Standards Specialist, Research Data Governance & Compliance - Division of Informatics

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Standards Specialist, Research Data Governance & Compliance - Division of Informatics

Job Profile Title

Manager D, Research

Job Description Summary

The Standards Specialist, Research Data Governance & Compliance will serve as a subject-matter expert in research data governance and compliance, supporting the Pennsieve platform and related initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania. The role provides guidance to investigators and project teams on IRB protocols, HIPAA, and regulatory requirements as they relate to data management and sharing, including multi-site and multi-institutional studies.

This position leads the development and implementation of best practices for research data governance, including data curation, metadata standards, and lifecycle management. The individual collaborates with internal teams and external partners to define and implement Common Data Elements (CDEs) and contributes to broader data standardization and interoperability efforts.

The Standards Specialist advises collaborators on data sharing strategies, including Data Use Agreements (DUAs) and governance frameworks, and works with NIH programs and research consortia to align platform capabilities with evolving compliance expectations. The role also supports onboarding of new projects to the platform.

As a senior member of the program team, the Standards Specialist provides guidance to project managers, oversees complex cross-functional initiatives, and partners with technical and scientific teams to ensure alignment between regulatory requirements and platform capabilities. The position also contributes to continuous improvement of data governance practices and institutional strategy for scalable, compliant research data ecosystems.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Research Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:
  • Serve as a subject-matter expert on IRB protocols, HIPAA, and research compliance as they relate to data management and sharing on the Pennsieve platform.
  • Guide investigators and project teams in the development and execution of compliant data workflows.
  • Advise on regulatory considerations for multi-site and multi-institutional studies.

• Data Governance & Standards:
  • Lead development and implementation of best practices for research data governance, including data cleaning, curation, metadata, and lifecycle management.
  • Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to define and implement Common Data Elements (CDEs) and data standards.
  • Contribute to national and consortium-level efforts to advance data standardization and interoperability.

• External Partnerships & Data Sharing:
  • Provide expertise to external collaborators on data sharing strategies, including Data Use Agreements (DUAs), data transfer protocols, and governance frameworks.
  • Interface with NIH programs and other research consortia to align platform capabilities with evolving compliance and data sharing expectations.
  • Support onboarding of new projects and partners to the Pennsieve platform.

• Program Leadership & Coordination:
  • Serve as a senior member of the program management team, providing guidance and mentorship to project managers.
  • Oversee complex, multi-project initiatives involving data integration, compliance, and infrastructure development.
  • Partner with technical, scientific, and operational teams to ensure alignment between regulatory requirements and platform capabilities.

• Strategy & Continuous Improvement:
  • Identify gaps in current data governance and compliance workflows and drive improvements.
  • Help shape institutional and platform-level strategy for scalable, compliant research data ecosystems.
  • Stay current with evolving regulatory frameworks, NIH policies, and best practices in research data management.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required and 5-7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required; Master’s or advanced degree in biomedical informatics, public health, data science, or related field preferred
• 5-7 years of experience in research program management, data governance, or research compliance in an academic, clinical, or biomedical research environment
• Demonstrated experience working with IRB protocols, HIPAA regulations, and data sharing frameworks

Skills & Expertise

• Deep understanding of research data lifecycle, including curation, metadata standards, and data integration
• Experience with Data Use Agreements (DUAs), data sharing policies, and multi-institutional collaborations
• Familiarity with NIH-funded programs and expectations around data sharing and standardization
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, with experience overseeing or mentoring project managers
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work across technical, clinical, and administrative stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Common Data Elements (CDEs) and data standardization initiatives
• Familiarity with cloud-based research platforms and modern data infrastructure
• Experience supporting large-scale collaborative research programs or consortia

The position is contingent upon grant funding.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$80,891.00 - $95,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay