Research Standards Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian aid, relief and development non governmental organization.
- Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution or natural disaster.
Job Overview:
The Research Standards Coordinator plays a central operational role within the IRC Research Pillar, supporting the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in ensuring that all IRC-affiliated research involving human subjects meets the highest standards of ethical compliance, data protection, and regulatory accountability.
- The Coordinator manages the full lifecycle of IRB submissions - from initial triage and protocol number assignment through review coordination, decision communication, and protocol closeout - and serves as the primary point of contact between research teams, IRB reviewers, board members, and external ethics bodies.
- Beyond IRB administration, this role leads researcher training on SOPs, maintains research resources on RescueNet, organizes the Research Community of Practice, and facilitates Research Pillar-wide meetings, making it a critical connective function across the IRC research community.
Major Responsibilities:
IRB Administration and Coordination (approx. 40% of time)
- Manage the full IRB submission lifecycle: receive and triage incoming protocols, assign sector-coded IRB numbers, conduct administrative completeness reviews, recommend review type (exempt, expedited, or full board) to the IRB Chair, and serve as the ongoing point of contact between research teams and the IRB from submission through closeout.
- Coordinate all review logistics: for expedited reviews, manage reviewer assignment and distribution of materials; for full board reviews, manage pre-meeting preparation including quorum confirmation, conflict of interest verification, agenda and materials distribution, and venue and remote call setup.
- Draft all IRB decision letters and share with the IRB Chair for signature within 24 hours of the review decision; issue signed letters to research teams promptly thereafter.
- Maintain complete, audit-ready records of all IRB actions and interactions — including submissions, determinations, correspondence, reportable events, and protocol closures — and ensure all files are accurately stored in Box and the protocol tracking system in real time.
Manage ongoing regulatory compliance: maintain the IRB board roster and ethics certificate renewal schedule, manage OHRP registration and Federalwide Assurance (FWA) renewals, monitor protocol expiration dates, and prepare quarterly IRB update reports for the Institutional Official.
Job Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in public health, social sciences, research administration, law, or a related field.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in research administration, IRB coordination, ethics compliance, or a closely related role.
- Experience designing and delivering training or capacity-building programs for research staff.
- Experience organizing and facilitating a community of practice, working group, or similar collaborative forum.
- Experience working in or with humanitarian, international development, or NGO research environments.
Skills and Competencies
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple protocols, training activities, and meeting schedules simultaneously without losing attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills (in English); able to explain complex regulatory and methodological requirements clearly to research teams with varying levels of experience.
- Proficiency with document management platforms (Box or equivalent) and content management systems (RescueNet or equivalent); experience maintaining structured, audit-ready records.
- Familiarity with data protection principles (PII, informed consent, data minimization) and research ethics frameworks (Belmont Report, FAIR principles).
- Collaborative working style with the ability to build relationships across HQ and country-level teams in a complex international organization.
Comfort working with AI-enabled tools in a professional research context, with an understanding of responsible AI use principles including transparency, human oversight, and ethical considerations relevant to humanitarian research.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated experience managing IRB or research ethics review processes, including working knowledge of 45 CFR 46 (Common Rule) and OHRP/FWA registration requirements.
- CIP (Certified IRB Professional) certification or active progress toward certification.
- Experience with Pre-Analysis Plan registration processes (3ie RIDIE, AEA RCT Registry, or ClinicalTrials.gov).
- Familiarity with qualitative and mixed-methods research methodologies and their ethical considerations in humanitarian contexts.
- Experience working with or implementing AI-enabled tools in a research, data, or knowledge management context
Working Environment
- Some international travel may be required to support field-based research activities (up to 10%).
Deadline: Not Specified
How to Apply
Interested applicant can apply via this link
){kind=link}
إرسال تعليق