Assistant Director of Global and International Research Engagement

James Madison University•Harrisonburg, VA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Global and International Research Engagement provides strategic leadership to advance James Madison University’s global research presence in alignment with its mission as a public, student‑centered R2 institution. The Assistant Director strengthens the university’s role as an engaged global knowledge partner by supporting intentional, ethical, and mission‑aligned international research collaborations that enhance faculty scholarship, expand societal impact, and elevate institutional reputation. This position focuses on building sustainable international research capacity at JMU—prioritizing faculty success, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic partnerships that complement the university’s emphasis on applied research, community engagement, and student involvement. The Assistant Director integrates global research engagement into JMU’s broader research development and competitiveness strategies, supporting both established and emerging scholars across disciplines.

Requirements

Earned Masters degree in a relevant academic or professional field.
Demonstrated experience in international research engagement, global partnerships, research development, or related areas within higher education or research organizations.
Proven ability to work collaboratively with faculty across diverse disciplines in a student‑centered, teaching‑engaged research environment.
Strong understanding of research capacity‑building and strategic growth at an R2 public university.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and cross‑cultural engagement skills.

Nice To Haves

Terminal degree in a relevant academic or professional field.
Experience supporting international or multinational research funding proposals and collaborative projects.
Familiarity with applied research, community‑engaged scholarship, or interdisciplinary research development.
Demonstrated success building sustainable partnerships that balance scholarly ambition with institutional capacity.

Responsibilities

Identify, analyze, and promote international and multinational external research funding opportunities aligned with James Madison University’s research priorities.
Advise faculty and interdisciplinary research teams on sponsor alignment, proposal positioning, and competitiveness in international funding contexts.
Support the development of strong international funding concepts, narratives, and collaboration models appropriate to JMU’s R2 profile.
Facilitate connections between JMU faculty and international collaborators, co principal investigators, and consortia.
Coordinate with research development, grant administration, and other campus partners to align proposal development and submission strategies.
Strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable growth in international grant activity through strategic guidance and coordination.
Provide strategic vision and leadership for JMU’s global and international research engagement portfolio.
Develop and advance a coherent institutional approach to international research engagement aligned with JMU’s mission and R2 research profile.
Integrate global research engagement into broader institutional research development, competitiveness, and growth initiatives.
Advise senior research leadership on international research opportunities, trends, and institutional positioning.
Identify priority geographies, thematic areas, and partnership models that enhance JMU’s scholarly visibility and impact while remaining scalable and intentional.
Enable faculty participation in international research by coordinating services, guidance, and institutional resources.
Support faculty in initiating, developing, and sustaining international research projects and collaborations.
Advise on collaboration design, sustainability, and competitiveness in global research contexts.
Promote inclusive access to international research engagement for early career faculty and interdisciplinary teams.
Collaborate with research development staff, college leadership, and campus partners to align support structures with faculty needs and research goals.
Cultivate and steward selected international research partnerships aligned with JMU’s academic strengths and applied research priorities.
Facilitate collaborations with international universities, research institutes, governments, NGOs, and research organizations.
Strengthen institutional capacity to initiate, coordinate, and sustain international research partnerships.
Prioritize partnership depth, mutual benefit, and long term scholarly value over volume.
Collaborate with campus units involved in internationalization, community engagement, and economic development to ensure institutional alignment and coordination.
Ensure that all international research engagement activities are ethically grounded, transparent, and aligned with university policies and values.
Collaborate with relevant offices to support appropriate coordination and stewardship of international research activities and agreements.
Promote best practices for responsible global research engagement across faculty activities and partnerships.
Represent James Madison University as a credible, principled, and engaged global research partner in international networks, alliances, and consortia.