Associate Director, Research Security Program
Company: Virginia Tech
Location: Blacksburg
Posted on: January 4, 2026
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Job Description:
The Associate Director provides program management, operational,
and administrative services for the Office of Export and Secure
Research Compliance’s Research Security Program. This program
ensures university-wide compliance with policies, procedures, and
regulations related to research security, foreign influence, and
export controls (in close collaboration with the Export Controls
and Sanctions Program). The Associate Director monitors federal
legislation/regulations in these areas, including National Security
Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM – 33), CHIPS and Science Act of
2022, research security, international collaborations due
diligence, controlled unclassified information, and
export-controlled information as appropriate. OESRC serves as the
primary unit at the university responsible for risk management of
the overall research security program. The primary duties of this
position include: • Create and maintain university policies and
procedures to ensure compliance with applicable policies,
procedures and regulations for research security. • Initiate and
manage new projects from inception to completion, exercising
discretion and best judgment, and then maintaining these
initiatives. Projects range from moderately complex and varied to
working on multiple, complex projects simultaneously and
independently. • Conduct research security reviews and risk
assessments of international collaborations, including travel,
proposed foreign person employees and visitors, and funded and
non-funded proposals/agreements. Develop and monitor research
security risk mitigation plans as needed. • Provide
education/training for university faculty, staff, and students as
well as guidance or risk mitigation plans resulting from specific
research security reviews • Oversee management and compliance of
Technology Control Plans (TCPs) with assistance from other OESRC
team members, academic departments/institutes, and individual
faculty, staff, and students. The Associate Director role is hybrid
with weekly onsite presence in Blacksburg, VA and provides
essential services to university senior management, department
management, faculty, staff, and students who are involved in
international collaborations and/or research that intersects with
export controls. The Associate Director is expected to perform
duties with considerable independence and is accountable for
continued maintenance of the program, including training programs
and reporting both internal to the University and external to
appropriate government agencies. Additionally, the Associate
Director will collaborate with other University departments and
personnel, including the Division of IT, Office of International
Affairs, Office of Audit Risk and Compliance, University Legal
Counsel, University Libraries, and multiple units within Office of
Research and Innovation to develop comprehensive policy guidelines
and procedures to effectively coordinate and manage a comprehensive
research security program. The Associate Director reports to the
Assistant Vice President for Research Security and Chief Research
Security Officer and supervises members of the team comprising a
mix of professional faculty and administrative staff. The Associate
Director must have a working understanding of technical security
requirements, such as National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) 800 series and Cybersecurity Maturity Model
Certification (CMMC) program requirements. Required Qualifications
- Advanced degree in business, political science, international
affairs, or other relevant field; or Bachelor’s degree with
significant training and/or progressive professional experience in
lieu of an advanced degree - Must be eligible for, and able to
obtain and maintain at least Secret level security clearance as
required to perform assigned duties - Demonstrated ability to work
autonomously but also within a team environment - Demonstrated
excellent customer service and communication skills - Highly
motivated, self-starter with ability to multi-task - Demonstrated
professional experience in export controls and/or research security
with knowledge of relevant rules and regulations Preferred
Qualifications - Knowledge of NIST 800 series security requirements
and CMMC program requirements - Demonstrated working experience at
an accredited institution of higher education - Demonstrated
working experience developing policies and procedures such as
detailed documentation and training resources for customers -
Program or project management experience and/or certification (e.g.
PMP, PMI) - Prior supervisory experience - Current or previous
Department of Defense security clearance Overtime Status Exempt:
Not eligible for overtime Appointment Type Regular Salary
Information Starting at $140,000; commensurate with experience
Hours per week 40 Additional Information Due to access to sensitive
information, position is restricted to US citizens. The successful
candidate must be eligible for, and able to obtain and maintain, at
least Secret level security clearance as required to perform
assigned duties. The successful candidate will be required to have
a criminal conviction check. About Virginia Tech Dedicated to its
motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the
boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary
approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A
comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of
life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an
inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and
creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse
enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and
professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of
medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and
Honors College. The university has a significant presence across
Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area,
the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in
Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and
research institutes. A leading global research institution,
Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional
development opportunities and university shared governance. These
valuable contributions to university shared governance provide
important representation and perspective, along with opportunities
for unique and impactful professional development. Virginia Tech
does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on
the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy),
gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information,
ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race,
religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise
discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about,
discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of
other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by
law.
Keywords: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg , Associate Director, Research Security Program, Science, Research & Development , Blacksburg, Virginia
