Standards Specialist, Research Data Governance & Compliance - Division of Informatics

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Posted Job Title

Standards Specialist, Research Data Governance & Compliance - Division of Informatics

Job Profile Title

Manager D, Research

Job Description Summary

The Standards Specialist, Research Data Governance & Compliance will serve as a subject-matter expert in research data governance and compliance, supporting the Pennsieve platform and related initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania. The role provides guidance to investigators and project teams on IRB protocols, HIPAA, and regulatory requirements as they relate to data management and sharing, including multi-site and multi-institutional studies.

This position leads the development and implementation of best practices for research data governance, including data curation, metadata standards, and lifecycle management. The individual collaborates with internal teams and external partners to define and implement Common Data Elements (CDEs) and contributes to broader data standardization and interoperability efforts.

The Standards Specialist advises collaborators on data sharing strategies, including Data Use Agreements (DUAs) and governance frameworks, and works with NIH programs and research consortia to align platform capabilities with evolving compliance expectations. The role also supports onboarding of new projects to the platform.

As a senior member of the program team, the Standards Specialist provides guidance to project managers, oversees complex cross-functional initiatives, and partners with technical and scientific teams to ensure alignment between regulatory requirements and platform capabilities. The position also contributes to continuous improvement of data governance practices and institutional strategy for scalable, compliant research data ecosystems.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

+ Research Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:

+ Serve as a subject-matter expert on IRB protocols, HIPAA, and research compliance as they relate to data management and sharing on the Pennsieve platform.

+ Guide investigators and project teams in the development and execution of compliant data workflows.

+ Advise on regulatory considerations for multi-site and multi-institutional studies.

+ Data Governance & Standards:

+ Lead development and implementation of best practices for research data governance, including data cleaning, curation, metadata, and lifecycle management.

+ Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to define and implement Common Data Elements (CDEs) and data standards.

+ Contribute to national and consortium-level efforts to advance data standardization and interoperability.

+ External Partnerships & Data Sharing:

+ Provide expertise to external collaborators on data sharing strategies, including Data Use Agreements (DUAs), data transfer…