UNSW Research Ethics & Compliance Support is currently seeking a Human Research Ethics Officer to commence as soon as possible on a casual basis until the end of 2021. The role is varied, and specific responsibilities for this role are included in the attached position description. Key responsibilities include providing administrative support for several research ethics committees, including providing specialist advice to all relevant stakeholders on human research ethics matters.

  • Mon-Fri 35 hours per week
  • With the current public health orders in place, it is expected that the successful candidate will work from home until the team can safely return to the office, which is based on the UNSW Sydney Kensington campus.

Interested applications are encouraged to apply asap, and applications will close once the position is filled. Applicants must submit the following documentation to the Human Research Manager (leonne.thompson@unsw.edu.au)

  • Cover letter addressing the skills and experience selection criteria included within the attached position description.
  • Curriculum Vitae

Human Research Ethics Officer

  • Position Level Level 5
  • Faculty/Division DVC-Research
  • Position Number ADMIN ONLY
  • Original document creation 24/02/ 2021

Position Summary

The Human Research Administrator plays an integral role within the Division of Research & Enterprise in providing advanced human research ethics and compliance support to the Human Research Manager and the Director, Research Ethics & Compliance Support.

The role will oversee the compliance and support for several research ethics committees, including providing specialist advice to all relevant stakeholders on human research ethics matters. The Officer will also be critical in providing ongoing improvements to human ethics processes and resources for researchers, including web resources, online and face-to-face training, and being fully immersed in a paperless environment. In addition, the Human Research Officer contributes to strategic and operational projects across the Research Ethics Compliance Support Office, supporting the Division of Research & Enterprise goals.

The Human Research Ethics Officer reports to the Manager of Human Research and has no direct reports.

Accountabilities

Specific accountabilities for this role include:

  • Provide expert advice or support to researchers and committee members in developing and designing human research ethics applications, modifications, and safety monitoring reports before committee review.
  • Schedule, organise and administrate human ethics committee meetings, including preparing meeting papers, generating meeting minutes, drafting formal business correspondence, disseminating meeting outcomes, and maintaining proper records following legislation and institutional requirements.
  • Continuously monitor human ethics committee and panel memberships to ensure that terms of membership and quorum are current and develop and foster collaborative working relationships with and amongst the members.
  • Promote awareness of human research ethics issues among researchers, students, and research stakeholders by providing high-profile education and training initiatives in online and face to face environments.
  • Be responsible for addressing annual and other compliance requirements by external and internal regulatory bodies regarding human research ethics, including annual reporting, monitoring approved research, and compliance and follow up on related issues.
  • Resolve complex problems and enquiries, including investigating and managing ethics issues or complaints relating to human research liaising with the relevant ethics committee, Human Research Manager and the Director RECS.
  • Develop, implement, and update human ethics online resources for researchers to develop human ethics applications and research projects and ensure the university's research is conducted according to the highest ethical standards.
  • Proactively utilise and identify improvements to the information systems supporting human ethics, including MyEthics, SharePoint, RAMS and InfoEd, to aim at the best user experience for researchers and ensure a secure and compliant electronic environment for human research ethics records.
  • Undertake other responsibilities as required from time to time by the Human Research Manager and Director RECS to support research ethics and compliance.
  • Align with and actively demonstrate the UNSW Values in Action: Our Behaviours and the UNSW Code of Conduct.
  • Cooperate with all the university's health and safety policies and procedures and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact yourself or others' health and safety.

Skills and Experience

  • Relevant tertiary qualification with a depth of subsequent experience in a human research ethics environment or equivalent competence gained through any combination of education, training, and experience.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of codes and legislation related to human research and ethics, along with high-level critical thinking skills to interpret accordingly.
  • Demonstrated administrative experience of working with and monitoring compliance reporting processes for high-level committees.
  • Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail and the ability to generate formal and complex meeting minutes and communications.
  • High-level organisational skills with proven ability to deal with multiple tasks, establish priorities and meet deadlines and the ability to operate autonomously.
  • Advanced computer literacy level, working with a range of computer systems and applications, including Microsoft 365.
  • An understanding of and commitment to UNSW's aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
  • Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

About this document
This Position Description outlines the objectives, desired outcomes, key responsibilities, accountabilities, required skills, experience and desired behaviours required to perform the role successfully.
This template is not intended to limit the scope or accountabilities of the position. Characteristics of the position may be altered in accordance with the changing requirements of the role.