What are the responsibilities and job description for the Export Controls Specialist position at East Carolina University?
Reporting to and under the supervision of the Director of the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance, the Export Controls Specialist must independently lead East Carolina University’s export compliance and import compliance-related programs. The Export Controls Specialist must have a broad understanding of the university’s organizational structure and of the responsibilities of various organizational units that may be impacted by federal export and import regulatory requirements. The position creates/maintains the strategic framework by which the university complies with, to the fullest extent possible, relevant regulations. The Export Controls Specialist must interpret complex and nuanced federal export and import compliance-related regulatory requirements. The Export Controls Specialist must identify associated risks that exist across the university’s operations, inform the appropriate organizations, engage and collaborate with the appropriate stakeholders, design new institutional programs, implement the programs, and monitor new and existing programs.
The Export Controls Specialist must provide recommended updates, if any, regarding ECU’s General Governance – Export Control Compliance regulation. The Export Controls Specialist must compose and finalize relevant internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The Export Controls Specialist must periodically update SOPs to align with ECU operational changes, with federal regulatory changes, and/or with any identified risks that must be managed.
The Export Controls Specialist must prepare the Annual Report regarding the state of ECU’s overall export and import compliance program; the report is required by ECU’s Export Control Compliance regulation. The position establishes, maintains, and reports process key Performance Indicators (KPls). The position establishes, maintains, and reports transactional metrics. The position must independently analyze transactional metrics, identify and implement needed process improvements, and work toward meeting or exceeding KPI targets.
The Export Controls Specialist promotes export and import compliance awareness through various mechanisms including, but not limited to, ORIC’s website design and content updates, representing ORIG at various events (such as New Faculty Orientation, Faculty Convocation, Compliance and Ethics Week, various department meetings, various committee meetings), providing training in various settings (such as in one-on-one sessions, as part of ECU’s Responsible Conduct of Research curriculum, in group sessions) and through various methods (such as general training, tailored training, individual counseling, online curriculum delivery).
The position manages data collected from employee responses provided in ECU’s annual and project-specific conflicts of interest and export controls disclosures. The position evaluates records, counsel’s relevant individuals and departments, and addresses any concerns. The position supports ECU’s compliance with U.S. import regulations administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as various Partner Government Agencies. The Export Controls Specialist routinely screens international students, travel, and agreements (i.e. MOUs), visiting scholars, foreign employees, research programs and collaborations involving foreign nationals or other export control factors, and other transactions and scenarios, as necessary.
The Export Controls Specialist analyzes and facilitates international shipments. Therefore, the Export Controls Specialist must sometimes solicit data from primary investigators, faculty, departments, etc., in order to submit and/or facilitate various federal license and permit applications. The most likely applicable government authorities include, but are not limited to, U.S Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), U.S. Department of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Department of Agriculture (DOA) – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Center for Device Radiological Health (CDRH). The position must monitor applications, manage any licenses or permits received, or otherwise communicate the outcome to the affected parties. The Export Controls Specialist may be required to facilitate the establishing of a transaction’s Customs or Export Value, may have to apply import or export valuation methodology as defined in federal regulations, or communicate that information to shipment initiators. The position may be required to submit export transaction data directly to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, and/or may be required to coordinate various aspects of a shipment and may include time-sensitive researching of unfamiliar federal requirements, communicating with ECU Materials Management, freight forwarders, U.S. Customs brokers, and/or affected departments, as well as others.
The Export Controls Specialist provides in-person cross-training to others within ORIC in order to enable continuity of service during absences and receives cross-training from others within ORIC. The Export Controls Specialist composes and maintains desk procedures that assist in maintaining a methodical execution of activities and to support cross-training efforts. The position manages various inputs, such as data from ECU’s Office of Research Administration’s sponsored program systems, travel system, graduate admissions applications, employment records, and export controls disclosure system. The position routinely leverages and may provide input about how the department uses various software applications and tools. These include, but are not limited to, Descartes Visual Compliance, COi Risk Manager, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MS PowerPoint, Adobe Pro, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
The Export Controls Specialist must think critically, interpret various regulations and analyze how they affect various scenarios. Regulations include, but are not limited to, the Foreign Assets Control Regulations (FACR), Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Customs Duties, and various other regulations. When applicable, the Export Controls Specialist must be able to accurately determine the applicable Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)/Schedule B number (including using the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS)), Commerce Control List (CCL) Export Control Classification Number (ECCN), United States Munitions List (USML) category, in order to determine appropriate federal jurisdiction and classification of commodities and technology. The Export Controls Specialist must take appropriate courses of action when reviewing export of goods, services, and information (including deemed exports to Foreign Persons as defined within the EAR and ITAR that may occur on ECU’s campus).
The Export Controls Specialist sometimes is required to work with University Counsel on various related matters. Other duties may be assigned.
Contingent upon availability of funds.
This position may be eligible for Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) under the East Carolina University (ECU) FWA Policy.
Contingent upon availability of funds.
This position may be eligible for Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) under the East Carolina University (ECU) FWA Policy.
Minimum Education/Experience
Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation
N/A
Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education
- Working knowledge of the various and complex federal U.S. sanctions and export control laws, regulations, and compliance processes, including licensing, reporting, and permitting processes, and experience working with principal investigators and research administration in a university or private research environment with sponsored research in medical, dental, engineering, physics, and/or similar fields.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills including ability to communicate complex regulatory information to faculty, staff, and students, in an effective, user friendly manner targeted to their specific needs.
- High degree of professional integrity and commitment to high standards of excellence.
- Ability to work independently, to pay close attention to details, to make independent, sound judgments regarding the interpretation and applicability of export control regulations, to make final decisions including recording the decision and creating a standardized audit trail.
- Ability to work effectively as a team member and with a flexible, adaptable approach.
- Knowledge and experience with import compliance processes in a university or similar setting, or experience with similar compliance processes that require similar skills.
- Experience developing, implementing training experiences, and analyzing data from learning outcomes or course reviews in order to continuously improve training.
- Experience supporting a federal audit or internal review of an organization’s compliance processes and records.
Special Instructions to Applicant
East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online in order to be considered for the position. Candidates must also submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, including contact information, online.
2-3 original letters of reference are required for employment. Please be aware that if selected as a candidate of choice, an automatic e-mail will be sent to the individuals entered by the applicant in the References section in the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of reference submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system will be verified and considered towards meeting this requirement.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
2-3 original letters of reference are required for employment. Please be aware that if selected as a candidate of choice, an automatic e-mail will be sent to the individuals entered by the applicant in the References section in the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of reference submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system will be verified and considered towards meeting this requirement.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Additional Instructions to Applicant
In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.
Job Open Date
01/23/2025
Open Until Filled
No
Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date. If no closing date is indicated, the position may close at any time after the initial screening date.
02/06/2025
Initial Screening Begins
02/07/2025
Rank Level
Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting
https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/83512
AA/EOE
East Carolina University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer who is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care, belonging and opportunity for our faculty, staff and learners and all stakeholders. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, or veteran status.
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu.
Eligibility for Employment
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity
If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.
