Program Director, Research and Innovation

University of Illinois Springfield•Springfield, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Director for Research and Innovation serves as a vital administrative professional within the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) at the University of Illinois Springfield. This position acts as a key liaison between the university's research office and diverse stakeholders, such as faculty, staff, students and external partners to coordinate innovative research initiatives that advance the UIS mission of research excellence and community impact. The Program Director for Research and Innovation also provides comprehensive support for faculty, staff, and students in their research activities. This is an on-campus position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
A total of one (1) year (12 months) in education, training and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position.
Knowledge of federal regulations governing human subjects research
Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills with exceptional attention to detail
Demonstrated superior customer service orientation and outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, database management systems, and web-based applications

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year of work experience.
Bachelor's degree in relevant field (higher education administration, business administration, marketing, management or related discipline)
Graduate work or a master’s degree in a related field (e.g., research administration, research evaluation, business administration, management, or a relevant scientific discipline)
Professional experience in higher education, research administration, or similar environment
Experience effectively multi-tasking in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with a high degree of accuracy and organization
Working knowledge of federal regulations, policies, and guidance governing sponsored research and compliance, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and 45 CFR 46 (Common Rule).
Experience with research administration, research compliance, sponsored programs, or a closely related area in higher education.
Experience delivering training, developing resources, or other programming related to research, compliance, and/or sponsored programs.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and administer research development, compliance, and innovation programs within the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).
Support the development, implementation, and evaluation of program goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures to advance the university's research mission.
Serve as a liaison among university leadership, faculty, staff, external agencies, community organizations, and research partners to foster collaborative research initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Coordinate the planning, implementation, and assessment of research-related programs, workshops, conferences, seminars, and special initiatives.
Administer research compliance activities related to human subjects research and institutional review processes.
Provide guidance and support to faculty, staff, and students regarding regulatory requirements and university policies governing research compliance.
Monitor compliance program effectiveness, identify and recommend policy and procedural improvements, and coordinate implementation of regulatory updates.
Provide information and recommendations to unit leadership on matters related to research compliance and risk management within assigned areas of responsibility.
Support the development and implementation of initiatives that expand research capacity, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthen external partnerships.
Collaborate with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and unit leadership in identifying strategic opportunities that advance institutional research and innovation goals.
Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend improvements to enhance research engagement, compliance outcomes, and operational efficiency.
Coordinate the collection, management, and analysis of research compliance and programmatic data.
Maintain and assist in developing reporting mechanisms, performance metrics, and assessment tools to evaluate research activities and program outcomes.
Prepare analytical reports and recommendations for unit leadership, external agencies, and other stakeholders to support strategic decision-making and continuous program improvement.
Collaborate with ORSP staff to upload grant proposal documents to electronic systems such as Grants.gov, eRA Commons, HEP IS, and Research.gov, among others, and troubleshoot technical issues related to proposal submissions.
Assist faculty and staff with proposal initiation and management in systems such as myProposals and myResearch.
Provide training to faculty and staff about using electronic systems for proposal submission.
Direct outreach and communication efforts that promote research activities, compliance initiatives, and innovation programs.
Collaborate with university communications personnel to develop strategic messaging and promotional materials.
Represent ORSP at university events, conferences, and community meetings.
Provide administrative support to the Associate Director of Pre-Award and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation in the development, implementation, and evaluation of research and innovation initiatives.
Participate in departmental planning activities, establish operational priorities for assigned programs, and ensure effective coordination of program resources and services.