Director, HRPP

Title:

Director, Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)

Classification: 9355IC (Administrative Director 1
- Institutional Compliance)

Reports-to:
Associate VP for Research Integrity and Compliance (and Institutional Official)

The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) Director serves as the strategic leader of the University of Minnesota’s human subjects research oversight program across all system campuses. The Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Research Integrity and Compliance (UMN Institutional Official) and safeguards the rights, safety, and welfare of research participants, while ensuring full institutional compliance with federal, state, and international regulatory frameworks.

As a key partner to the research enterprise, the HRPP Director drives continuous quality improvement, maintains gold-standard accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), and aligns HRPP strategic goals with University-wide research innovation.

• Direct and optimize operations for the Human Research Protection Program department, which includes 26 FTEs across multiple employee groups. Foster an inclusive, accountable work environment that prioritizes staff development, clear goal alignment, and operational efficiency.
• Manage operational activities of the Institutional Review Board (IRB); ensure rigorous adherence to AAHRPP standards, lead annual reporting processes, and direct successful reaccreditation initiatives to sustain the institution’s accredited status
• Oversee the continuous development and modernization of the HRPP toolkit; collaborate strategically with Research and Innovation Office (RIO) Communications to deliver proactive, transparent education and outreach that translates complex regulatory changes into clear practices for the research community.
• Serve as the primary institutional representative to federal regulatory agencies (e.g., OHRP, FDA), national professional bodies, community stakeholders, and University leadership on matters related to human participant protections.
• Provide executive-level guidance and strategic counsel to the Institutional Official, VP for Research, IRB Chairs, IRB staff, and the University research community to ensure full compliance with federal, state, and international regulatory frameworks, while enabling innovative research.
• Partner collaboratively across key legal, compliance, and clinical governance entities (Office of General Counsel, Office of Institutional Compliance, Office of Internal Audit, Sponsored Projects Administration, Gillette Children’s, and Fairview Health Services) to investigate and resolve complex compliance, ethical, and oversight matters in human subject research.
• Serve ex-officio on Individual and Institutional Conflict Review Panels, providing expert evaluation of Conflict of Interest/Commitment management plans to safeguard research integrity and maintain public trust.
• Monitor local and national research trends to develop forward-looking HRPP strategic work plans. Make recommendations to Research and Innovation Office leadership that encompass resource allocation, technology modernization, staff development, and compliance initiatives that explicitly align with and advance the University’s Elevate Extraordinary 2030 Strategic Plan.

The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and HRPP endorse a “work with flexibility” approach that offers a welcoming and flexible work environment where everyone is inspired to do their best. Work location options include working fully remote, partially remote, or entirely in the office and are based on the work of the position. Some on-site work may be necessary for certain positions,…