Director of Research Operations & Infrastructure

Southern Methodist University • Dallas, TX

51d • Onsite

About The Position

This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The position is part of the Office of Research and Innovation that reports to the Vice Provost for Research. The Office of Research provides support services for faculty and graduate students to advance the University's research agenda. The Director of Research Operations and Infrastructure manages a team of professionals responsible for managing ORI finances, procurement and processes, and data analytics. The Director will perform project management of all major projects pertinent to ORI operations. The Director will also organize and manage various ORI events. The individual in this role will work to create a culture of collaboration across all the divisions in the ORI.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree is required. Master's preferred.
• A minimum of seven years work experience in research administration or higher education is required.
• Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. Demonstrated leadership ability is essential.
• Candidate must have strong organizational, planning and time-management skills. Must also be a self-starter, skilled in critical analysis with outstanding problem-solving skills. A high ethical standard and the ability to exercise judgment and discretion in interpreting and applying regulations and procedures are essential.
• Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in positions providing oversight on the ethical conduct of research and compliance with government regulations, and a combination of experience in research and administration of research is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage ORI finances and procurement. Will manage all invoices, purchases and procurements. Will be responsible for tracking all the incomes (payment for Incubator rents, payments for royalties etc.) and expenses outside the permanent staff salaries.
• Ensure that strategy, structure, and research processes are supportive of and conducive to ongoing ORI objectives and key results (OKRs). Will work continually to upkeep SOPs across the units that are referenced in the University Research Policy.
• In collaboration with other directors, will lead enterprise-wide research projects to facilitate the ability of SMU investigators in the colleges and schools to conduct research. Provide input to optimize enterprise-level systems supporting research administration.
• Will be in charge of access control and management of all ORI facilities including the main office, Incubator, Pegasus Park, and other facilities directly under the ORI. Will also coordinate furnishing needs and other maintenance of all the spaces.
• Will be responsible for collecting and analyzing ORI Data to create oral and written reports and dashboards to make recommendations, illustrate goals, milestones, and progress. Develop and monitor internal performance metrics to ensure high levels of service and accomplishment of objectives. Design and implement research administration training programs. Will be responsible for the research space survey and NSF report.
• Coordinating responses to internal audits.
• Through the use of innovation and strategic thinking, identify opportunities for novel use of technology in research operations which supports harmonized/optimized use of existing technology platform/stakeholder investments supporting research, as well as identification and business planning for new technologies that improve efficiency, lower operating costs.
• In addition to the other ORI Directors, Director of Operations will closely with the Office of Legal Affairs, OIT, and GCA in establishing and periodically updating the SOPs for various operations in the OR.

Benefits

• SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
• SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
• The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees