Executive Director of Conflicts of Interest: Campus Compliance Services - UTK
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
Executive Director – Conflict of Interest (COI) Program
Reporting to the Chief Campus Compliance Officer, the Executive Director serves as the university’s principal authority on identifying, reviewing, managing, and mitigating conflicts of interest while ensuring alignment with institutional values and regulatory requirements.
Responsibilities
Institutional Leadership & Program Development
Lead the design, development, and phased implementation of a dedicated COI/COC team within Campus Compliance Services
Establish organizational structure, staffing plans, workflows, and operating procedures
Build sustainable processes and internal controls for consistent and timely conflict review and management
Integrate COI/COC operations into UTK’s broader compliance and risk management framework
Coordinate with the Research Conflicts of Interest Compliance Officer to ensure alignment while maintaining a defined research compliance model
Policy Development & Governance
Draft, interpret, and revise policies and procedures related to conflicts of interest and commitment
Lead development and maintenance of the UTK COI/COC Program Charter
Define institutional vs. research-specific authority and responsibilities
Establish clear escalation, enforcement, and reporting pathways
Serve as the primary staff lead for the Conflicts of Interest Committee and related governance bodies
Disclosure Review & Case Management
Oversee review and adjudication of COI/COC disclosures for faculty and staff
Lead evaluation of complex and high-risk cases
Coordinate research-related disclosures with the Research COI Compliance Officer
Develop and monitor conflict management and mitigation plans
Escalate significant risks to senior leadership
Regulatory Compliance & Reporting
Ensure systems support both institutional and research-specific disclosures
Training, Outreach & Program Effectiveness
Design and implement campus-wide COI/COC training and education programs
Promote awareness of disclosure requirements and ethical standards
Partner with academic and administrative leaders to embed compliance practices
Develop metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to monitor performance and risk
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Education: Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Research, Audit, and/or Compliance related fields.
Experience:
7‑10 years of progressively responsible experience in research compliance, institutional compliance, ethics programs, and/or conflicts of interest administration.
Experience reviewing and creating conflict management plans for complex disclosures.
Experience with federal sponsor compliance, audits, and institutional reporting.
Experience with Huron (or similar disclosure system)
Experience in institutional compliance, governance, and risk management in complex organizations.
Expertise in disclosure review processes, conflict management strategies, and policy development.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Knowledge of conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment frameworks in higher education; federal research sponsor requirements; principles of research integrity and responsible conduct of research; and institutional compliance, governance, and risk management practices within complex academic environments.
Strong ability to interpret and apply complex federal regulations and institutional policies.
Understanding of federal research sponsor requirements and research integrity principles.
Knowledge of disclosure review processes, conflict management strategies, and policy development related to conflicts of interest.
Skill in interpreting and applying complex federal regulations, institutional policies, and sponsor requirements related to conflicts of interest and commitment.
Preferred Qualifications
Education: JD or PhD in Public Administration, Research, Audit, and/or Compliance related fields.
Experience:
Experience building/developing a COI program and/or research integrity program.
Leadership experience at an R1 research institution.
Experience with Huron.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Knowledge of governance structures and demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty committees, senior leadership, and research administration to address complex or high‑risk conflicts of interest and commitment matters.
Work Location
Location: Knoxville, TN
Hybrid
Compensation And Benefits
UT market range: 20
Anticipated hiring range: Based on qualifications $145,000-$155,000
Application Instructions To express interest, please submit an application with the following attachments. Applications must be submitted on or before
Friday, May 1st, 2026 .
Resume
Cover Letter
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Reporting to the Chief Campus Compliance Officer, the Executive Director serves as the university’s principal authority on identifying, reviewing, managing, and mitigating conflicts of interest while ensuring alignment with institutional values and regulatory requirements.
Responsibilities
Institutional Leadership & Program Development
Lead the design, development, and phased implementation of a dedicated COI/COC team within Campus Compliance Services
Establish organizational structure, staffing plans, workflows, and operating procedures
Build sustainable processes and internal controls for consistent and timely conflict review and management
Integrate COI/COC operations into UTK’s broader compliance and risk management framework
Coordinate with the Research Conflicts of Interest Compliance Officer to ensure alignment while maintaining a defined research compliance model
Policy Development & Governance
Draft, interpret, and revise policies and procedures related to conflicts of interest and commitment
Lead development and maintenance of the UTK COI/COC Program Charter
Define institutional vs. research-specific authority and responsibilities
Establish clear escalation, enforcement, and reporting pathways
Serve as the primary staff lead for the Conflicts of Interest Committee and related governance bodies
Disclosure Review & Case Management
Oversee review and adjudication of COI/COC disclosures for faculty and staff
Lead evaluation of complex and high-risk cases
Coordinate research-related disclosures with the Research COI Compliance Officer
Develop and monitor conflict management and mitigation plans
Escalate significant risks to senior leadership
Regulatory Compliance & Reporting
Ensure systems support both institutional and research-specific disclosures
Training, Outreach & Program Effectiveness
Design and implement campus-wide COI/COC training and education programs
Promote awareness of disclosure requirements and ethical standards
Partner with academic and administrative leaders to embed compliance practices
Develop metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to monitor performance and risk
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Education: Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Research, Audit, and/or Compliance related fields.
Experience:
7‑10 years of progressively responsible experience in research compliance, institutional compliance, ethics programs, and/or conflicts of interest administration.
Experience reviewing and creating conflict management plans for complex disclosures.
Experience with federal sponsor compliance, audits, and institutional reporting.
Experience with Huron (or similar disclosure system)
Experience in institutional compliance, governance, and risk management in complex organizations.
Expertise in disclosure review processes, conflict management strategies, and policy development.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Knowledge of conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment frameworks in higher education; federal research sponsor requirements; principles of research integrity and responsible conduct of research; and institutional compliance, governance, and risk management practices within complex academic environments.
Strong ability to interpret and apply complex federal regulations and institutional policies.
Understanding of federal research sponsor requirements and research integrity principles.
Knowledge of disclosure review processes, conflict management strategies, and policy development related to conflicts of interest.
Skill in interpreting and applying complex federal regulations, institutional policies, and sponsor requirements related to conflicts of interest and commitment.
Preferred Qualifications
Education: JD or PhD in Public Administration, Research, Audit, and/or Compliance related fields.
Experience:
Experience building/developing a COI program and/or research integrity program.
Leadership experience at an R1 research institution.
Experience with Huron.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Knowledge of governance structures and demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty committees, senior leadership, and research administration to address complex or high‑risk conflicts of interest and commitment matters.
Work Location
Location: Knoxville, TN
Hybrid
Compensation And Benefits
UT market range: 20
Anticipated hiring range: Based on qualifications $145,000-$155,000
Application Instructions To express interest, please submit an application with the following attachments. Applications must be submitted on or before
Friday, May 1st, 2026 .
Resume
Cover Letter
#J-18808-Ljbffr