Export Compliance & Research Security Officer

Position Summary

In consultation with the Office of General Counsel, the Export Compliance and Research Security Officer (ECRSO) oversees the design, implementation, and maintenance of the University’s export compliance program, with a special focus on U.S. export compliance, including but not limited to, High-Performance Computing (HPC), including Shaheen III supercomputer, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced semiconductors. As part of the Export Control Compliance (ECC) Team in the Office of General Counsel and working closely with the Head of Legal and other Export Compliance and Research Security Officer team member, this position proactively advises on and works to adhere to U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), license conditions, and other applicable export control requirements governing KAUST's operation of controlled technologies or items.

Working at the intersection of compliance, technology, and research administration, this role requires detailed knowledge of export control regulations, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities. The ECRSO will partner with the Office of General Counsel to evaluate research activities or university engagements, conduct screening and diligence reviews, review contracts/agreements, maintain compliance documentation for audit recordkeeping, develop and implement general awareness and role-based or targeted trainings, and draft and support policy implementation, as required.

The position plays a critical role in enabling compliant access to KAUST's supercomputing resources while ensuring adherence to export control requirements. The ECRSO will work closely with the KAUST Supercomputing Core Lab, Information Technology, Information Security, Research Funding Services, Academic Divisions and Centers, National Transformation Institution, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Admissions, Educational Partnerships, and other stakeholders to proactively advise and implement processes that enable and scale research, development and innovation, while maintaining strict regulatory compliance.

• Design, implement, and maintain KAUST’s export compliance program, including compliance with applicable U.S. export controls and license conditions, working closely with the Head of Legal and in collaboration with other Export Compliance and Research Security Officer and ECC team members.
• Develop and execute export compliance processes for Shaheen III supercomputer access, use and operations.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, workflows and desk guides related to export control compliance and license conditions.
• In consultation with Office of General Counsel, collaborate closely with and academic and research divisions and other partners to conduct export compliance and research security reviews.
• Advise on complex export control and research security issues related to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, and other areas as required.
• Conduct export classification and maintain records of research activities and technologies, including international shipments.
• Determine the availability of export license exceptions for controlled items and information supplied by vendors, contractors, collaborators, and other third parties.
• Provide technical review and analysis of technologies and items for export compliance and research security, as applicable, to ensure compliance with regulatory and safeguarding requirements.
• Partner with KAUST Digital Services division, including Information Security and Information Technology departments, to ensure compliance with export controls and export license conditions.
• Conducts restricted party screening and due diligence reviews for Shaheen III administrative access and users against relevant government lists and license conditions.
• Review research proposals and user access requests for export compliance considerations.
• In collaboration with Office of General Counsel, provide export compliance risk assessments for large-scale research collaborations, including multi-million-dollar research programs and sensitive strategic partnerships.
• Develop, implement, and deliver comprehensive export compliance and research security training.
• In collaboration with Office of General Counsel, provide advice and guidance to leadership on compliance risk exposure and mitigation strategies.
• Support preparation of export license applications (e.g., export and re-export license applications for…