Research Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee
Research visa sponsorship jobs in Tennessee are concentrated around Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, where institutions like Vanderbilt University, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory regularly sponsor international talent. Life sciences, biomedical research, and energy sectors drive most sponsorship activity across the state.
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Get Access To All JobsMarket Range: 15
Hiring Salary: Salary Commensurate with Education and Experience
JOB SUMMARY/ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The Executive Director of Research Administration leads institutional research administration from funding opportunity through award acceptance and serves as the Authorized Organizational Representative for the University. The position holds institutional signature authority for proposal submission and award acceptance and maintains the written delegation under which that authority is exercised by others. The Executive Director shares end-to-end service accountability with the Executive Director, Sponsored Award Financial Services, under joint oversight by the Vice Chancellor for Research and the Executive Vice Chancellor.
- Serves as the Authorized Organizational Representative and maintains the written delegation instrument governing submission and award acceptance authority.
- Establishes office priorities, service standards, and performance expectations across proposal review, agreements, research security, systems, and data.
- Owns the end-to-end service standards shared in partnership with Sponsored Award Financial Services, including proposal turnaround, agreement cycle time, award acceptance to setup, and closeout.
- Establishes and maintains the award abstract and handoff protocol to ensure consistent interpretation and communication of award terms.
- Maintains an organizational capacity model that aligns proposal and agreement volume, portfolio complexity, and staffing needs.
- Leads workforce development, including career ladders, position level determinations, professional development plans, and promotion recommendations.
- Resolves cross-office matters through established escalation and accountability processes.
- Develops, implements, and maintains institutional policies and procedures governing proposal submission, award acceptance, and agreement execution.
- Develops recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain highly qualified research administration professionals.
- Recommends the addition of positions when a driver sustains above threshold, and consolidates portfolios and holds vacancies when a driver sustains below threshold, with notice to the Vice Chancellor.
- Advises institutional leadership on regulatory changes and the administrative implications of research strategy.
- Maintains institutional currency on federal, state, sponsor, and accreditation requirements affecting extramural funding.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration Science, Health Administration, or a related field. (Master’s Degree preferred.) (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
Experience:
Four (4) years of progressively responsible, sponsored research administration experience (previous job-related supervisory experience required); OR Master’s Degree and two (2) years of progressively responsible, sponsored research administration experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of federal regulations governing extramural funding, including the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and standard federal research terms and conditions.
- Expert knowledge of proposal submission, award acceptance, and research agreement practice at a research-intensive institution.
- Knowledge of research security, export control, and foreign influence requirements affecting federally funded research.
- Knowledge of electronic research administration systems and of the data required to manage a research portfolio.
- Skill in leading professional staff and in building capability across a decentralized campus community.
- Ability to exercise institutional authority under time pressure and to document the basis for institutional decisions.
- Ability to build and sustain a shared operating model with a peer office under a separate reporting line.
WORK SCHEDULE: This position may occasionally be required to work weekends and evenings.
Market Range: 15
Hiring Salary: Salary Commensurate with Education and Experience
JOB SUMMARY/ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The Executive Director of Research Administration leads institutional research administration from funding opportunity through award acceptance and serves as the Authorized Organizational Representative for the University. The position holds institutional signature authority for proposal submission and award acceptance and maintains the written delegation under which that authority is exercised by others. The Executive Director shares end-to-end service accountability with the Executive Director, Sponsored Award Financial Services, under joint oversight by the Vice Chancellor for Research and the Executive Vice Chancellor.
- Serves as the Authorized Organizational Representative and maintains the written delegation instrument governing submission and award acceptance authority.
- Establishes office priorities, service standards, and performance expectations across proposal review, agreements, research security, systems, and data.
- Owns the end-to-end service standards shared in partnership with Sponsored Award Financial Services, including proposal turnaround, agreement cycle time, award acceptance to setup, and closeout.
- Establishes and maintains the award abstract and handoff protocol to ensure consistent interpretation and communication of award terms.
- Maintains an organizational capacity model that aligns proposal and agreement volume, portfolio complexity, and staffing needs.
- Leads workforce development, including career ladders, position level determinations, professional development plans, and promotion recommendations.
- Resolves cross-office matters through established escalation and accountability processes.
- Develops, implements, and maintains institutional policies and procedures governing proposal submission, award acceptance, and agreement execution.
- Develops recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain highly qualified research administration professionals.
- Recommends the addition of positions when a driver sustains above threshold, and consolidates portfolios and holds vacancies when a driver sustains below threshold, with notice to the Vice Chancellor.
- Advises institutional leadership on regulatory changes and the administrative implications of research strategy.
- Maintains institutional currency on federal, state, sponsor, and accreditation requirements affecting extramural funding.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration Science, Health Administration, or a related field. (Master’s Degree preferred.) (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
Experience:
Four (4) years of progressively responsible, sponsored research administration experience (previous job-related supervisory experience required); OR Master’s Degree and two (2) years of progressively responsible, sponsored research administration experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of federal regulations governing extramural funding, including the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and standard federal research terms and conditions.
- Expert knowledge of proposal submission, award acceptance, and research agreement practice at a research-intensive institution.
- Knowledge of research security, export control, and foreign influence requirements affecting federally funded research.
- Knowledge of electronic research administration systems and of the data required to manage a research portfolio.
- Skill in leading professional staff and in building capability across a decentralized campus community.
- Ability to exercise institutional authority under time pressure and to document the basis for institutional decisions.
- Ability to build and sustain a shared operating model with a peer office under a separate reporting line.
WORK SCHEDULE: This position may occasionally be required to work weekends and evenings.
Research Job Roles in Tennessee
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Search Research Jobs in TennesseeResearch Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for research roles in Tennessee?
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis is one of Tennessee's most active sponsors for research positions, particularly in oncology and biomedical sciences. Oak Ridge National Laboratory sponsors researchers in energy, materials science, and computational fields. Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Tennessee system also sponsor international researchers, primarily for postdoctoral and staff scientist roles tied to federal grant funding.
Which visa types are most common for research roles in Tennessee?
The H-1B visa is the most common work visa for research positions in Tennessee, covering roles that require a specialized degree. J-1 visas are widely used for postdoctoral researchers and research scholars at universities and national laboratories, sponsored through institutional exchange programs. O-1A visas appear for researchers with extraordinary ability, particularly those with strong publication records or competitive grant awards. Many federally funded research institutions also hold cap-exempt H-1B status.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most research sponsorship jobs?
Nashville leads due to its concentration of research universities, medical centers, and a growing life sciences sector anchored by Vanderbilt. Oak Ridge, near Knoxville, is a specialized hub for federally funded scientific research through the Department of Energy. Memphis hosts significant biomedical and clinical research activity centered on St. Jude and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Knoxville itself also supports research hiring through the University of Tennessee's main campus.
How to find research visa sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for roles with visa sponsorship, making it straightforward to search for research positions in Tennessee without sorting through listings that exclude international candidates. You can filter by state and research-related job categories to surface openings at institutions like Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Vanderbilt, and St. Jude. Focusing on federally affiliated employers and research universities tends to yield the highest concentration of sponsorship-eligible postings.
Are there state-specific considerations for research sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a strong pipeline from its research universities into sponsored roles, which means postdoctoral positions often serve as entry points for H-1B sponsorship at the same institution after J-1 completion. Oak Ridge National Laboratory operates under federal contractor hiring rules, which can affect visa processing timelines and security clearance requirements. Tennessee does not have a state income tax on wages, which is relevant context for understanding total compensation when evaluating offers.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research jobs in Tennessee?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.