BREB Research Ethics Review Officer

Job Summary
The position is responsible for facilitating and determining whether research proposals submitted to the UBC Behavioural Research Ethics Board (BREB) are acceptable on ethical grounds by implementing and monitoring ethical review processes and standards; raising awareness amongst UBC Faculty, and staff at the UBC-affiliated institutions by educational initiatives to promote compliance with the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2) and other national and international standards; and advising on compliance with ethics policies. This position trains and mentors incoming members of the BREB; manages the administration of the BREB full board and Minimal Risk review processes, and oversees Jr. BREB staff. The position sits on the BREB as a non-voting member and is responsible for the review and approval of BREB applications that meet the staff SOP for approval by Sr. staff. Finally, this position provides direction and senior level experience knowledge to the BREB staff concerning complex research reviews.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Sr. Research Ethics Analyst. It works independently for all aspects of managing the review process for ethics applications within the BREB office and collaboratively with the BREB Chairs and members, and the Sr. Research Ethics Analyst on wider policy and compliance issues.

Work Performed

Responsible for managing the review processes at the BREB. The responsibilities of the position are detailed below in broad functional categories:

Policy and Administrative Responsibility:

• Advises researchers on Canadian federal and provincial regulatory requirements and the TCPS2 requirements for conducting human research as well as specific UBC BREB policies, standards and requirements.

• Ensures consistency of BREB policies and decision-making processes when reviewing applications and providing guidance to researchers / faculty.

• Advises and provides instruction and training to Board members, researchers, research staff and BREB staff on how to use and navigate the web-based system

• Advises researchers regarding how to complete the application form on the on-line system

• Oversees the administrative operations of the BREB and makes decisions regarding quality improvement strategies for review processes.

• The BREB Research Ethics Review Officer works with departments and faculties in the establishment, training and orientation and operations of the Departmental Ethics Review Program, created to handle ethical reviews for qualifying studies at the departmental level. The BREB Research Ethics Review Officer oversees and monitors the operations of this program ensuring that it operates in accordance with Institutional and Tri-Council requirements.

• The BREB Research Ethics Review Officer trains and monitors the reviews of new Behavioural Research Ethics Board members, acting as a mentor for them in the initial stages of their Board membership and participation.

• Conducts researcher team consultations with the BREB chairs for high risk research. These include working individually with research teams to best develop ethically appropriate research proposals for high risk project.

• Research Ethics BC (REBC) BREB liaison for research that involves the UBC BREB and another BC research ethics board

Pre-Review:

• Advises researchers on policy requirements for the recruitment of human participants and appropriate consent methodologies to ensure compliance with UBC BREB standards

• Advises researchers on submission requirements for ethical review including the differentiation between full Board and minimal risk review processes

• Oversees the pre-review process for new applications.

• Identifies & synthesizes deficiencies and prepares a written report for distribution to the REB Associate Chair or REB Chair (in the case on delegated review) and to the REB members prior to full board meetings in conjunction with the meeting agenda.

Post-Review:

• Consolidates and reconciles BREB-decisions arising from the review process

• Ensures that BREB decisions are communicated to researchers in an accurate and timely manner and advises researchers on suitable responses to provisos

• Ensures that Certificates of Ethical Approval are accurate and issued according to standard timelines

• Develops and manages the post-review requirements for amendments, annual reviews and monitoring

Review:

• Reviews and approves BREB studies that fit into the BREB SOP for staff review, including specified amendments, post-approval activities. This position also reviews and approves studies that have been reviewed and approved by another Canadian REB, simple survey studies, secondary use of data and class-based projects.

• Determines level of review for studies going through the Provincial Harmonized Process and conducts the BREB pre-review for these studies.

• Is a non-voting member of the BREB

Administrative Management Responsibilities:

• Develops & creates educational content for researchers

• Works independently and collaboratively with BREB office staff and Managers of other UBC REBs to promote consistency and facilitate multi-site research

• Establishes a broad network of personal contacts in the area of social science and behavioural research to promote excellence in research ethics

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position has significant influence on the quality and effectiveness of the services provided by the BREB. Non-compliance with contractual terms and/or sponsoring agency guidelines could result in the return of agency funds, loss of future funds and/or inability to collect funds owed to the University. Incorrect interpretation of Sponsoring Agency and University policy provided to faculty may result in non-compliance with sponsoring agency terms on the use of funds and decreased success rate in grants competitions. Errors in judgment could have a significant impact on the incumbent's ability to carry out the functions of the position effectively and could have adverse consequences on continued positive relationships with faculty and staff.

Information that is accurate and timely is absolutely essential for the support of faculty applications for research. A perceived lack of consistency could cause investigators to question the validity of BREB decisions. Delays in processing the decisions of the BREB can significantly affect an investigator's ability to secure competitive funding from sponsors, launch the study in a timely manner, or can cause a delay in the release of granting agency funds.

Supervision Received
Works with a high degree of independence under the general direction of the Sr. Research Ethics Analyst.

Supervision Given

This position provides mentorship, direction and senior level experience and knowledge to the BREB Review Coordinator and the Jr. BREB Coordinator.

Minimum Qualifications
For research work, a post-graduate degree or equivalent professional designation with a minimum of four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Otherwise, an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline is required with a minimum of six years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Graduate degree considered an asset. Experience as a researcher, research officer, senior clinical trial coordinator or person with previous experience of ethics or equivalent experience. Knowledge of research procedures as well as of Canadian Regulatory and Policy requirements for conducting research that involves humans. Ability to synthesize findings and to judge and substantiate the significance of the findings. Ability to make thoughtful, informed, and thorough decisions. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, in both verbal and written form, to provide and obtain information as required. Ability to maintain cooperative relationships with the research community, including research administrators, research coordinators and researchers at affiliated institutions. Ability to read difficult or complicated text analytically and critically, to follow and record Board discussions that may involve research terminology and to summarize relevant information in clear and succinct English. Ability to organize and disseminate information in written policy statements and to present workshops to small groups. Ability to handle details with a high degree of accuracy and to organize and prioritize a high volume of work to meet both internal and external deadlines.

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