Pay Grade:  32E

Context of the Job:

The research enterprise at the University of Delaware exceeded $361M in sponsored program expenditures in fiscal year 2024-2025.  This included over 1400 proposals submitted and 1700 Institutional Review Board submissions.

The Assistant Director of Research Regulatory Affairs works directly with and under the direct supervision of the Director of Research Security in the Research Office to analyze and help resolve research-related issues with the goal of developing solutions to comply with regulations and University policies and procedures.  The Assistant Director addresses a wide spectrum of research-related issues associated with the University’s research enterprise by working on a multitude of agreements, evaluating intellectual property issues, staying current on research-related regulations, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and University policies, and interacting with research faculty, research administrators for Research & Regulatory Affairs and other members of the Research Office staff. The Assistant Director shall supervise Contracting Specialists, providing direct oversight and guidance.

Major Responsibilities:

• Makes recommendations to and confers with the Director of Research Security on University research-related activities.
• Provides direct supervision of Contracting Specialists.
• Reviews and negotiates research-related agreements with other universities, government agencies, foundations, and industry to identify potentially problematic terms and conditions.
• Reviews and assists with the implementation of material transfers.
• Reviews and assists with modifying Confidentiality Agreements to ensure that they are technically acceptable, accurately reflect the viewpoint of the University investigators, and are consistent with University practices and policies and federal regulations.
• Assists in the determination of the necessity of Technology Control Plans.
• Assists in performing Technology Control Plan audits.
• Assists in delivering contracting-related training for campus.
• Maintains the Federal Acquisition Regulation Matrix for the Research Office.
• Supports the Director of Research Security to ensure continued compliance with evolving research-related federal requirements.
• Assists in the development or update of standard procedures and tracking systems.
• Responds to questions and provides guidance to faculty and Contract & Grants Analysts on research regulatory matters.
• Interacts, as necessary, with University staff (pre-award, Research Development, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Office of General Counsel, Office of Risk Management, post-award, Office of Economic Innovations and Partnerships) and faculty on research-related matters.
• Assists with assimilating input from involved University personnel to ensure that issues are thoroughly examined and considered through the inclusion of multiple and diverse perspectives.
• Performs job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of demonstrated research-related experience that includes contractual review and negotiation.
• Paralegal and/or higher education experience in research administration preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and concurrently review multiple contracts and related agreements.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Demonstrated understanding of federal research regulations.
• Demonstrated sponsored programs knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and proactively.
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills are essential.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Demonstrated ability to standardize operating procedures to improve efficiency.