Research Ethics Coordinator

Join us in building a world of possibility!

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. It has ranked amongst Canada’s top 40 research hospitals for more than a decade. We offer an inspiring, inclusive, innovative, and collaborative work environment with competitive compensation and benefit packages and programs.

The Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), embedded within the hospital, is the only university-affiliated research institute in Canada dedicated to pediatric disability, and one of very few around the world. BRI’s vision is to be a global leader in transformative, equity-driven research dedicated to enabling personalized versions of a good life across the lifespan, for all individuals with childhood onset disabilities, acquired injuries and developmental differences, their families and communities.

The Position

Reporting to the Manager, Office of Human Research Protections, the Coordinator, Research Ethics, is integral to the operations of the Research Ethics Office (REO) by supporting the Research Ethics Board (REB) and serving as the primary liaison between the REB and the research teams. The Coordinator, Research Ethics, is responsible for facilitating the research ethics review process, interpreting REB guidelines and practices governing human research participant protection, and the prompt processing of research ethics submissions to the Holland Bloorview REB through all stages of review, approval, and monitoring.

Additionally, the Coordinator, Research Ethics, will provide REB education along with the Research Ethics Office and REB Chair and Vice-Chair, and will be responsible for maintaining the REB website as well as the eREB system. The Coordinator, Research Ethics, supports the work of the REB Chair, Vice-Chair and REB members.

The Coordinator, Research Ethics will make a meaningful contribution to a wide range of projects and topics within BRI, providing outstanding opportunities for skills and knowledge development and professional growth.

In 2023, BRI celebrated the largest research expansion in its history, with the construction of an 11,000 square-foot research tower at 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto. The incumbent must be available to work on-site, with the possibility for remote work as operational needs allow.

Key Responsibilities

Communication and Education

• Educate, communicate and liaise effectively with the REB members, investigators, research/clinical staff, trainees and administrative staff throughout the hospital
• Provide accurate and consistent information on ethical principles and REB standard operating procedures, and provide advice to research teams about REB process and requirements to assist research teams in meeting REB submission requirements as relevant to each submission
• Maintain processes, and monitor practices to ensure research involving humans, with a particular emphasis on children and other vulnerable populations, complies with all regulations
• Maintain the REB website as well as the eREB system
• Oversee and coordinate student and intern placements within the REO, supervise and onboard students and interns, develop student and intern learning goals, oversee progress and ensure student program requirements are met

Administrative Functions

• Coordinate and review all REB submissions including initial study approval, amendments, protocol deviations, unanticipated problems, adverse events, renewals, closures, researchers' responses to REB concerns and make recommendations for approval or need for revision
• Assists with the preparation of REB meeting packages
• Work with the REB Chair, Vice-Chair and Research Ethics Office to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, guidelines and policies throughout ethics review, approval and monitoring process
• Provide accurate and complete documentation of REB discussions and decisions
• Coordinate the maintenance of electronic and paper files to ensure timely and accurate record keeping; responsible for appropriate archiving of files (as required)
• Assist in the development, implementation and communication of standard operating procedures, guidance documents and forms relating to the REB and REO
• Maintain and update electronic databases and activity reports
• Assist in Compiling, analyzing and interpreting REB/REO metrics for reporting purposes

Specialized Skills

• Demonstrated competency in Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2): Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans and International Conference on Harmonization – Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP), Health Canada and FDA Regulations
• Possess a working knowledge of health research methodology

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in bioethics, life sciences, or a health-related field is required
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in a clinical research environment is required
• Previous work experience within a research ethics office is strongly preferred
• Adept at working in a fast-paced, rapidly changing academic research environment
• Excellent communication, judgment, interpersonal skills, analytic skills, problem-solving skills and consultative skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team as well as independently
• Computer proficiency, especially MS Office applications
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly sensitive confidential information with tact, discretion and respect
• Must be resourceful
• Ability to set priorities and manage a busy work schedule
• Background in childhood disability is an asset
• Previous experience with CTO is an asset
• Experience with electronic REB application system (e.g. Infonetica) is an asset