RCR and IRB Educator

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Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Office of Research Protections (ORP), housed within the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research, seeks a highly motivated and experienced professional to serve as the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) Educator. This position will be filled at the Education Program Specialist - Advanced Professional level.

This position serves as a specialized educator supporting the University's expansive research enterprise. The Educator designs, implements, and evaluates high-level, University-wide educational programs focused on the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), the Institutional Review Board (IRB), and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).

The role requires strong collaboration with HRPP staff, subject matter experts (SMEs), the Centralized Application Tracking System (CATS) team, compliance personnel, administrators, and faculty to ensure educational programming aligns with federal regulations, sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and system-based workflows.

Work Arrangement: This position is is eligible for remote work within eligible states in the US, with very occasional travel required for onsite professional development or training delivery. Standard work times are in EST.

Key Responsibilities: Following are the major responsibilities of the position:

IRB and HRPP Education:

• Design, implement, and evaluate the University-wide IRB education program, including synchronous and asynchronous training.
• Develop and deliver educational offerings ranging from introductory sessions to in-depth training on IRB-related processes, systems (including CATS IRB), and regulatory requirements.
• Create and produce online training modules and audience-specific learning materials for researchers, compliance staff, committees, and administrators.
• Translate complex regulatory, ethical, and procedural information into clear, accessible educational content for diverse research audiences.
• Serve as a liaison between end users, HRPP, and the CATS development team to ensure training reflects real-world workflows and user experience.

RCR Educational Offerings and Tracking:

• Manage University-wide ORP RCR training offerings each semester, including coordination and scheduling with subject matter experts.
• Oversee record-keeping and reporting of RCR training attendance and completion.
• Maintain records of college-level RCR training plans and curricula.
• Contribute to and support the management of college-level RCR training plans.
• Design, develop, and deliver University-wide educational opportunities focused on research ethics.
• Develop online RCR modules and audience-specific training for students, faculty, and researchers.
• Collaborate with administrators across colleges and campuses to track graduate students and new faculty to ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional RCR requirements.
• Assist with tracking and record-keeping of required RCR training to support funder requirements and institutional compliance standards.

Outreach and Content Development:

• Assist in strategy development and creation of new outreach and instructional materials.
• Create and edit content for ORP and HRPP communications, including newsletters and website materials.
• Support website strategy development by creating and editing content to enhance the educational experience for end users.
• Collaborate across ORP to ensure consistency and integration of research education initiatives.

Educational Effectiveness and Evaluation:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of educational offerings through ongoing assessment.
• Assess current and future training needs related to regulatory changes, evolving processes, and system enhancements.
• Ensure programs remain aligned with federal regulations, institutional policies, and sponsor requirements.

Stakeholder Coordination and Special Projects:

• Collaborate as part of the EQUIP team and provide backup support to other ORP Educators.
• Assist with special education or outreach projects for ORP and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR) as needed.
• Contribute to additional research compliance education initiatives.
• May hire, train, supervise, and/or evaluate assigned staff, depending on program need.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering remote education or training programs.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical or regulatory information to non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly in tracking and documentation.
• Proven professionalism and strong customer-service orientation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• IRB knowledge or experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in research compliance, research administration, or research education in a higher education or research environment.
• Familiarity with human subjects' research regulations and institutional compliance frameworks.
• Experience with learning management systems, training delivery platforms, IRB systems, or website content management tools.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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