Research Director Jobs in Florida
Research Director jobs in Florida are open across Gainesville, Coral Gables, and Tampa and other Florida metros, with employers like University of Miami, University of Florida, and University of South Florida hiring at every experience level. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Office of Research Administration (ORA) seeks a temporary Assoc. Director, Research Administration (Special Projects) to support the Assoc. Vice President of Research Administration.
Work location: University of Miami Coral Gables Campus.
CORE JOB SUMMARY
The Office of Research Administration (ORA) is the University's institutional office responsible for reviewing, endorsing and submitting proposals to extramural sponsors for research, clinical trials, training, instructional and other sponsored activities. As a leader in the Office of Research Administration (ORA), the Assoc. Director, Special Projects, is integrally involved in the review and analysis of complex sponsored projects and provides research administration services to a portfolio of academic departments and research units, including acting as one of the institutional liaisons with external sponsors. The Assoc. Director provides administrative support for pre-award, contract, and post-award processes as assigned by the Associate Vice President for Research Administration to ensure the success of initiatives aimed at improving processing times, data quality, and customer service. Ensures that sponsored projects are consistent with sponsors and University policies and guidelines, while providing outstanding customer service to faculty and support staff.
CORE JOB FUNCTIONS
- Ensures timely, accurate and compliant proposal submissions.
- Conducts comprehensive analysis and negotiates all research agreements, evaluating terms and conditions of research grants and contracts involving awards from various sources, including: government, foundation, corporate and, engaging in negotiations to establish the financial, legal, and other contractual terms.
- May be required to oversee staff responsible for creating compliant billing grids for clinical research projects to maintain billing compliance.
- Conducts comprehensive analysis and negotiates all applicable research contract and grant budgets, focusing on clinical care pricing, fair market value, from various sources, including: government, foundation, corporate and industry. Interacts with other ORA personnel, Principal Investigators and study teams, Compliance, IRB (Human Subject Research Office), Technology Transfer, Risk Management, and other relevant offices to ensure that research initiation is managed in an efficient and effective manner consistent with UM policies and procedures, and that applications are compliant and fiscally sound. Maintains advanced knowledge of applicable OMB circulars, NIH Policy Statement and other applicable regulations.
- Provides updates and status reports to senior management on a regular basis by track relevant data using University systems and other tools and provides leadership with metrics, including through output and turnaround time.
- Oversees, trains, and mentors staff in assigned team.
- Partners with other departments to facilitate transparent and accountable research administration and coordinate documentation and approval processes.
- Maintains effective relationships with sponsor representatives to facilitate communication.
- Establishes and continuously assesses the effectiveness of the internal controls within the unit and compliance with University policies and procedures.
- Ensures employees are trained on controls within the function and on University policy and procedures.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.
CORE QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field. Master’s degree in relevant field preferred.
Certification and Licensing:
CRA or CFRA or CHRC certification preferred.
Experience:
Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, ideally in an academic setting. Appropriate combination of relevant education and/or experience may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes:
- Knowledge of business and management principles.
- Extensive knowledge of research administration, preferably in academic institution clinical research.
- Extensive knowledge of financial principles, Medicare regulations, healthcare reimbursement principles, laws and regulations guiding clinical research.
- Ability to efficiently research complex information and use it for establishment and improvement of work processes, reporting and data analysis.
- Ability to direct, manage, implement, and evaluate department operations.
- Ability to effectively plan, delegate and/or supervise the work of others.
- Ability to lead, motivate, develop, and train others.
Department Specific Functions
The Associate Director of the Office of Research Administration (ORA) – Special Projects reports to the Associate Vice President for Research Administration and is responsible for providing leadership, oversight and management of ORA’s mission for the Coral Gables, Rosenstiel, and Medical Campuses. The Executive Director is responsible for supervision of all personnel under the pre-award unit.
Job Functions:
- Partners with academic and departmental leadership, and grant/contract staff to facilitate transparent and accountable research administration organization in support of principal investigators and the University’s research mission.
- Provides grants management expertise for the University regarding 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations) in relation to pre-award and training operations.
- Coordinates documentation, approval processes, record keeping, data quality assurance, reporting, and liaison activities within the University of Miami (UM) and outside awarding agencies.
- Directs, reviews, and submits proposals, and coordinates the pre-award activities for Federal agencies, industry and private foundations for support of University sponsored programs.
- Monitors for compliance with agency and UM requirements for assigned activities.
- Engage and support ORA units as assigned to ensure compliance with established Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Provides training and support to faculty and administration regarding sponsored requirements and best practices.
- Maintains effective relationships with Federal representatives; facilitate communication and effective management of University sponsored awards.
- Provides information to sponsors and UM personnel in a prompt, accurate and cordial fashion.
- Assesses the regulatory impact on internal business processes.
- Accomplishes special projects in support of the Office of Research Administration.
- Seeks ways to improve and enhance service delivery.
- Maintains the commitment to continuous evaluation and assessment of organizational effectiveness.
- Supervises ORA staff to accomplish responsibilities listed above.
The University of Miami is recognized as one of the nation’s premier research institutions and academic health systems and is among the largest employers in South Florida.
With more than 20,000 faculty and staff, the University is committed to excellence and guided by a mission to positively impact the lives of students, patients, and communities locally and globally.
We are dedicated to fostering a culture where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully. United by shared values, the University community works together to build an environment defined by purpose, collaboration, and service.
The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.
Job Status:
Full time
Employee Type:
Staff
See All 14 Research Director Jobs in Florida
Find roles in Florida that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Director JobsResearch Director Jobs by City in Florida
Where Florida roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Director Job Market in Florida
A snapshot from current Florida openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Miami5

- University of Florida4

- University of South Florida3

- Electronic Arts (EA)2

Top Industries Hiring
- Education12
- Gaming & Esports2
- Media & Entertainment2
- Technology & Software2
- Healthcare & Medical Services1
What Florida Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research director jobs across Florida.
- Advanced degree in a relevant field such as a PhD or master's degree
- 7 or more years of progressive research experience including supervisory responsibility
- Demonstrated ability to design, lead, and publish or present original research
- Proficiency with statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, R, or similar tools
- Experience securing and managing grants or external research funding
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive-level reporting
Research Director Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
How many research director jobs are there in Florida?
There are 14+ research director openings in Florida on Migrate Mate as of June 2026, with the most roles in Gainesville, Coral Gables, and Tampa. New positions post regularly as employers across Florida hire.
How much do research directors make in Florida?
Research directors in Florida earn a median of about $112,220 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,660 for the lowest 10% to over $216,330 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which Florida cities have the most research director jobs?
Gainesville, Coral Gables, and Tampa have the most research director openings in Florida right now, with additional roles spread across smaller metros statewide.
Which companies hire research directors in Florida?
Employers hiring research directors in Florida include University of Miami, University of Florida, and University of South Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026.
Are there remote research director jobs in Florida?
Yes. About 0% of research director openings tied to Florida are remote or hybrid as of June 2026. The rest are on-site roles based in Florida metros.
How do I apply for research director jobs in Florida?
You can apply to research director jobs in Florida directly on Migrate Mate. Search the listings above, find roles that match your experience and preferred Florida location, then apply to each one that fits.
See All 14 Research Director Jobs in Florida
Find roles in Florida that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Director Jobs