Research Integrity Assistant

About JMIR Publications:JMIR Publications is a rapidly growing open access publisher of peer-reviewed STEM journals, with an emphasis on medicine, health, and technology titles. The ambitious vision of JMIR Publications is to lead the transformation to open science and to contribute to a world where people are empowered by health research and technology to make effective and informed decisions.

Come help us make a real difference in open science

SummaryAs a Research Integrity Specialist at JMIR Publications, you will assist in ensuring the integrity and ethical conduct of research. You will uphold the publisher's research ethics and integrity functions, contributing to the quality, credibility, and trustworthiness of content. You will help promote responsible research practices and safeguard the publisher's good reputation.

Reporting to the Research Integrity Manager, you will assist in ensuring the integrity and ethical conduct of research accepted, processed, or published by JMIR Publications. You will collaborate closely with the Research Integrity Manager, Scientific Editorial Director, editorial teams, authors, reviewers, and external stakeholders to implement workflows that address issues, ensure compliance, and foster a culture of integrity.

Key Responsibilities:1. Apply research integrity policies and procedures

• Support the implementation of end-to-end workflows to detect and address research and publication ethics issues.

• Collaborate closely with the Research Integrity Manager to escalate serious ethical concerns, including liaising with external institutions as needed.

• Support research misconduct investigations:

• Lead the initial assessment and investigation of research misconduct allegations (e.g., plagiarism, authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, data falsification) in line with COPE and other relevant guidelines towards resolution.

• Act as a point of contact for staff on routine, initial research integrity questions.
• Support the drafting of communications to authors, editors, and reviewers regarding ethics cases.

• Help track ethics cases and maintain detailed and confidential records of investigations and outcomes to ensure transparency and accountability.

• Uphold policies and guidelines

• Assist in ensuring JMIR Publications' ethics policies are aligned with publishing standards and best practices.

• Apply and enforce ethical guidelines for authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher in alignment with industry best practices and international research integrity standards.

• Contribute to discussions on potential improvements in workflows relating to investigations.

• Collaborate with staff and editors

• Work closely with staff and editors to address and resolve cases, including corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.

• Assist in delivery of training materials on research integrity for authors, editors, and other stakeholders.

• Monitor and Report on Research Integrity Trends

• Assist with analysis and reporting on metrics such as case types, resolution times, and workflow effectiveness to guide improvements.

• Support compliance with industry standards, ethical guidelines, and relevant regulations. They also report on research integrity matters to the leadership team and external bodies.

Qualifications:Education

• A Bachelor's degree is required, with relevant publishing experience involving research integrity issues. A graduate degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant scientific discipline, ethics, or previous research integrity experience in publishing is a strong asset.

Experience: Essential

• Proven experience with research ethics in a publishing, academic, or research environment.
• Familiarity with ethical standards such as COPE, ICMJE, and publishing integrity best practices.
• Proven experience in the handling of sensitive and confidential communications with relevant parties such as authors.

Desirable:

• Experience with research integrity tools (e.g., iThenticate, on-demand manuscript screening software) and metadata platforms (e.g., CrossRef, ORCID).
• Knowledge of open science practices and data sharing policies.
• Scientific academic background involving human subjects research is a plus.

Technical Skills:

• An understanding of industry standards and guidelines for research integrity and publication ethics (e.g., COPE guidelines) and their applications are required.
• Knowledge of research misconduct investigation procedures is beneficial.

Competencies

• Strong problem-solving skills. Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions
• Attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for working with diverse stakeholders using diplomacy and tact to resolve issues and provide clear guidance.
• Good interpersonal savvy, with the ability to collaborate effectively with authors, editors, and stakeholders. The ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion.
• Decision quality. Strong analytical and investigative skills to handle routine misconduct allegations and ethical issues effectively; ability to make fact-based decisions and speak candidly despite external pressures.

What We Offer;We offer competitive compensation, including a comprehensive, flexible benefits program that includes Extended Health and Dental Coverage, and Life insurance. Furthermore, all monthly benefit premiums are 100% paid by JMIR.

We are in a beautiful new office space near the harbourfront, with free snacks and beverages, and organize social events as a company such as BBQs.This role provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of research integrity at JMIR Publications, laying the foundation for a growing team and ethical publishing practices

Application Process:Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

1. A current CV and/or resume2. A cover letter describing why you are a match for this position.

JMIR Publications is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse workforce and maintaining a learning and working environment that is welcoming to all.

We wish to thank all those who apply, however, only those individuals whose skills and experience most closely match our requirements will be contacted by a member of our team. All interviews will be held via video conference.

Application Privacy Commitment;By submitting your application to JMIR Publications, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

The personal information and resume you provide will be collected and used solely for the purposes of assessing your candidacy for the position applied for, as well as for any other suitable roles within JMIR Publications that may arise. We are committed to safeguarding your personal information in accordance with applicable privacy laws and company policies.

Your information will be handled with strict confidentiality and will only be shared with those directly involved in the recruitment and hiring process. JMIR Publications will not disclose, share, or sell your personal data to any third parties without your explicit consent.

If your application is not successful, JMIR Publications may retain your information for up to 3 years for future opportunities, unless you request its removal.

By applying, you consent to this collection, use, and retention of your personal data as outlined above.