Director of Research Development
KU SSC
Lawrence, KS
Full-time
Research
Posted on September 11, 2019
Director of Research Development - 15520BR
Position Overview
The University of Kansas (KU) seeks an innovative and strategic leader with broad vision and demonstrated success in building partnerships and collaborations for the position of Director of Research Development. The director works to create new initiatives, programs and services that increase institutional research capacity and success through multidisciplinary interaction, strategic support and professional development.
Founded in 1865, KU is both an R1-rated research university and a member of the Association of American Universities. KU has more than 40 graduate programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report; 2 ranked first in the nation, 11 ranked in the top 10, and 48 in the top 50 among public universities. The university enrolls over 28,000 students – including more than 3,600 at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City – and employs a 2,898-member faculty.
The Office of Research is responsible for research development, pre- and post-award research administration and research compliance for the KU-Lawrence campus. The office also oversees 10 university research centers, two state surveys and about a dozen core laboratories. Faculty and staff on all KU campuses generated $249.8 million in externally funded research expenditures in FY2018.
The Director of Research Development will help enhance and expand KU's research enterprise by developing and implementing strategies that create new opportunities for KU researchers and promote success in competition for funding. The Office of Research is increasing the resources devoted to research development, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to help envision and build an expanded research development unit within the office. In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. The position is a full-time, 12-month, non-tenured, unclassified professional appointment in the Office of Research and reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research.
The successful candidate will:
be a self-motivated problem‐solver with proven organizational and managerial abilities, as well as excellent critical thinking and communication skills.
have the ability to think independently and strategically with a record of clarity in decision-making.
show evidence of the ability to work well in a team environment.
demonstrate an established record of substantive research leadership within higher education, government agencies, foundations, national research laboratories or other research-focused settings.
Job Description
30% - Work to identify and secure new sources of research funding from federal agencies and state governments, nonprofits and industry partners. The Director works to map the landscape of funding agency priorities and strategies onto current and potential KU research assets to identify opportunities for KU researchers. The Director promotes relationships with agency program officers, industry representatives and others to inform strategy and create access to opportunities for KU investigators. The Director provides resources and expertise to support decision-making on research priorities.
30% - Catalyze the development of multidisciplinary projects in alignment with KU strengths and external funding potential by helping to convene relevant expertise from across the university and, where appropriate, external partners. The Director coordinates support for strategy development, project management, seed funding and other institutional investment, and proposal preparation and submission.
20% - Optimize the success of KU researchers by providing access to professional development and training in grant writing and project management. The Director works with others across the university to promote professional development opportunities and mentoring, especially for early career investigators, and acts as a resource to keep the KU community apprised of current funding opportunities and to advise researchers on strategies to secure funding.
10% - Coordinate and connect research development activities across the university, including those housed in academic units and research centers. Act as the Office of Research liaison for corporate and foundation relations to the KU Endowment Association.
10% - Supervise other research development professionals in the unit.
Required Qualifications
1. Master's degree and at least five (5) years' experience in a closely related position with evidence of steady advancement, including five (5) years of supervisory experience.
2. Experience managing multiple priorities in a complex environment, and leadership and team-building skills sufficient to both establish and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse groups and to develop and manage collaborative research teams as demonstrated through previous work experience and application materials.
3. Experience in technical writing, editing and information integration as evidenced by application materials.
4. Experience interacting with researchers from across disciplines and functioning as an integral member of a team aimed at accomplishing specific goals as outlined in application materials.
5. Work experience with multiple types of external funding sources, especially federal agencies, and their grant-related policies, programs, procedures and practices.
6. Work experience demonstrating an understanding grant proposal development strategy as evidenced by having initiated, structured and directed projects to make them highly competitive in the national grants arena.
7. Computer experience, sufficient to carry out the duties required of the position, including Microsoft Office, presentation software, communication tools, spreadsheets, data visualization, and internet applications as outlined by application materials.
5. Work experience with multiple types of external funding sources, especially federal agencies, and their grant-related policies, programs, procedures and practices.
6. Work experience demonstrating an understanding grant proposal development strategy as evidenced by having initiated, structured and directed projects to make them highly competitive in the national grants arena.
7. Computer experience, sufficient to carry out the duties required of the position, including Microsoft Office, presentation software, communication tools, spreadsheets, data visualization, and internet applications as outlined by application materials.
Preferred Qualifications
1. Earned doctorate.
2. Expertise in preparing complex research proposals.
3. Demonstrated ability to plan strategically and to assemble, direct and facilitate collaborative teams of faculty.
4. Experience catalyzing new research programs and identifying research opportunities, including tactical research planning to help teams approach funding opportunities strategically.
5. Evidence of having achieved a positive impact in a previous role, for example statistics tracking enhanced faculty engagement in collaborative activities, increased grant applications, higher percentage of grants funded, etc.
6. Demonstrated understanding of funding agency proposal review decision making (for example, from service on review panels or study sections).
Contact Information to Applicants
Deanne Arensberg, Administrative Associate, Sr.
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
darensberg@ku.edu
785-864-7105
Additional Candidate Instruction
A complete application consists of:
A cover letter addressing how required qualifications are met
Resume
3 Professional References
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
To be considered, please apply no later than Sunday, October 13th, 2019.
Advertised Salary Range
Commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
10/14/2019
Conditions of Employment
Contingent on Funding, Serve at the Pleasure
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information and retaliation in the University's programs and activities. Access to information regarding equal opportunity and diversity worksite posters is available at
http://www.humanresources.ku.edu/policies_procedures/category_details/index.aspx?category=8
or you may contact 785-864-4946 or employ@ku.edu for alternate access options. Any inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies should be directed to: Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.