Associate Director of Research Operations | LEO

University of Notre Dame • Notre Dame, IN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

LEO is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and results-driven leader to serve as its Associate Director of Research Operations. This high-impact role is responsible for leading the operational strategy behind LEO's nationally recognized research portfolio. The position will oversee the full lifecycle of research projects, guiding studies from early exploration through implementation and ultimately into dissemination and policy impact. Serving as the operational integrator for LEO's Research function, the Associate Director will lead high-performing teams, drive portfolio-wide decision-making, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and ensure research projects are executed with excellence, efficiency, and fidelity. Strong candidates are experienced people leaders with exceptional strategic judgment, operational expertise, and communication skills who thrive in fast-paced, mission-driven environments. Ideal candidates possess a familiarity with impact evaluations or applied research as well as an understanding of nonprofit organizations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of 7+ years of relevant professional experience in research operations, people leadership, project portfolio management, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration, preferably within a nonprofit, higher education, research, or mission-driven environment.
• Strong commitment to the missions of Notre Dame and LEO
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and managing high-performing professional teams
• Extensive experience or demonstrated ability to create and maintain organizational procedures such as hiring, budgeting, and data protection management is essential
• Understands and able to work in a rapidly growing environment and strong culture of performance
• Strong communicator both verbally and written
• Able to work independently
• Proven ability to set priorities and map direction on concurrent fronts, for both self and direct reports

Nice To Haves

• Experience with impact evaluation or evidence-based research is strongly preferred.
• Master’s degree preferred
• Experience with impact evaluation, applied research, or evidence-based program evaluation methodologies
• Experience working within or partnering with nonprofit, higher education, or mission-driven organizations

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic execution of LEO's research portfolio from exploratory development through active implementation and dissemination.
• Evaluate project viability, identify portfolio-wide trends and risks, and guide research teams toward successful execution.
• Drive timely decision-making while ensuring projects remain aligned with organizational priorities and research excellence.
• Oversee operational planning and execution across all phases of impact evaluations, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and with fidelity.
• Anticipate and resolve operational bottlenecks while developing scalable systems that strengthen research quality and consistency.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and external partners to achieve ambitious research, enrollment, and implementation goals.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Research Operations team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous professional growth.
• Establish team priorities, allocate resources, and build operational processes that support an expanding research portfolio.
• Create an environment that empowers staff while maintaining high standards of quality, performance, and service.
• Serve as the operational integrator for LEO's Research function, aligning research operations with project development, dissemination, and organizational priorities.
• Partner closely with Research Faculty, Faculty Affiliates, and senior leadership to advance strategic initiatives and organizational effectiveness.
• Strengthen collaboration across departments to improve communication, workflow efficiency, and research outcomes.
• Guide research operations supporting proposal development, external funding, and post-award reporting.
• Build productive relationships with provider partners and external collaborators to support successful study implementation.
• Champion operational excellence that enables rigorous, evidence-based research to create meaningful policy and community impact.

Benefits

• The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior