Research And Development Jobs in Omaha, NE

Job Description

The Greisch Center for Enterprise Value believes that enterprise value is created through the actions of entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, leaders, and teams who strengthen organizations over time. The Associate Director of Research provides intellectual leadership for the Center's research and assessment initiatives. This position is responsible for advancing original scholarship, leading assessment development and validation efforts, and translating research into practical tools, insights, and educational experiences that help individuals and organizations create enterprise value. The Associate Director serves as the Center's lead researcher and assessment expert, overseeing the ongoing development, validation, application, and commercialization support of proprietary assessment tools, including the Pre-Flight Check assessment and future research-backed products. Through research, publication, assessment innovation, and collaboration, this role helps establish Creighton University as a national leader in evidence-based entrepreneurship, innovation, and team development.

Essential Functions

Assessment Development & Validation

- Lead ongoing development, validation, refinement, and expansion of the Pre-Flight Check assessment and future assessment products.
- Design and oversee research studies supporting psychometric validation, predictive modeling, and assessment effectiveness.
- Guide data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting activities.
- Build and maintain longitudinal research datasets that strengthen assessment quality and predictive capabilities.
- Ensure assessment products meet rigorous academic, scientific, and professional standards.
- Support commercialization efforts through research-backed documentation, validation studies, and technical reporting.

Research & Scholarship

- Conduct and publish original research related to entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, entrepreneurial teams, and enterprise value creation.
- Produce peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, white papers, and practitioner-focused research.
- Identify emerging trends and opportunities for future assessment and entrepreneurship research.
- Contribute to the Center's reputation as a leader in evidence-based entrepreneurship and innovation.

Applied Research & Product Innovation

- Translate research findings into practical tools, frameworks, educational resources, and assessment-based products.
- Support development of new research-backed offerings that help individuals, teams, and organizations improve performance and effectiveness.
- Collaborate with Center leadership on future product concepts, commercialization opportunities, and innovation initiatives.
- Provide research guidance for assessment-related technology platforms and applications.

Academic Integration & Educational Support

- Collaborate with faculty and Greisch Center leadership to integrate research findings into educational programs and learning experiences.
- Support development of evidence-based workshops, learning modules, reports, and educational resources.
- Contribute to educational programming through guest lectures, workshops, presentations, and special projects as appropriate.

Student Research Mentorship

- Mentor undergraduate and graduate students participating in research projects.
- Support student involvement in data collection, analysis, publication, and presentation opportunities.
- Foster a culture of research, inquiry, and evidence-based thinking within the Greisch Center.

Grants, Partnerships & Thought Leadership

- Build relationships with researchers, institutions, and industry partners that advance the Center's research mission.
- Collaborate on sponsored research projects and external funding opportunities as appropriate.
- Represent the Greisch Center through publications, presentations, conferences, workshops, and professional engagement.

Qualifications

Required

- PhD in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Psychology, Education, Management, or a related field.
- Demonstrated record of scholarly research and publication.
- 5 years experience designing and conducting quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research.
- 5 years experience translating research into practical applications and recommendations.
- 5 years experience developing assessments, instruments, or psychometric tools.

Preferred

- Experience working with entrepreneurs, startups, innovation programs, or organizational development initiatives.
- Experience securing grant funding or managing sponsored research.
- Experience teaching or supporting curriculum development in higher education.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

- Expertise in research design, methodology, and data analysis.
- Strong academic writing and publication skills.
- Knowledge of assessment development and validation practices.
- Proficiency with statistical software for psychometric and quantitative analysis.
- Ability to synthesize complex findings into clear, actionable insights.
- Strong communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
- Project management and organizational skills.
- Collaborative mindset with ability to work across disciplines.
- Commitment to evidence-based decision making and continuous learning.
- Passion for helping individuals and organizations create enterprise value.

About us

Creighton University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory educational and employment environment. The University admits qualified students, hires qualified employees and accepts patients for treatment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or other status protected by law. Its education and employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other programs and activities, are administered without unlawful discrimination. Creighton complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities. Applicants with disabilities needing reasonable accommodations to complete the application or hiring process should contact Human Resources at HR@creighton.edu. Creighton University seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to the University's mission and values.