Director, Research

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Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

• Upon hire, 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 .

JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Job Title: Director, Research

Job Code: 18129

Division: Academic Affairs

Evaluation Group: Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt

Grade: A-14

Revision Date: 10/13/2023

Reports To: Associate Provost, Academic Affairs

Positions Supervised: Manager, Academic and Research Operations; Specialist, Grants and Contracts, IRB Chairperson

Job Summary

The director, research works collaboratively to set the vision for research at Lindenwood University. The director is responsible for leading Lindenwood’s Office of Research and Creative Activity and will build on institutional strengths to increase extramural funding for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements and advance the University’s research profile. The Director, Research will help implement systems and mechanisms, including developing funding sources and other resources as well as supporting faculty in their research endeavors to solve problems of high impact and interest.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Establishes a clear vision for research at Lindenwood University and oversees institutional goal-setting, planning, and executing for grants and sponsored projects activity.
• Ensures operational infrastructure, provides regulatory assistance and administrative services in support of faculty and other members of the campus research community
• Facilitates the attraction of extramural research funding, creates research relationships, develops and implements strategies to increase successfully pursue funding opportunities
• Provides support and development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students who engage in research, grant writing, and other creative activity.
• Provides leadership, regulatory expertise, professional guidance and administrative support to the campus in order to promote the ethical conduct of research and to facilitate compliance with regulations and policies,
• Oversees the institution’s PRIDE Fund, a seed-funding initiative for Lindenwood faculty.
• Prepares reports as required in compliance with federal regulations and University policies
• Stays current in research/compliance arena via self-directed reading; professional relationships with colleagues; and completion of professional development courses
• Implements quality improvement initiatives and maintains a standard of ethical excellence in campus research
• Oversees the University’s research ethics and compliance program, including research involving human and animal subjects; biosafety; radiation safety; export controls compliance; management of conflicts of interest for research; and grants and sponsored projects
• Develops, reviews and updates policies, education programs and monitoring activities to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and university laws, regulations, policies, and procedures

Service Excellence

• 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 – integrity, dedication, excellence, creativity and teamwork
• Serves as the administrator of the Grants and Sponsored Projects program as it relates to research and compliance
• Works across campus to provide service to those who engaged in scholarly research, institutional research for quality enhancement, student research, and other creative activity.
• Serves as a liaison with governmental organizations that are responsible for implementing compliance regulations

Communication, Teamwork and Collaboration

• Provides oversight and guidance for the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Health and Safety Committee
• Informs campus research community of regulatory developments and changes in governmental research policies.
• Works as a conduit to the broader community for sponsored partnerships, community-based research, and activities to assess the social impact of research and sponsored projects.

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• 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

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions.

• General office setting

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hours daily
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees. Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.