Ethics & Review Committee Officer

About the role

The Ethics & Review Committee Officer will support Mount Kenya University’s Institutional Review Board by managing the flow of research proposals, ensuring compliance with national regulations, and maintaining accurate records. Reporting to the Director of Research & Development, the officer acts as the primary administrative liaison between researchers and the ethics committee.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as Secretary to the MKU‑ISERC: prepare agendas, take minutes, and follow up on resolutions.
• Receive, register, log, and acknowledge all research proposals and ethical review applications.
• Conduct completeness and compliance checks, verifying NACOSTI licensing requirements.
• Issue, track, and file all ERC correspondence, including approvals, conditional approvals, rejections, and appeals.
• Monitor post‑approval compliance: track progress reports, adverse event notifications, close‑out reports, and spot checks.
• Maintain and update the institutional researcher database and submit quarterly/annual reports to NACOSTI.
• Support capacity‑building activities for ISERC members, reviewers, and researchers on ethics and compliance.
• Prepare and submit mandatory institutional reports to NACOSTI, including the annual financial year report.
• Assist in developing and reviewing ERC SOPs, policies, and ethical frameworks.
• Uphold confidentiality, traceability, and conflict‑of‑interest safeguards in all ERC operations.
• Perform any other duties delegated by the ISERC Chairperson or Director of Research & Development.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Bioethics, Public Health, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Law, or a related discipline.
• Minimum three years of experience in research administration, regulatory affairs, or a related research field.
• Strong knowledge of NACOSTI licensing and compliance requirements.
• Excellent organizational and record‑keeping abilities.

Required skills