Director, Research

Lindenwood University • St. Charles, IL

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The director of research provides strategic, operational, and regulatory leadership for Lindenwood University's Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA). Working collaboratively with University leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners, the Director advances research, scholarship, creative activity, sponsored projects, and research compliance by providing leadership for research administration, grant development and management, human subjects research, internal funding programs, research ethics, and faculty and student research support. The Director develops policies, procedures, and resources that strengthen the University's research infrastructure while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and fostering a culture of ethical, collaborative, and sustainable research.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a research-emphasized field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in non-profit grants management with specific experience management federal awards
• Certified IRB Professional (CIP) or willingness to obtain this certification
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Competency in Microsoft Office Suite, notably Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Broad understanding of important research ethics and compliance issues and regulatory challenges faced by universities
• Understanding of the clinical trials process along with the ability to understand issues related to biomedical and clinical research settings
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent report preparation skills and competency in computer programs related to report generation
• Leadership style that emphasizes teamwork, communication, collegiality, and flexibility
• Demonstrated capacity for teaching a broad audience regarding research compliance
• A broad understanding of higher education resource management and developing/supporting a research enterprise
• Experience drafting, presenting, and implementing internal policies and facilitating the implementation of external regulations
• Experience in developing and conducting compliance and integrity education and training programs
• Demonstrated management skills, including an ability to teach and mentor
• Demonstrated ability to achieve client satisfaction and respond effectively to confidential inquiries or complaints
• In-depth understanding of federal, state, and local legislation applicable to compliance, grants, and contracts
• Competency in computer programs related to electronic research administration and classroom-based and distance training
• Experience in electronic processing of applications for review by compliance committees
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively while managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines

Nice To Haves

• Membership in related professional organizations, such as Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) preferred

Responsibilities

• Provides university-wide leadership for the Office of Research, Compliance, and Academic Affairs (ORCA), including research administration, research development, sponsored projects, internal funding, human subjects research compliance, research ethics, data management, intellectual property support, and faculty/student research consultation
• Establishes and advances a collaborative institutional vision for research, scholarship, and creative activity by developing programs, systems, policies, procedures, guidance, and resources that support faculty, staff, and students
• Provides leadership and oversight for the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) and Institutional Review Board (IRB), including Cayuse IRB administration, protocol management, regulatory compliance, federal registrations, investigator support, and education that promotes ethical research and participant protections
• Provides comprehensive leadership for the grant lifecycle, including funding opportunity identification, proposal and budget development, pre-award review, institutional approvals, submission coordination, post-award administration, reporting, invoicing, and closeout guidance
• Oversees administration of internal research funding programs, including the PRIDE Fund and Student Scholar Travel Fund, from proposal solicitation through award administration, reporting, and closeout
• Oversees institutional research compliance activities, including intellectual property, conflicts of interest, research affiliations, data use agreements, memoranda of understanding, institutional commitments, human subjects research determinations, and limited oversight of animal research compliance, as applicable
• Serves as the University's Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, sponsor, and University regulations governing research and sponsored projects
• Develops, reviews, and implements policies, procedures, education programs, and quality improvement initiatives that promote ethical research practices, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
• Monitors institutional research activity, prepares reports and analyses for University leadership and regulatory agencies, and assesses the effectiveness of research administration and compliance programs
• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Serves as the institutional administrator for grants, sponsored projects, research compliance, and research administration services
• Provides consultation and guidance to faculty, staff, and students regarding research, scholarship, creative activity, program evaluation, grant development, compliance requirements, and project feasibility from concept through implementation
• Serves as a liaison with governmental agencies, sponsors, and external organizations responsible for research administration, sponsored programs, and regulatory compliance
• Provides leadership and administrative oversight for the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Health and Safety Committee, Intellectual Property Committee, and Conflict of Interest Committee
• Leads research development programming, including workshops, training sessions, consultations, office hours, resource guides, and faculty development initiatives, including support for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute
• Communicates regulatory updates, funding opportunities, compliance requirements, and research best practices to the University community
• Collaborates with the Provost's Office, Institutional Research, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, academic units, and external sponsors to strengthen research initiatives, sponsored programs, and institutional compliance
• Provides shared oversight with the Provost's Office and Institutional Research for surveys administered to the University community and consults on survey design, data collection planning, data management, and ethical research practices
• Develops and maintains partnerships with external organizations to expand sponsored research opportunities, community-based research, and initiatives that demonstrate the societal impact of research and creative activity

Benefits

• Employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only)
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only)
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1)
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy

What This Job Offers

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