The Faculty of Art, Business, Law and Economics is now seeking the Expressions of Interest from ongoing staff for the role of Chair of the Low Risk Ethics Committee – 0.2FTE until the 19^th December 2025.

Expressions of Interest in the form of a maximum two-page application letter addressing the selection criteria and personal attributes as outlined below along with a current resume should be submitted via the below relevant link. 

Responsibilities of the LR Committee:

• Review and, where appropriate, approve new applications and applications for amendments to existing approvals, and provide advice to applicants on the ethical acceptability of their research.
• Review and recommend actions required in regard to complaints and concerns related to an approved project.
• Provide ethical oversight and guidance to support the processes for monitoring approved research projects, to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest, including any financial or other interest or affiliation, that is related to any ethics application or matter that is to be reviewed by the LNR Committee.
• Attend continuing education or training programs in research ethics.

Specific duties to be undertaken by the Chair:

• Provide leadership and impartial guidance in relation to human research as per the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the Code) and the National Statement. Consult other guidelines relevant to the review of specific research proposals.
• Read low and minimal risk ethics applications, amendments and reports requiring LR review.
• Chair the Faculty LR Committee meetings, facilitate the discussion to ensure the views of all members are received and that consensus-based decisions are made. Make determinations when members cannot reach consensus.
• Work closely with the Committee’s Ethics Officer to prepare for Committee meetings, including reviewing draft agendas and supporting documentation, and monitor member responses for quorum to ensure minimum attendance requirements are met.
• Liaise with the Committee’s Ethics Officer regarding post-meeting procedures, including reviewing draft minutes and response letters to applicants as required. Provide ad hoc guidance and advice on matters related to ethics applications.
• Make decisions about the appropriate review pathway for applications, amendments, and reports, e.g. elevating an application to the full HREC if it does not meet the guidelines for LR review.
• Provide executive review and approval of minor amendments and extensions.
• Review monitoring reports about approved research projects to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Follow established procedures for handling adverse events, complaints and concerns about the conduct of an approved research project.
• Offer ad hoc guidance and advice to researchers in consultation with the Committee’s Ethics Officer, including the arbitration of disagreements and appeals.
• Promote staff, student, and committee member awareness of relevant legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines, and contribute to the onboarding of new members and training of researchers in the ethical conduct of human research.

Training provided:

• Newly appointed Chairs will be provided induction training.
• During their membership of the Committee, Chairs will be given the opportunity to attend training workshops relevant to the work and responsibilities of the Committee as may be available.
• A member portal is available to provide a variety of reference materials

Qualifications – skills, expertise, experience, knowledge:

The Chair of an LR Committee will:

• Be a senior academic staff member (Associate Professor or Professor) of the University;
• Hold a continuing role or a fixed-term position that covers the term of appointment;
• Have experience in conducting human research and writing human ethics proposals;
• Have an understanding of the ethical issues that can arise in human research and the necessary expertise to provide advice to address these issues in applications that the LNR Committee considers.

Personal attributes required:

• Ability to facilitate and actively lead meetings that require consensus-based decisions;
• Ability to read large documents and make decisions within short time timeframes;
• High standards of integrity and professionalism;
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a collegial team.

Applications will close Wednesday 13th August at 5pm, please apply by clicking 'Apply Now' below.

To be eligible to apply for this position, you must be an Adelaide University, University of Adelaide or UniSA current employee at the time the position is advertised.

Please contact Deputy Dean, Research, Russel Brewer: russell.brewer@adelaide.edu.au

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