplemental forms are submitted for review to the appropriate offices (e.g., Office of Chemical Safety, Office of Radiation Safety). If IBC/SA-IBC protocol involves animals, ensure IACUC protocol is completed appropriately. Provide animal and biosafety protocol development for incoming new faculty.
• Oversee the maintenance and updating of the communication, policies, guidelines and other informational materials for committee and research faculty. Prepare and deliver all IACUC correspondence including all preliminary review, pending conditions, follow-up pending conditions and deferral letters. Prepare IACUC and IBC/SA-IBC meeting agendas, organize meeting packets, and draft minutes of monthly meetings.
• Lead IACUC Semi-Annual Facility Inspections. Follow-up with Principal Investigators regarding resolution of deficiencies.
• Draft and finalize PDF forms used for all IACUC submissions including the main protocol form and all supplemental forms using appropriate software (LiveCycle). Work with University Research Administration (URA) on grants and contracts related to laboratory research that require Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) and Material Transfer Agreements (MTA).
• Coordinate Post-Approval Monitoring (PAM) including record reviews and procedural observations. Communicate with PIs on issues and provide follow-up. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, policies, ensure websites for both the IACUC and IBC Committees are current and complete. Purchase office items, cater food for both monthly Committee meetings and maintain budget.
• Work with other regulatory groups to coordinate and implement Huron- IACUC database and Huron – IBC database implementation and maintenance. Work with AIMS replacement lead in the Animal Resources Center to implement the new Huron platform for IACUC.IBC functions, help develop ease of navigation using the new system for PIs as well as IACUC-ARC users.
• Responsible for training new IACUC/IBC administrative office staff.
• Guides the implementation of compliance activities designated by the University's strategic plans. Monitors University compliance with regulations and laws.
• Represents the University in regulatory proceedings before federal, state and local agencies. Prepares the University's position statements and responses to information requests.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in the biological sciences or advanced degree in related field.

Experience:

• 3-5 years demonstrated animal research experience in an academic environment.
• Strong understanding of biological sciences.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance and institutional policies.

Preferred Competencies

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe and CLICK and learn/assimilate Huron platform.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Able to prioritize and efficiently deal with a multitude of tasks.
• Able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, and diplomatically with other administrators and investigators.
• Ability to interpret research protocol information in relation to federal guidelines and internal policies.

Working Conditions

• Ability to use a computer for extended periods.
• Office environment.
• Hybrid environment.
• Ability to walk around Hyde Park campus during semi-annual inspections.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

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