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DIR, RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION

Job Title: DIR, RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
Job Code: 3821
FLSA: E
Job Level: 17
Revised Date: 03/01/2019
Job Family: JF 28

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Occupational Summary

The Director of Research Administration serves as a member of the SOM-RA Leadership Team and is responsible for leading an efficient and effective pre-award support function.

Work Performed

Establish and maintain SOM-RA Team as the recognized, knowledgeable resource for both business unit research administrators and collaborating institutional offices (e.g., ORC, DOCR, TBS, OSP).

Protect the school and the institution by assuring that awards are in compliance with federal, state, agency, and institution policies for sponsored projects. Advise Associate Dean of Research Administration on risk management strategies which balance the need for compliance with federal regulations with faculty and staff needs for efficient process.

Serve as a key advisor to the Associate Dean for Research Administration in all matters related to award management within the School of Medicine, including the performance of departments, centers and institutes. Provide reporting and strategic recommendations on team operations, communication, training and implementation of research administration policies, procedures and protocols.

Supervise diverse team of 10+ research administration professionals, provide guidance, oversight, and performance management; develop goals and objectives ensuring alignment with SOM-RA's vision, mission and values, formulate strategies, evaluate and communicate performance, promote and facilitate collaboration between Pre-Award Team and Award Management Team.

Provide counsel and support to the Assistant Director, Team Managers and Staff who perform the majority of the day-to-day tasks related to award management, also serving as an expert resource on award management.

Direct efforts to standardize operations; revise and/or establish efficient and effective business processes, identify and implement evaluation tools and management reporting. Engage and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to identify potential improvements to enhance and expand proactive and responsive support.

Represent the School of Medicine on various institutional committees and working groups; must be able to articulate the mission, vision and strategic directives of the office, as well as represent SOM-RA both internal and external to the University.

In collaboration with SOM-RA Leadership, develop, plan, and implement activities to ensure effective management, review and oversight is applied by the departments, centers and institutes with a commitment of greater engagement, better training and more pro-active support to unit grant managers.

Determine fiscal requirements and prepare budgetary recommendations for assigned team. Ensure that the budget is monitored and reconciled routinely. Compile data and prepare reports, set forth trends, analyze progress, and make recommendations for resource needs in the future.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. 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

BA/BS degree in Business or related field. MS degree in related field or equivalent preferred.

Experience

Ten years of progressive experience with research grants administration and compliance or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.

Skills

Demonstrated understanding of a variety of research administration and compliance requirements and regulations

Business process analysis competencies including advanced topics with Excel and/or enterprise data management systems

Proven track record of active contribution to a senior management team, and providing strategic support across area of responsibility

Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organize a demanding workload comprised of diverse and challenging tasks and responsibilities

Very strong attention to detail, problem solving skills, and ability to analyze trends

Demonstrated experience with evaluation of inefficiencies and the identification of creative and cost-effective alternatives

Excellent communication, management and leadership skills

Ability to work with diverse groups of people


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.