Assistant Director of Research Operations (C-RASC)

Assistant Director of Research Operations (C-RASC)

The George Mason University, Office of Research invites applications for an Assistant Director of Research Operations for the Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC). George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment. 

Purpose of the Organization:

The Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC) is being chartered by the Office of the Provost as part of a university-level initiative for establishing transdisciplinary Centers of Advanced Study. The vision for C-RASC is to develop, implement, test, and refine a framework for communities worldwide to create life-changing social and economic opportunities through locally-led, bottom-up resilience and sustainability initiatives supported by effective, replicable models. Accelerating rates of technological, social, and climate change, along with population growth and concentration, are stressing businesses, governments, and security structures. These require integrated approaches that build the capacity to absorb disruptions and emerge stronger. C-RASC pursues transdisciplinary, translational, integrated research to help communities build the capacity to absorb disruptions and emerge stronger. C-RASC will draw trans-disciplinary talent from across Mason and external partners, including experts in governance, sociology, economics, diverse kinds of engineering, and scientific analysis. Research will include basic, translational, and applied efforts at multiple scales (multiscale)—from international and national, to regional, to specific communities.  C-RASC will complement and reinforce Mason’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth by focusing on resilience and its relationship to sustainability. Distinguishing features include: (1) concentrating on bottom-up, community-led approaches, (2) addressing resilience in comprehensive and measurable ways, (3) integrating the impacts and policy implications of converging, accelerating technological changes, and (4) including practitioners with field experience. C-RASC will augment project-specific skills with global knowledge sharing. C-RASC’s 5-yar goals are to (1) Catalyze and grow a committed trans-disciplinary research and teaching team to develop plans that make a difference for diverse communities, engage with stakeholders, and teach. Provide sustainable funding and effective facilities; (2) Train a generation of trans-disciplinary, community-engaged researchers, teachers, and practitioners; (3) Develop a Multiscale Research Framework as a widely accepted standard model of community-led resilience initiatives in diverse environments; (4) Through a series of case studies, help to develop plans for community-led, bottom-up, locally-focused resilience solutions in diverse environments with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely milestones; (5) Provide evidence-based support to increase local capacity, develop local leadership, produce results, and build a trusted network of stakeholders to carry out further projects.

 Purpose of the Position:

The Assistant Director of Research Operations will play a major role in developing the overall research strategy of C-RASC, with emphasis on development of transdisciplinary research and scholarship capacity and substantially growing the base of research support. The successful candidate will have opportunities to be directly involved in research activities at the Center.  

Responsibilities: 

Transdisciplinary Research Development:  In coordination with the Institute for a Sustainable Earth, the Office of Research and Innovation Initiatives, and/or other relevant partners, will facilitate and host workshops, seminar series, research retreats, team-building events and open houses aimed at fostering a vibrant environment of research and scholarship. The Assistant Director will also manage C-RASC’s Research Interest Groups to spur transdisciplinary collaboration and research innovation around particular resilience themes.  Grant Proposal Writing and Support:  Understand the expertise and existing research portfolio of C-RASC participants and assist with writing of interdisciplinary research proposals in collaboration with Center faculty and research partners. Establish and implement a project management pipeline to ensure submission of high-quality research proposals on time, both for small proposals as well as large interdisciplinary proposals. Organize planning and preparatory meetings, assist with development of proposal drafts, coordinate an internal review and feedback process, draft and maintain supplementary documents, and work with the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Office of Research Development to develop competitive proposal submissions.  Strategic Planning/Program Management:  Support the Director in implementing and evaluating programs, projects, and activities that align with C-RASC’s larger strategic goals. Work with C-RASC faculty to coordinate and support strategic transdisciplinary research and educational initiatives. Coordinate with counterparts at Mason’s other Transdisciplinary University Centers, as well as with the Provost’s Office to co-develop a knowledge base of best practices for transdisciplinary, collaborative team science.  

Communications/Outreach: 

 Facilitate efforts to increase the visibility of C-RASC and its faculty locally, nationally and internationally by planning and implementing strategic communications and developing and maintaining internal and external stakeholder relations. This includes generating content/managing C-RASC’s website in coordination with Mason web support, developing C-RASC’s social media strategy and managing accounts, liaising with C-RASC’s supporting academic units’ Deans, and managing email listservs and communications.  Budget Management and Reporting:  Monitor C-RASC’s revenues and expenditures on various accounts and develop/share quarterly budget and research reports with Leadership Team. Analyze and visualize data about finances and program effectiveness to support strategic decision-making about revenue seeking and program investments.   Research Responsibilities:  Consistent with the primary responsibilities outlined above and as desired by the candidate, participate directly in research activities consistent with the Center’s mission.

Required Qualifications:

The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic and energetic individual who is comfortable working in highly interdisciplinary research settings with diverse teams, has high-level relationship-building skills and excellent communication skills, and has experience developing and implementing research development or support programs.

Additionally: 

A Master’s or Doctoral degree in a relevant field such as systems engineering, civil engineering, social science, conflict resolution, public policy, climate science, or business;  Exceptional oral, written, interpersonal, and organizational skills;  3-5 years of experience working in interdisciplinary teams and supporting team science; Experience in project management.  

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with a range of stakeholders including industrial partners and community partners, with international dimensions, and sometimes in civil-military environments; Experience with research proposal development; Experience working in an academic research or policy environment; Experience with fundraising.

Special Instructions to Applicants: For full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Equity Statement: George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.