Director of Research Planning & Development / Translational Molecular Pathology

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Director, Research Planning & Development in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provides strategic leadership, oversees research administration, and supports development across a broad portfolio of research initiatives. The Director is a key resource for faculty, staff, sponsors, and institutional stakeholders, helping ensure successful planning, execution, and growth of research programs. The role leads research administration operations, grants management, and personnel development while aligning departmental priorities with UT MD Anderson’s mission. The position provides administrative leadership for clinical, translational, and basic research, including research proposals and reports, grants and contracts, budgets, compliance, and program evaluation. It also supports strategic planning, development of large programmatic grants, and collaboration across institutional and external partners. The Director leads a team of approximately 7–8 direct reports and establishes staff performance standards, coaching, and development. The required education is a bachelor's degree in science or a medically related field, business, or healthcare administration. A master's degree and a PhD in science, oncology research, or a related field are preferred. Required experience is either eight years in an academic research setting facilitating research program development and managing research resources, including two years of supervisory or management experience, or five years of required experience including two years of supervisory or management experience with a master's degree. Additional experience in grant writing, funded grant submissions, full-lifecycle grant management, and research administration is preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in science or a medically related field, business, or healthcare administration.
Either eight years of experience in an academic research setting facilitating research program development and managing research resources, including two years of supervisory or management experience; or five years of required experience including two years of supervisory or management experience with a master's degree.
Pass a pre-employment skills test if required and administered by Human Resources.
Meet and maintain any requirements necessary to ensure the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, if applicable to the position.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in science or a medically related field, business, or healthcare administration.
PhD in science, oncology research, or a related field.
Extensive experience writing grants and submitting funded grant applications.
Extensive experience managing grants from beginning to end.
Experience working in a fast-paced environment and meeting deadlines.
Experience serving as a departmental resource for grant processing.
Experience working effectively with all levels of leadership.

Responsibilities

Identify funding mechanisms to support clinical, translational, and basic science faculty.
Collaborate on short- and long-range strategic goals, policies, and operating procedures for research programs.
Prioritize projects according to funding availability, urgency, and institutional objectives.
Lead expansion of technical capabilities and services and development of new research programs.
Monitor program effectiveness and implement improvements.
Maximize research administration resources and develop service-enhancement strategies.
Serve as a departmental, divisional, and institutional liaison for research planning initiatives.
Identify laboratory research support needs and improve workflows and documentation resources.
Ensure compliance with institutional policies, rules, and regulations, and report research progress and outcomes.
Serve as the primary administrative resource for divisional faculty conducting clinical, translational, and basic research.
Coordinate preparation and submission of research proposals, reports, and sponsor updates.
Direct grants and contracts administration teams and serve as a liaison among institutional and external stakeholders.
Direct tracking, reporting, and evaluation of research activities and outcomes.
Monitor funding streams, budgets, financial integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Serve as the subject matter expert and primary contact for research administration matters.
Direct research compliance activities involving protocols, MTAs, CDAs, and research contracts.
Communicate federal policy changes and institutional initiatives to faculty and staff.
Review funding applications, progress reports, and research communications.
Oversee budgeting for industry-sponsored trials, NCI studies, investigator-initiated studies, laboratory studies, clinical trials, and chart review protocols.
Analyze translational trial activation processes and identify budget-related barriers.
Develop funding strategies for clinical and translational research and ensure sponsored-project compliance.
Monitor research budgets and accounts for accuracy and efficient resource use.
Design and implement administrative standards and operating procedures and develop timelines for timely research program activation.
Oversee financial and administrative activities for translational studies funded by industry, foundations, state agencies, and federal agencies.
Lead annual reporting for large-scale grant-funded programs.
Provide administrative leadership for developing and evaluating large programmatic grants and initiatives.
Participate in strategic planning committees and advise faculty on research planning, funding opportunities, and program feasibility.
Identify collaborative research opportunities and connect faculty and programs with divisional, institutional, and external resources.
Establish staff productivity and performance standards and optimize personnel resources.
Coach, mentor, and provide performance feedback to staff; implement disciplinary actions according to institutional guidelines when necessary.
Ensure staff compliance with mandatory training, in-service requirements, accreditation standards, and applicable regulations.
Direct and support approximately 7–8 direct reports.

Benefits

Employer-paid medical coverage starting on day one for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
Optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
Accruals for PTO and an Extended Illness Bank.
Paid holidays and wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service.
Access to wellness and fitness resources and employee resource groups.
Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System.
Voluntary retirement plans.
Employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
Educational opportunities and individual and team recognition.