Posting Details
Position Number005284Position TitleDirector, Research Security and Export Controls - 005284DivisionResearch and Economic DevelopmentDepartment140410 - Office VP Research and Economic DevMinimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution as approved and accepted by the University of South Alabama and five years of professional related experience in research security, research administration, research compliance, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in Information Technology/Information Systems, Research Administration, or Security Management preferred. Experience in research security, cybersecurity compliance, or information security preferred. Knowledge of NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and federal CUI regulations preferred. Experience in counterintelligence or insider threat investigations preferred.
Job Description Summary
The University of South Alabama’s Office of Research and Economic Development is seeking to hire a Director, Research Security and Export Controls. Interested candidates should apply to be considered.
Essential Functions
These are the job duties required of the position.
Essential Functions
- Monitors and reviews all state and federal legislation/regulations regarding foreign influence (i.e., NSPM-33, CHIPS & Science Act, DETERRANT Act, NDAA, etc.) to ensure compliance and anticipate future requirements.
- Provides feedback and guidance to USA Office of Government Relations regarding proposed state and federal legislation affecting Malign Foreign Influence.
- Acts as liaison with and point of contact for US Intelligence Community.
- Directs and coordinates USA compliance with Higher Educational Act reporting requirements for foreign funding sources, biannually.
- Directs and coordinates USA compliance with National Science Foundation reporting requirements for funding from “countries of concern” annually.
- Reviews weekly research security responses from proposal submissions and follow-up and conducts follow-up interviews as necessary.
- Reviews monthly keyword searches for contacts with Foreign Talen Recruitment Programs.
- Collaborates with Global USA/International Travel regarding foreign travel security.
- Reviews all foreign business travel and provides Threat Awareness Briefings for travel to foreign “countries of concern.”
- Monitors short-term campus visitors to ensure no unintentional disclosure of export-controlled materials/restricted work space to foreign nationals.
- Ensures relevant personnel receive training such as research security threat awareness and identification and insider threats and incorporates these topics into the research conduct training conducted annually and upon departmental requests.
- Chairs the Committee on Foreign Influence which the University utilizes as a governance committee to bring operational expertise into a collaborative working group to advance research security biannually.
- Serves as the Facility Security Officer (FSO) to support classified projects, and provides oversight for facilities and infrastructure needed to support classified research.
- Performs research security training on CUI Defense Projects.
- Collaborates with the Office of Research Compliance and Assurance for the review and approval of foreign national hires.
- Collaborates with the Office of Research Compliance in reviewing disposal of scientific property to ensure proper disposal of potential export-controlled items.
- Coordinates with Purchasing Office to verify that all purchased equipment meets standards for use on federal projects and does not conflict with any regulations.
- Leads the development and implementation of the Research Security and Export Control Programs.
- Maintains administrative responsibility for critical and emerging technology research safeguards, foreign travel security, foreign funding and relationship reporting, research data and information classification, deemed exports, controlled unclassified information/research, security planning, research risk assessment and management, foreign visitors and scholars review and monitoring.
- Develops new web content and interface for foreign influence and research security.
- Coordinates and performs security reviews, risk assessments, risk management, policy standards and guidelines, security awareness and training, audit coordination and project management.
- Serves as the designated point of contact for the NSF SECURE Center which serves as a clearinghouse for information to empower the research community to identify and mitigate foreign interference that poses a risk to the U.S. research enterprise.
- Oversees Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) as applicable.
- Provides guidance to faculty and working collaboratively with Sponsored Projects Administration staff throughout the award/contract process, including obtaining input from the Office of Information Security during negotiations to ensure security measures are implemented.
- Provides guidance to include secure computing capabilities, appropriate storage locations, procedures, training, and delegation of responsibilities specifically to CUI.
- Reviews weekly export controls responses from proposal submissions and follows up as necessary.
- Serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external inquiries regarding compliance with export control regulations, Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC).
- Creates and maintains export controls manual , communication materials, export control policies/procedures, and other compliance materials in accordance with established Export Controls laws and regulations.
- Develops and implements key export control procedures, including sponsored research agreement reviews, Restricted Party Screening, export classification and licensing, 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.
- Supports academic units in their development and implementation of technology control plans.
- Partners with principal investigators and other operations units (e.g., University IT, Facilities, etc.) to develop appropriate controls.
- Monitors technology control plans for compliance.
- Proactively raises export control and research security awareness through education and training, and by partnering with other departments/personnel to develop and monitor research security training based on regulations and functions.
- Assists in creating, implementing, and improving risks and compliance management processes specifically for meeting compliance in regards to NIST SP 800-171, NIST SP 800-53, DFAR 252-204-7012 in collaboration with the Office of Information Security.
- Works with the Office of Information Security on policy related to cloud-based environments for Controlled Unclassified Information and works closely with researchers to ensure security controls align with federal standards.
- Assists the Office of Information Security with the conduct of annual security risk assessments with external systems to verify security controls have been effectively implemented.
- Assists in providing data governance in the protection of scientific data from ransomware and other data integrity attack mechanisms using modules in annual institutional-wide compliance training for cybersecurity awareness in collaboration with the Office of Information Security.
- Supports collaborating departments throughout the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) process by assisting with documentation and audits.
- Assists the Office of Information Security in creating and implementing System Security Plans that outline how security controls will be implemented and monitored.
- Ensures full compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, policies, and mandates concerning the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence technologies in collaboration with the Office of Information Security.
- Regular and prompt attendance.
- Ability to work schedule as defined and additional hours as required.
- Related duties as required.
Number of Vacancies1Position End Date (if temporary)Job Open Date08/01/2025Job Close DateOpen Until FilledYesSpecial Instructions to ApplicantsWorking DaysMonday - FridayWorking Hours8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Job LocationMain CampusFull-time or Part-TimeFull TimeRegular or TemporaryRegular
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Are you at least 18 years of age?
- * Do you have a legal right to work in the United States?
- * The University of South Alabama typically does not sponsor individuals for staff positions. Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status?
- * What is the highest level of education you have completed?
- Less than High School
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Associates Degree
- Bachelors Degree (or will obtain within 6 months)
- Masters Degree (or will obtain within 6 months)
- Terminal Degree (or will obtain within 6 months)
- * How many years of related experience do you have?
- Less than 1 year
- Between 1 - 3 years
- Between 3 - 5 years
- Between 5 - 7 years
- More than 7 years
- * How did you hear about this position?
- USA website
- LinkedIn
- Zip Recruiter
- Indeed
- HigherEd Jobs
- Alabama Career Center / Alabama Works
- Facebook
- Word of mouth
- Other
Applicant Documents
Required Documents- Resume
Optional Documents- Cover Letter
The University of South Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis. If you feel you have been discriminated against, please notify the Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator or the Associate Vice President, Finance and Administration/CHRO.
EO Employer – minorities/females/veterans/disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity.
Annual Security and Fire Safety ReportThe University of South Alabama publishes certain crime statistics for the most recent three-year period as required by the Jeanne Clery Act. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics for the school. The report, along with additional information, is available online at:
http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/police/resources/fireandsafetyreport.pdf. You may also request a paper copy from the University Police office located at 290 Stadium Blvd, Beta Gamma Commons Building, Mobile, AL 36688.
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
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