Administrative Director, Interdisciplinary Research Centers

Brown University•City of Rochester, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Administrative Director provides strategic administrative and operational leadership across multiple interdisciplinary research centers embedded within distinct academic departments, including the Giuliani RNA Center, the Center on the Biology of Aging, and other Centers across the Division of Biology and Medicine as assigned. This position is instrumental in advancing the mission and goals of each area. This role requires exceptional leadership to align stakeholders, catalyze collaborations, and quantitatively track programmatic impact against the strategic vision. Working in close partnership with center directors, executive directors, scientific directors, department managers, internal and external advisory committees, and Division leaders, this position designs and executes a unified administrative model across BioMed centers, driving operational excellence and resource stewardship to achieve the strategic growth goals of the centers, Division, and Brown University Working in lockstep with Division’s administrative leadership, this position translates divisional policies into local center practices, ensuring a unified approach to finance, research administration, human resources, communications, events, space and facilities planning, and administrative systems. The incumbent is expected to lead through influence in a highly matrixed environment, reconcile sometimes competing priorities, and ensure that center operations are responsive both to local needs and to divisional and university-wide policies and objectives. The scope of the role spans major research centers with responsibility for building shared administrative infrastructure, strengthening consistency in core business processes, and supporting a portfolio of complex research, faculty, and programmatic activity across the centers. The Director is expected to be highly execution-oriented, with the ability to move initiatives from concept to implementation, ensuring that strategic opportunities are operationalized effectively across a complex, multi-center environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience in academic administration, research administration, finance, operations, or related administrative leadership roles, preferably in a complex university, academic medical center, or research-intensive environment.
Demonstrated success working across multiple departments, centers, or units in a matrixed environment, with the ability to lead through influence and to build productive relationships across varied stakeholder groups required.
Significant experience with financial management, budget planning, and operational oversight required.
Strong judgment, discretion, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, reconcile competing priorities, and advance work through collaboration.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex issues, prepare clear and concise materials, and communicate effectively with faculty, senior administrators, and staff at all organizational levels.
Demonstrated organizational leadership, project management capability, and commitment to service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Strong computer skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with enterprise financial, HR, and research administration systems.
Broad and thorough knowledge of University and federal policies/procedures to effectively manage and oversee department resources and activities.
Excellent leadership abilities and skills in building and nurturing professional relationships.
Strong organizational, administrative, and time management skills.
Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with personnel at all organizational levels.
Effective communication skills, both oral and written, to analyze and negotiate complex issues and prepare concise information.
Strong computer skills, including demonstrated knowledge of computerized financial analysis and database management.
Ability to satisfy divergent interests, work independently, and manage multi-tasking responsibilities.
Ability to train and mentor staff to maximize their professional capabilities.
Criminal background and education verification required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or other advanced degree preferred.
Experience with sponsored projects administration strongly preferred.
Experience with Workday or similar systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides strategic administrative and operational leadership across multiple interdisciplinary research centers.
Designs and executes a unified administrative model across BioMed centers.
Translates divisional policies into local center practices, ensuring a unified approach to finance, research administration, human resources, communications, events, space and facilities planning, and administrative systems.
Leads through influence in a highly matrixed environment, reconciling competing priorities.
Ensures center operations are responsive to local needs and divisional/university-wide policies.
Builds shared administrative infrastructure across major research centers.
Strengthens consistency in core business processes.
Supports a portfolio of complex research, faculty, and programmatic activity.
Moves initiatives from concept to implementation, operationalizing strategic opportunities effectively.