JOB TITLE: Director of Research Development

POSITION NUMBER: DR1000

HIRING SUPERVISOR:  Chief of Staff

DEPARTMENT: Sponsored Research

TYPE:  Full-Time

SUMMARY: Reporting to the Executive Director of Sponsored Research and Strategic Programs, the Director of Research Development leads the development, launch, and management of strategic research programs, initiatives, collectives, centers, and related partnerships across the University. The Director works closely with faculty, grant administrators, academic and administrative colleagues, and external stakeholders to build research capacity, advance collaborative opportunities, and align research and development activities with institutional priorities. When necessary to support these efforts, the Director also develops, writes, coordinates, and submits competitive grant proposals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned as deemed necessary.

• Develop, build, launch, and manage research programs, initiatives, collectives, centers, and strategic partnerships aligned with university priorities and areas of institutional strength; including, but not limited to LTU’s Healthy Aging in Place Center, and Healthcare Violence Reduction Center.
• Identify and advance opportunities that expand research capacity, interdisciplinary collaboration, external engagement, student participation, innovation, and institutional impact.
• Work directly with faculty, academic leaders, grant administrators, Finance, Legal, Advancement, and other colleagues involved in funded research or research and development activities to coordinate strategy, responsibilities, resources, and implementation.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with government, industry, foundations, research institutions, community organizations, sponsors, and other external stakeholders applicable to the work.
• As needed to advance programs and initiatives, lead or support the development, writing, coordination, institutional review, and submission of funded grant proposals and related materials.
• Establish project plans, operating structures, goals, measures, communications, and reporting practices that support effective program development, execution, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate assigned staff, consultants, collaborators, and cross-functional teams, and perform other responsibilities necessary to advance the University’s research and strategic program goals.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Progressively responsible experience in research development, program development, sponsored research, proposal development, innovation, higher education, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage complex programs, research initiatives, centers, partnerships, or collaborative projects involving multiple internal or external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience developing, writing, coordinating, or supporting competitive grant proposals and externally funded activities.
• Strong project-management, writing, communication, analytical, organizational, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across academic and administrative units.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in higher education, a research institution, technological university, applied research environment, or similarly complex organization.
• Experience developing interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, industry-engaged, center-based, or capacity-building initiatives.
• Experience coordinating faculty, grant administrators, external partners, consultants, or cross-functional teams.

SUCCESS INDICATORS:

• Successful development, launch, growth, and sustainability of strategically aligned research programs, initiatives, collectives, centers, and partnerships.
• Increased faculty engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, external partnerships, research capacity, and participation in funded activities.
• Growth in the quality and success of grant proposals and other funding opportunities developed in support of assigned initiatives.
• Strong coordination, stakeholder satisfaction, measurable institutional impact, and continuous improvement of research development activities.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required. A master’s degree is preferred. A combination of education and directly relevant professional experience may be considered.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to understand, synthesize, and communicate complex technical, programmatic, and institutional information clearly and persuasively in writing and verbally to diverse internal and external audiences. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills are required.

MATHEMATICAL/COMPUTATIONAL SKILLS: Strong analytical, data-management, and technology skills, including proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, research information systems, reporting tools, and standard business applications.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to plan and work independently and collaboratively; evaluate complex opportunities and organizational issues; establish priorities; navigate ambiguity; and exercise sound judgment under competing deadlines.

OTHER SKILLS, ABILITIES and QUALIFICATIONS: The position requires strong program-development, proposal-writing, project-management, facilitation, analytical, and interpersonal skills. The Director must be able to coordinate diverse stakeholders, manage multiple initiatives, and move complex work from concept through implementation.