The Director of Research Security and Export Controls at Georgia Southern oversees the development, implementation, and administration of the university’s Research Security and Export Control programs. Georgia Southern, a Carnegie Doctoral/R-2 multi-campus university, offers STEM programs and advanced research facilities in a rapidly growing trade corridor in the southeast. The Director, part of the Research Integrity team under the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, ensures compliance with federal laws, sponsor requirements, and university policies regarding research security and export control. As the main contact for internal and external inquiries, the Director will manage training, education, and guidance for faculty and staff. This role involves collaboration with university leadership, IT teams, and key personnel to mitigate research security and export control risks. The position supports a hybrid work structure, allowing remote work within Georgia, South Carolina, or Florida, or office work as needed.
Responsibilities
- Provide expert leadership and guidance to the University community on interpreting and applying research security requirements and guidelines from agencies such as the NSF, NIH, DoD, DOE, NASA, and NIST, including those related to NIST SP 800-171 CUI requirements and NSPM-33.
- Serve as the point person for coordinating responses to potential compliance issues and assist with managing outcomes.
- Developing risk mitigation strategies aligned to federal foreign influence prevention requirements, cybersecurity requirements; and evolving best practices in technology protection and international collaboration across various research, academic and business activities.
- Informing Technology Transfer activities and safeguards; NDAA-compliant procurement practices; affiliation screening and reviews; federal grant and contract proposal and contract compliance; Conflict of Interest (COI) and Conflict of Commitment (COC) policies and procedures; EHS protections; and facility/infrastructure controls.
- Provide experienced oversight in implementing federal export control regulations, including the Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Department of State International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and other applicable U.S. export control regulations.
- Further develop and implement key export control procedures, including sponsored research agreement reviews, Restricted Party Screening, export classification and licensing, AES shipping compliance, deemed export reviews, procurement reviews, international travel authorizations, Technology Control Plan (TCP) development, international agreement reviews, export recordkeeping, compliance monitoring, and interaction with government agencies as needed.
- Coordinate timely compliance implementation on secure research projects, partnering closely with Georgia Southern’s Sponsored Research negotiators and institutional Information Technology (IT) teams to inform and align TCPs with IT’s NIST 800-171 CUI data security solutions (including System Security Plans (SSPs) and CMMC requirements.
- Further build out the University’s policies and procedures; create training materials and web-based resources reflective of the University’s research security and export control programs.
- Serve as the lead University resource for monitoring and communicating new regulatory developments in research security and export control, and ensuring that the university is updating policies, procedures, and training as needed.
- Provide informed guidance to Georgia Southern’s leadership and other lead stakeholders concerning the impact of export control and research security on the University’s future growth initiatives, with the ability to participate in and inform cross disciplinary teams and initiatives.
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
- BA or BS Degree at an accredited 4 year institution
Other Required Qualifications
- Professional certifications including but not limited to Export Compliance Professional (ECoP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) or willingness to acquire within one year.
Required Experience
- At least 3 to 4 years of professional experience supporting and implementing Research Security and Export Control programs in a higher education setting, covering secure research projects with export control and NIST 800-171 data security requirements, visiting scholar and faculty visa programs, international research collaborations, restricted party screening, study abroad programs, export licensing and shipping, international travel, biological safety labs, IP and tech transfer protections, foreign influence prevention, and related research security measures. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) or willingness to acquire within one year.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (JD, MA, MS) in a STEM field Working knowledge of the National Industrial Security Program (NISPOM), DFARS regulations, and other federal regulatory contract terms.
Proposed Salary
$100,239 – $130,000 This is an exempt position paid on a monthly basis.