Salary Range: $74,618-$107,264/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Officer, Research Ethics operationally reports to the Director, BC Cancer Research Ethics and is also accountable to the Chair and/or Vice-Chair of the BC Cancer Research Ethics Board (“REB”), and works collaboratively with UBC Office for Research and UBC Research Ethics Boards, as well as various provincial and national regulatory, academic, and health bodies.  The Officer is responsible for facilitating the operation and review of all aspects of research ethics, compliance, and integrity standards, policies, and procedures relating to human research (clinical and behavioural) undertaken at BC Cancer.

Duties/Accountabilities:

•    Provides advice and guides industry sponsors or their representatives (eg pharmaceutical companies, CCTG, CROs, etc), the BC Cancer research community, as well as the REB Chair/Vice-Chair, and REB Committee members, with respect to legislative, regulatory, policy, and standard operating procedures for conducting human research at BC Cancer and UBC.
•    Reviews and monitors all human research ethics applications and relevant documents throughout the life of a project to ensure compliance with Canadian, US, and international legislation, regulations, and guidelines, as well as local (ie BC Cancer and UBC) policies and procedures.
•    Independently assesses the risk level of all human research ethics applications and determines if they require full board review or meet criteria for minimal risk/delegated review.
•    Maintains up to date knowledge of provincial, national, and international legislation, regulations, standards, and policies associated with human research participant protections, and along with the BC Cancer Director, Research Ethics, and REB Chair/Vice-Chair, identifies implications for BC Cancer and develops and implements processes, procedures, and policies to maintain compliance.
•    Analyzes full board and minimal risk/delegated applications, amendments, and annual renewals, synthesizing identified deficiencies from study documentation, and making written recommendations as to compliance with legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures, and then distributing same to the REB Chair/Vice-Chair and/or members.
•    Proactively leads, develops and delivers education and training programs and tools, and leads awareness initiatives in collaboration with the Director and REB Chair to educate/train the BC Cancer research community, trainees, and REB members on areas related to compliance of ethical and other standards in research involving human subject, REB processes and procedures, and the RISe system.
•    Monitors and organizes the attendance of REB members so as to ensure quorum requirements are met in order for the monthly meeting to proceed, and ensures that quorum is maintained throughout the meeting to guarantee compliance with Canadian and US federal regulations and policies.
•    Contributes to REB meeting discussions as required to promote consistency in decision-making, to promote compliance with applicable legislation and regulations, and to provide advice on BC Cancer and UBC policies, procedures, and guidelines, and to record the minutes of the meeting on discussions and decisions.
•    Consolidates discussions and written comments from REB Chair/Vice-Chair and members into a single document and provides timely notification of these to researchers.
•    First point of contact and works with researchers/industry sponsors to help them understand REB decisions, and provides input and suggestions on suitable responses to both full board and delegated review provisos.  Reviews incoming responses from researchers/industry sponsors for compliance with REB requests for modifications, and requests changes if necessary, prior to final review by the REB Chair/Vice-Chair.  
•    Fosters collaborative relationships with the research community and institutions served by BC Cancer Research Ethics and serves as a liaison between BC Cancer Research Ethics and applicable institutional departments (e.g., Provincial Clinical Trials Unit, Data and Analytics, Technology and Development Office, etc) on general research ethics and BC Cancer Research Ethics policy matters.
•    Works collaboratively and consultatively with the UBC Office for Research Ethics, UBC Research Ethics Boards, and other academic institutions and health authorities to promote effective and consistent communication, policies, and procedures within the broader BC research community. This includes assisting with the development and maintenance of web-based resources, tools, and systems, and communicating requirements to the research community through seminars, newsletter, or bulletins.
•    Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in a Health or Social Sciences discipline plus a minimum of six years’ specialist expertise from working within a highly regulated environment such as research ethics or clinical research in a hospital or university setting with emphasis on regulations, legislation, and guidelines governing the protection of human research participants (in both Canadian and US contexts).

•    Expert knowledge of medical, clinical and research (clinical and behavioural) terminology, and Canadian, US, and international legislation, regulation, guidelines and governance structures relating to human research and research ethics;
•    Ability to provide guidance and direction to others regarding the interpretation and application of Canadian, US, and international legislation, regulation, guidelines and governance structures relating to human research and research ethics;
•    Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively to prioritize a high volume of work to meet deadlines, resolve issues, and to be flexible to meet and adapt to changes in external and internal priorities;
•    Demonstrated analytical skills and the ability to exercise judgment within a highly regulated environment;
•    Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to provide leadership and training to diverse stakeholder groups in order to promote an efficient and effective team based environment;
•    Experience with design and delivery of training programs;
•    Advanced computer literacy with word processing, spreadsheets and database software (specifically, the RISe system).