Associate Director of Research Security and International Compliance

Working Title: Associate Director of Research Security and International Compliance

State Role Title:N/A

Position Type:Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt:
Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Vice President - REDI

Department: 539001 - Sponsored Programs Accounting

Pay Rate:Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?Yes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

Beginning Review Date:3/30/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Associate Director of Research Security and International Compliance provides strategic leadership for the university's research security program and oversees compliance initiatives within the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC). This senior role ensures institutional alignment with federal mandates, mitigates risks related to foreign influence and cybersecurity, and promotes ethical research practices through comprehensive training and oversight. The Associate Director collaborates extensively with International Research and Engagement Services (IRES), Office of Sponsored Programs Administrative Services (OSPAS), Sponsored Programs Financial Administration (SPFA), University Legal Counsel, the University Compliance Officer and Risk Management to safeguard the research enterprise and maintain compliance with evolving federal requirements.

The role also supports export control infrastructure and international compliance initiatives to strengthen JMU's global research engagement while mitigating risk.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Research Security Program Leadership

* Provide strategic direction for the design, implementation, and maintenance of a university-wide research security program in alignment with federal mandates (e.g., NSPM-33, CHIPS and Science Act).

* Develop and enforce institutional policies, procedures, and training related to research security, including cybersecurity, foreign influence, and insider threat mitigation.

* Ensure integration of research security efforts with international research engagement and export control compliance through collaboration with IRES leadership.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Oversight

* Oversee the expanded development, implementation, and evaluation of the university's RCR program to ensure compliance with federal agency requirements (e.g., NSF, NIH).

* Direct the delivery of RCR training for faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral researchers engaged in research.

* Update RCR content to reflect evolving standards in research ethics, security, and compliance.

* Ensure accurate tracking and documentation for internal and external reporting.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

* Lead risk assessments of research projects, personnel, and international collaborations in coordination with IRES, Sponsored Programs, and IT Security.

* Monitor and evaluate potential threats to research integrity and recommend mitigation strategies.

* Advise faculty and staff on managing research security risks, particularly in federally funded or sensitive research areas.

Training and Outreach

* Develop and deliver advanced training programs on research security, international research compliance, and culturally responsive partnerships for faculty, staff, and students.

* Partner with IRES and other ORIC units to provide joint outreach and education on research security, export control awareness, and responsible research practices.

* Serve as the campus subject matter expert on research security and research ethics.

Compliance and Reporting

* Ensure institutional compliance with federal research security and RCR requirements from agencies such as NSF, DOE, NIH, NASA, and USDA.

* Maintain documentation and…