Research Director Jobs in Maryland

INTRODUCTION

The Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) seeks an accomplished Associate Director Research Administration - Pre-Award to provide strategic leadership for its pre-award team. This position oversees a team of pre-award professionals responsible for the management of over 900 sponsored proposals from over 290 unique sponsors per year, while advancing operational excellence, service quality, and compliance across the portfolio. The Associate Director will provide visible leadership in shaping pre-award strategy, developing staff, and promoting consistent, high-quality research administration services to faculty across the school, leveraging metrics-based tools and analytics to inform decision-making, enhance service delivery, and support operational effectiveness.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Associate Director Research Administration provides leadership in training, direction and management of a team of grants, subawards, and/or contracts analysts. The role may oversee or manage teams engaged in pre-award and/or post-award functions, such as proposal preparation, documentation review, portfolio management, workload assessments, process improvements, and workflow coordination. The Associate Director may also serve as a support resource for the pre-award and post-award teams during periods of increased workload, staff absences, or vacancies.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervise staff who perform the primary transactional actions related to grants, subawards, and/or contracts.
• Provide expert advice to faculty and staff regarding sponsored projects and related activities. Act as liaison for compliance with regulations and university policies.
• Provide regulatory and compliance oversight and guidance to research administration staff related to university policies and procedures and all applicable rules, regulations, and sponsor guidelines. Monitor risk and compliance concerns.
• Implement systems to track research administration reporting and metrics as well as sponsored projects deadlines and activity.
• Project and analyze long-term trends in total research funding and sponsored effort.
• Monitor and manage onboarding and ongoing training and ensure processes are effective.
• Ensure that effective ongoing training programs are in place for all key positions and processes supporting research administration, including developing and participating in training/guidance of departmental students, staff and faculty in understanding university and various applicable sponsor policies and regulations as well as the systems that support sponsored projects.
• Participate in institutional committees for research compliance and sponsored programs administration across the university.
• Create and implement policies and procedures to address new regulatory changes in alignment with university, federal, and other sponsored guidelines.
• Serve as a research administration ombudsperson for faculty and staff by providing leadership and guidance in support of sponsored projects.
• Participate in long-range and strategic planning related to policy, organizational structure, process, outreach, and professional growth and development of staff. In coordination with leadership, assess gaps and overlaps in business processes and lead efforts to analyze and streamline processes to improve organizational metrics, performance and service levels and ensure consistency across the division.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in related field and relevant specialized training.
• Seven years of progressively responsible directly related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD or JD in related field and relevant specialized training.
• Experience in sponsored projects, contracts and/or research compliance administration experience.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & EXPECTED LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY

• Contract Negotiation - Advanced
• Grant Regulations - Advanced
• Interpersonal Skills - Advanced
• Policy Development and Implementation - Advanced
• Process Improvement - Advanced
• Research Administration Knowledge - Advanced
• Research Administration Training - Advanced
• Stakeholder Engagement - Advanced
• Strategic Planning - Advanced

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.

LOCATION

Location: Hybrid/Mount Washington Campus

COMPENSATION

• Starting Salary Range: $99,800 - $175,000 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)

SCHEDULE

Schedule: M-F, 37.5 hrs wkly

EEO STATEMENT

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

VACCINE REQUIREMENTS

Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.