Department
RESEARCH SECURITY OFFICE (UA-RSO-IUBLA)
Department Information
The Research Security Office (RSO) was created by Indiana University to address the security risks posed to the research environment at Indiana University and to assist researchers with efforts to protect themselves, their research data and methodologies, publication rights, and intellectual property.
The primary mission of RSO is to assure research security at IU. Through its comprehensive research security program, RSO protects IU and its researchers from those who wish to exploit IU's open and inclusive academic environment. RSO operates a research security program in response to federal regulations and sponsor requirements that safeguards the IU research enterprise and mitigates threats to the IU research environment by protecting against:
-
Misappropriation of research and development
-
Violations of research integrity
-
Foreign government interference
Job Summary
Department-Specific Responsibilities
- Serves as a central operational and strategic role within the university's Research Security Office, responsible for building and sustaining the infrastructure that enables compliant, efficient, and scalable program delivery.
- Leads the development, standardization, and governance of program documentation, including SOPs, training materials, and a comprehensive Research Security and Export Control Manual, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory requirements and institutional practices. It also establishes knowledge management frameworks that promote consistency, accessibility, and audit readiness across the program.
- Plays a key role in advancing and strengthening university-wide due diligence processes, standardizing approaches across units and ensuring alignment with research security, export control, and institutional requirements to support effective risk management and compliance.
- Responsible for developing, standardizing, and maintaining comprehensive program documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials.
- Creates, formalizes, and continuously updates documentation related to research security, export control, and international engagement and partnership due diligence processes, including investigations, screenings, technology control plans, and compliance workflows.
- Lead the development of a comprehensive Research Security and Export Control Manual, ensuring all materials reflect current regulatory requirements, incorporate ongoing process improvements, and align with operational practices.
- Establishes and maintains version control and documentation governance practices grounded in knowledge management principles to support consistency, accessibility, and audit readiness.
- Monitors and tracks strategic priorities, initiatives, and overall program performance by leveraging systems to measure progress on key efforts, such as Research Security Program implementation, policy rollouts, and University-wide due diligence enhancements.
- Leads efforts to strengthen and standardize due diligence processes across the University, applying regulatory knowledge to ensure alignment with research security, export control, and institutional requirements.
- Identifies and recommends process improvements that support strategic planning and advance overall program maturity.
- Coordinates cross-functional workflows and support process optimization across research security, export control, and international partnerships functions.
- Leads the mapping, documentation, and continuous quality improvement of workflows, while ensuring alignment between documented procedures and day-to-day operations.
- Facilitates communication across stakeholders, supports the implementation of new or revised processes, and applies knowledge management and strategic planning approaches, along with regulatory analysis, to enhance scalability, consistency, and long-term sustainability of program operations.
- Participates in ongoing professional development and maintain current knowledge of regulatory updates in research security and export control to ensure continued compliance and program effectiveness.
General Responsibilities
- Creates and manages processes for reviewing and advising administrative units of the university on contractual terms relating to export controls or controls on technology.
- Creates and manages processes related to faculty travel and transactions to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
- Creates and manages processes related to license applications to U.S. Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce, or Department of State regarding physical or deemed exports.
- Develops, monitors, and audits complex technology control plans to protect controlled technologies from unauthorized access by foreign persons.
- Leads the development, standardization, and governance of institutional SOPs, training materials, and a comprehensive Research Security and Export Control Manual to ensure version control and audit readiness.
- Standardizes university-wide due diligence and international partnership screening processes; maps and optimizes cross-functional workflows to improve program scalability and strategic risk management.
Qualifications
Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.
EDUCATION
Required
-
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
Preferred
WORK EXPERIENCE
Required
-
4 years of experience in areas of compliance
Preferred
-
Experience in research compliance or research administration
-
Experience in higher education
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Required
-
Valid driver's license and ability to be insured by Indiana University Upon Date of Hire.
SKILLS
Required
-
Demonstrates project management skills.
-
Proficient communication skills.
-
Assumes personal responsibility for actions.
-
Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
-
Effective interpersonal skills.
-
Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
-
Demonstrated time management and priority setting skills.
-
Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
-
Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
-
Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
-
Highly thorough and dependable.
-
Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
-
Ability to analyze and apply complex regulatory framework.
-
Knowledge of compliance process and documentation development.
-
Ability to understand, interpret, and apply complex federal, state, university and accreditation regulations pertaining to export control.
-
Understanding of research compliance requirements, policies, and federal regulations.
-
Knowledge of federal and institutional regulations on Export controls including, but not limited to, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) under the jurisdiction of the Department of State, or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce is highly desired.
Preferred
-
Demonstrated knowledge of regulatory compliance frameworks and the ability to interpret and apply complex federal regulations, policies, and guidance (e.g., research security, export control, or related areas).
-
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear, actionable processes, procedures, and documentation.
-
Experience developing, standardizing, and maintaining program documentation, including SOPs, manuals, and training materials.
-
Knowledge of due diligence principles and risk management practices, with the ability to support or implement consistent, university-wide processes.
-
Ability to map, evaluate, and improve business processes and workflows, ensuring alignment between policy and operations.
-
Experience working collaboratively across functional areas and facilitating coordination among stakeholders with varying roles and responsibilities.
-
Proficiency with standard business and productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite), and ability to learn and utilize systems for tracking, documentation, and workflow management.
-
Familiarity with legal research, issue spotting, and risk analysis, including the ability to assess and document compliance considerations.
-
Experience supporting or implementing due diligence and risk-based review processes in a legal, compliance, or policy environment.
-
Knowledge of governance and documentation best practices, including version control, records management, and audit readiness.
-
Demonstrated ability to develop clear, well-structured written materials such as policies, procedures, guidance documents, or legal analyses.
-
Experience leading or supporting process improvement initiatives, particularly in regulated or policy-driven environments.
-
Ability to communicate complex legal or regulatory concepts effectively to non-legal audiences.
-
Experience working with tracking, case management, or document management systems.
Working Conditions / Demands
This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.
Due to U.S. export control regulations governing information, technology, and facilities accessed during the performance of this work, applicants must be: (1) U.S. citizens or nationals; (2) permanent residents; (3) asylees or refugees; or (4) individuals otherwise described as "protected individuals" according to Title 8 U.S. Code Section 1324b(a)(3)(b).
Work Location
Bloomington, Indiana
Advertised Salary
$100,000.00 - $120,000.00 annually
Benefits Overview
For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:
-
Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
-
Health savings account with generous IU contributions
-
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
-
Basic group life insurance paid by IU
-
Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death and dismemberment insurance
-
Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
-
Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
-
Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
-
10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
-
Generous paid time off plans
-
Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
-
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.
Job Classification
Career Level: Advanced
FLSA: Exempt
Job Function: Research
Job Family: Research Compliance
Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.
Posting Disclaimer
This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.
If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.
Campus Safety and Security
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at [email protected] or by visiting IUPD.
Contact Us
Request Support
Telephone: 812-856-1234
