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DIR, RESEARCH INITIATIVES

Job Title: DIR, RESEARCH INITIATIVES
Job Code: 1229
FLSA: E
Job Level: 17
Revised Date: 05/01/2021
Job Family: JF 28

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Occupational Summary

Provide strategic and operational leadership of special research initiatives and engagement activities for Duke researchers. Assist senior leadership in the School of Medicine and CTSI working closely with other research groups, in developing and implementing strategies to facilitate research. Serve as senior staff director for CTSI Team Science and Navigation Community. Design and implement approaches to encourage a culture of collaboration and support for researchers. Interact campus wide with researchers and administrators to ensure coordination and synergy of efforts between various offices, programs, tools, and initiatives.

Work Performed

Develop and direct campus wide research initiatives and engagement activities for Duke researchers to facilitate research development, start-up and implementation, encourage collaboration, and ensure awareness and use of existing resources.

In partnership with Duke Health, Duke University, and CTSI leadership and communities, develop programs and define associated goals, performance metrics, and timelines.

Develop and lead the implementation of innovative tools to assist teams with navigation of the research environment and forging collaborations.

Regularly evaluate and monitor the progress and effectiveness of programs, tools, and initiatives, in collaboration with partners including CTSI communities. Conduct ongoing needs assessments to determine feasibility and acceptability of programs, tools, and activities.

Implement a cycle of continuous improvement to ensure that the needs of research teams are frequently assessed and adjusted as needed.

Understand the use and perception of existing research support offices and tools, and work in partnership with offices to develop strategies to better serve researchers.

Ensure that stakeholders, researchers, and CTSI community members are engaged; identify new members as needed. Create and oversee programs, educational opportunities, tools, and initiatives for new and junior researchers.

Create opportunities for new researchers to connect with one another and other resources, to facilitate research and encourage collaboration.

Encourage the adoption of research tools and resources. Serve as business owner for researcher portal, and engage in other efforts to provide tools for research faculty and staff.

Coordinate efforts associated with competency-based job classifications and training of research staff.

Ensure communication with research staff and faculty and liaise with relevant central offices to ensure smooth implementation.

Work closely with leadership to determine strategies and report progress.

Represent the initiative within Duke and with other academic medical centers and CTSA sites.

Create opportunities, programs, and tools for inter disciplinary collaborations, including those between researchers in the School of Medicine and Campus.

Serve as an expert resource and liaison between researchers engaging in these collaborations, and create and implement strategies to facilitate their work.

Serve as an ambassador for CTSI communities, ensuring frequent communications with other CTSI senior staff to promote synergy and alignment of strategies.

Determine fiscal requirements and prepare budgets associated with research initiatives, engagement activities, and the CTSI Navigation and Team Science community; monitor, verify and reconcile the expenditures of budgeted funds.

Prepare reports and analyses related to initiatives and programs, including those for the School of Medicine, OVPR, the CTSI Executive Steering Committee and CTSI Board; project trends and make appropriate recommendations to leadership.

Take part in manuscript preparation and development, and represent institution at conferences.

Regularly confer with leadership and faculty to analyze and recommend priorities and goals for future strategic initiatives.

Work with SOM, CTSI, and OVPR leadership to create and implement communication plans.

Identify staffing needs for new initiatives and programs.

Oversee the work and professional development of other staff, including those who provide navigation services to research faculty and staff.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education/Training

Bachelor's degree required. Strongly prefer Master degree

Experience

Ten or more years direct research experience. Demonstrated experience with new program development and strategic planning in a university setting preferred.

Skills


The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.


Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.


Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.