Research Jobs at Virginia Commonwealth University with Visa Sponsorship
Research jobs at Virginia Commonwealth University span clinical, scientific, and policy work across its academic and health system divisions. For international researchers, VCU has a consistent track record of supporting visa sponsorship across multiple categories, making it a viable target for candidates seeking stable, institution-backed immigration support.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.
ABOUT THE JOB
Unit: School Of Medicine MBU
Department: Surgery
Duties & Responsibilities:
The Operations, Education, and Research Administrator, Department of Surgery provides strategic and operational leadership, ensuring efficient administration of financial, human resources, academic, research and business operations for the university. This position serves as a key advisor to the Department Chair and Administrator and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support the Department of Surgery’s VCU mission, goals, and objectives.
Core Responsibilities:
Leadership and Management
- Provide operational leadership for the department university business functions
- Provide leadership and direction for administrative, financial, academic, research, facilities, and support service functions
- Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, and operational initiatives that support university goals
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the department leadership on business and operational matters
- Develop short- and long-term plans for the business affairs and operational needs of the department
- Direct strategic priorities, resource allocation, and departmental university initiatives
Research Administration
- Facilitate and support faculty and staff research initiatives
- Direct the preparation, submission, and administration of grants and contracts
- Ensure compliance with institutional requirements, funding agency policies, and federal regulations governing sponsored programs
- Support strategic research growth and administrative infrastructure that advances faculty grants and innovation
Education Administration
- Oversee residency, fellowship, graduate and undergraduate educational programs
- Ensure program compliance with education accreditation standards
Operations and Program Management
- Oversee facilities, business operations, and support service functions as assigned
- Design, manage, and implement processes to support compliance with state and federal policies and regulations
- Align departmental policies and practices with SOM and university objectives and regulatory requirements
- Ensure program compliance with education accreditation standards
- Plan and direct the implementation and modification of technological solutions
- Identify operational improvements and lead organizational change initiatives
Stakeholder Relations
- Act as a liaison on behalf of department leadership with internal and external stakeholders
- Build collaborative relationships with all key university partners
- Communicate department goals, priorities, and initiatives effectively
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in business administration or a closely related field
- Five to seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in administration, operations, or a related field
- Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered
- Experience supporting sponsored research and grants administration
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in higher education administration
- Demonstrated experience of administration or operations of LCGME-accredited education programs
- Demonstrated experience of administration or operations in an R1-accredited research university
- Experience managing complex budgets and multiple funding sources
- Experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams
SALARY RANGE
- Salary Range: $145,000 - $165,000
BENEFITS
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
HOURS PER WEEK
- Hours per Week: 40
RESTRICTED POSITION
- Restricted Position: No
ORP ELIGIBLE
- ORP Eligible: Yes
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT
- Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
UNIVERSITY JOB TITLE
- University Job Title: 91941 - Director Administration GA 1-3
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Name: Mary Waite
Contact Email: Mary.Waite@vcuhealth.org
LOCATION
- 907 Floyd Avenue, MCV Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
INTRODUCTION
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.
ABOUT THE JOB
Unit: School Of Medicine MBU
Department: Surgery
Duties & Responsibilities:
The Operations, Education, and Research Administrator, Department of Surgery provides strategic and operational leadership, ensuring efficient administration of financial, human resources, academic, research and business operations for the university. This position serves as a key advisor to the Department Chair and Administrator and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support the Department of Surgery’s VCU mission, goals, and objectives.
