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University of Washington · 4 hours ago

Associate Director of Research

Seattle, WA

Full-time

Onsite

Lead/Staff, Director/Executive

$100K/yr - $139K/yr

5+ years exp

The University of Washington is a prominent academic institution, and they are seeking an Associate Director of Research for their Department of Ophthalmology. This role involves overseeing financial and administrative functions related to research, collaborating with faculty and staff, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

EducationHigher EducationUniversities

Responsibilities

Provide overall management of pre- and post-award grant and contract activities including the development, implementation, and administration of internal grant related policies and procedures, including financial management, record keeping, monitoring, and reporting

Oversee and manage compliance with policies and procedures of the School, University, and external funding agencies

Serve as contact for sponsors and central administrative offices on the substance of funded work and contractual arrangements

Monitor policies, processes, and researcher relations for consistent application and to inform continual improvement

Design, prepare, and interpret analytical reports on departmental research funding and expenditure trends and projections

Participate in the clinical trial feasibility committee to shape departmental research priorities

Design and implement consistent processes for clinical research and clinical trial infrastructure from the application stage through study startup to closeout and reporting

Manage departmental space needs across vision science research labs, research faculty, and clinical trial locations including equipment and material requirements

Maintain rhythm of business throughout research activities and ongoing trials with a focus on financial stability and forecasting departmental need

Ensure timely reporting activities for research products, including philanthropy, state and federal sponsors (RPPR)

Direct grant managers on matters concerning research administration, grant submission, compliance, conflict of interest, pre- and post-award management

Provide subject matter expertise and support to grant managers on research-related activities in Workday finance, such as award set-up request, cost share, and effort reporting

Monitor grant funding trends to anticipate internal and external financial problems

Ensure timely reporting activities for research products, including philanthropy, state and federal sponsors (RPPR)

Serve as backup for research grant and contract proposals including eGC1 submissions, development of budgets, subawards, IRB/IACUC concerns, and related research matters

Ensure all departmental research activities comply with federal, state, and institutional regulations, as well as ethical standards and guidelines

Ensure all departmental research activities are in compliance with UW EH&S, IRB, and IACUC guidelines

Stay updated on changes in research administration and compliance, including new sponsor and university procedures and systems, and adjust document workflows accordingly

Provide strategic oversight to researchers to ensure adherence to compliance requirements and mitigate risks associated with their research activities, this will include working collaboratively with UW offices that oversee various compliance areas for the University such as Intellectual Property (IP), Conflict of Interest (COI), Export Controls, Data Security, Significant Financial Interests (SFI), and others

Oversee the day-to-day activities of the Research Operations Team, including recruitment and hiring processes, training oversight, performance management, and leave approval. Advise research labs on hiring needs and best practices

Offer consistent coaching and feedback to enhance employee performance; actively engage in performance management initiatives, including setting clear objectives, regular performance evaluations, and career development planning

Foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly assessing and updating policies and procedures

Compose and disseminate routine communications regarding policy changes, compliance updates, sponsor requirements, and emerging research trends as necessary

Represent the department at university and research meetings, acting as a strategic liaison

Lead high-impact project management for emerging initiatives, strategically mobilizing resources, and directing efforts to ensure alignment with organizational goals and successful project outcomes

Oversee the development and execution of high-profile events featuring distinguished guests, enhancing the department’s visibility and impact

Supervise and manage four 1.0 staff members: Research Finance Manager, Grants & Contracts Manager, Research Coordinator Lead, and Regulatory & Compliance Specialist

Qualification

Research administrationGrants managementRegulatory complianceBudget managementProject managementAnalytical skillsCommunication skillsCollaboration skillsLeadership skills

Required

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Sciences, or Health-related field

Five (5) years of progressive experience including a combination of research administration, grants and contracts management, clinical research operations, regulatory and compliance support, and/or clinical research finance

Experience with managing budgets and running projections

Ability to communicate respectfully, effectively, and professionally in written and verbal formats; and the ability to explain, present, or distill complex information for various audiences

Proven ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders and manage complex projects

Experience in leading meetings and giving presentations

Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills

Experience working independently and leading individuals or groups of faculty, administrators, and/or staff in a research setting

In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations and ethical standards related to research

Ability to work effectively in the face of ambiguity, maintain an openness to new ideas, and facilitate innovation within a distributed organization

Ability to effectively manage up, including anticipating superiors' needs, providing timely updates, and proactively seeking guidance to ensure alignment with organizational goals and priorities

Preferred

Master's or Doctoral Degree in a health sciences-related field

Project or program management experience within an academic or medical environment involving complex and/or open-ended projects, development of project charters, setting program requirements, prioritizing program goals, and evaluating success criteria