Core Responsibilities:
Leadership and Management
- Provide operational leadership for the department university business functions
- Provide leadership and direction for administrative, financial, academic, research, facilities, and support service functions
- Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, and operational initiatives that support university goals
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the department leadership on business and operational matters
- Develop short- and long-term plans for the business affairs and operational needs of the department
- Direct strategic priorities, resource allocation, and departmental university initiatives
Research Administration
- Facilitate and support faculty and staff research initiatives
- Direct the preparation, submission, and administration of grants and contracts
- Ensure compliance with institutional requirements, funding agency policies, and federal regulations governing sponsored programs
- Support strategic research growth and administrative infrastructure that advances faculty grants and innovation
Education Administration
- Oversee residency, fellowship, graduate and undergraduate educational programs
- Ensure program compliance with education accreditation standards
Operations and Program Management
- Oversee facilities, business operations, and support service functions as assigned
- Design, manage, and implement processes to support compliance with state and federal policies and regulations
- Align departmental policies and practices with SOM and university objectives and regulatory requirements
- Ensure program compliance with education accreditation standards
- Plan and direct the implementation and modification of technological solutions
- Identify operational improvements and lead organizational change initiatives
Stakeholder Relations
- Act as a liaison on behalf of department leadership with internal and external stakeholders
- Build collaborative relationships with all key university partners
- Communicate department goals, priorities, and initiatives effectively
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in business administration or a closely related field
- Five to seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in administration, operations, or a related field
- Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered
- Experience supporting sponsored research and grants administration
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in higher education administration
- Demonstrated experience of administration or operations of LCGME-accredited education programs
- Demonstrated experience of administration or operations in an R1-accredited research university
- Experience managing complex budgets and multiple funding sources
- Experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams
SALARY RANGE
- Salary Range: $145,000 - $165,000
BENEFITS
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
HOURS PER WEEK
- Hours per Week: 40
RESTRICTED POSITION
- Restricted Position: No
ORP ELIGIBLE
- ORP Eligible: Yes
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT
- Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
UNIVERSITY JOB TITLE
- University Job Title: 91941 - Director Administration GA 1-3
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Name: Mary Waite
Contact Email: Mary.Waite@vcuhealth.org
LOCATION
- 907 Floyd Avenue, MCV Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
See all 73+ Research Jobs at Virginia Commonwealth University
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Research Jobs at Virginia Commonwealth University
Align Your Credentials to VCU's Research Focus
VCU runs research across health sciences, engineering, and social policy. Before applying, map your academic background and publications to an active VCU department or grant-funded lab so hiring committees see a direct fit, not a general research profile.
Target Grant-Funded Positions Early in the Cycle
University research roles tied to federal grants often have fixed start dates driven by funding windows. Applying when a position first posts gives you the best chance before a department's sponsorship budget is committed to another candidate.
Confirm OPT and CPT Timelines with VCU's HR Team
If you're on F-1 status, your OPT authorization period runs 12 months, with a 24-month STEM extension if eligible. Clarify with VCU's international HR contacts whether the role qualifies under STEM OPT before accepting an offer.
Understand When PERM Becomes Part of the Conversation
EB-2 and EB-3 sponsorship at universities typically requires a PERM labor certification, which means DOL must confirm no qualified U.S. workers are available. Research roles with narrow specializations, like a specific clinical trial methodology, tend to pass PERM more cleanly than broad postdoc positions.
Find Open Research Roles at VCU on Migrate Mate
Browse current Research openings at Virginia Commonwealth University on Migrate Mate, where listings are filtered by visa sponsorship type so you can identify roles that match your specific status before investing time in a full application.
Get Your J-1 Waiver Strategy Sorted Before Offer Stage
Many research candidates at universities arrive on J-1 exchange visitor visas with a two-year home residency requirement. If you hold a J-1 with that requirement, resolve your waiver pathway before negotiating an offer so VCU's immigration team isn't blocked from filing your H-1B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virginia Commonwealth University sponsor H-1B visas for Research roles?
Yes, Virginia Commonwealth University sponsors H-1B visas for qualifying Research positions. As a large public research university, VCU acts as a cap-exempt employer, meaning H-1B petitions filed through VCU are not subject to the annual lottery. That allows hiring to proceed year-round, which is a meaningful advantage over private-sector roles subject to the 85,000-cap selection process.
How do I apply for Research jobs at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Applications go through VCU's official careers portal, where research positions are posted by department. You can also browse Research openings at VCU filtered by visa sponsorship type on Migrate Mate before applying directly. Tailor your application to the specific lab or research unit, and note whether the posting references grant funding, since that often signals faster hiring timelines and clearer sponsorship authority.
Which visa types does VCU commonly use for Research positions?
VCU supports several visa categories for Research staff, including H-1B, J-1 visa, TN visa for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying research occupations, and F-1 OPT and CPT for students in active programs. Permanent residency pathways through EB-2 or EB-3 are also available for longer-term research appointments, typically initiated after a candidate has been in role and the position clears the PERM process with DOL.
What qualifications are expected for Research roles at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Most Research positions at VCU require at minimum a relevant master's or doctoral degree, and many lab or clinical research roles expect prior peer-reviewed publication or grant involvement. Postdoctoral appointments typically require a completed PhD in a directly related field. For H-1B sponsorship, the role must qualify as a specialty occupation, meaning the degree requirement must be specific to the position, not general.
What does the visa sponsorship timeline look like for a Research role at VCU?
Because VCU is cap-exempt, H-1B petitions can be filed any time of year with USCIS, and standard processing runs three to five months. Premium processing can reduce that to 15 business days for an additional USCIS fee. For PERM-based Green Card pathways, expect 12 to 24 months from initiation through DOL certification and USCIS approval, depending on audit risk and your priority date.