DIRECTOR, RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT & ADMINISTRATION

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Nicholas School of the Environment

Occupational Summary

The Director of Research Development & Administration provides senior-level leadership on all research initiatives at the Nicholas School of the Environment (NSOE).  This position reports to the Dean as well as to the Senior Associate Dean of Research and Doctoral programs at NSOE. A member of the Dean’s Operations Management Group and NSOE’s Research Support Council, the Director develops, plans and implements activities to support School research and projects funded by grants and contracts.  The Director also creates and maintains a resource library and ensures communication of information on funding opportunities to the NSOE research community (i.e., faculty, postdoctoral research staff, and doctoral students).

Research Development (60%)

• Support the development of complex funding proposals (from idea conception to proposal submission) through effective interactions with the NSOE research community.
• Support research onboarding and provide guidance on research proposal development to junior faculty.
• Identify and secure resources necessary for successful extramural funding including, but not limited to, the solicitation of on-campus and off-campus services to aid in the determination of research design, data analysis and program assessment.
• Coordinate the research grant proposal process, working with individuals at various levels in the organization (dean, vice provosts, multiple faculty PIs, financial and research administrative staff) to ensure successful integration of all parts and full compliance with all funding solicitation and sponsor requirements.
• Identify and support partnerships with academic and community organizations internal and external to Duke University for funding opportunities, including facilitating best practices for effective and equitable partnerships and relationship building with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and minority serving institutions.
• Stay apprised of and share with the NSOE research community information on the changing landscape of DEI requirements in proposals and ensure that proposals and research initiatives comply with evolving fieldwork safety and DEI best practices.
• Ensure coordination with NSOE K-12 and undergraduate pathway programs to fulfill proposal outreach activities (as appropriate)
• Edit proposals and write or provide writing support for proposals; provide comprehensive editorial review; advise investigators on proposal content and organization.
• For proposals not funded, support post-processing or reviews and revision for resubmission as appropriate
• Assist with updates and maintenance of institutional proposal resource template materials.

Research Administration (30%)

• Facilitate strategic planning meetings on new initiatives with the NSOE research community. Determine appropriate resources required to pursue new initiatives. Work with PIs to ensure successful competitive site visits for new initiatives, when being reviewed by funding organizations.
• Administer and manage research affairs in the School, including establishing and maintaining monitoring/tracking data and knowledge management systems for the research portfolios at the School and division level.
• Provide high-level strategic and operational support as a member of the School’s Research Support Council.
• Serve on the Dean’s Operations Management Group to provide School-wide research guidance while fostering strong collaborative working relationships within all areas of the School.
• Serve as the School’s representative to appropriate University-level research committees.
• Monitor and facilitate compliance with all University and sponsor requirements.
• Liaise with the Nicholas School Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, Office of Communications, and Business Office to support unit-level and school-level objectives.

Research Development Training (10%)

• Provide one-on-one training to the NSOE research community on research proposal writing that enables responsiveness to specific requests for proposals (RFPs).
• As needed, design and deliver a writing course to better prepare advanced undergraduates and doctoral students to develop proposals across a variety of scientific workforce domains, including donor, foundation, and federal proposals.
• Support initiatives that foster dissemination of research knowledge and skills.
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Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Required Qualifications at this level

Education/Training

Bachelor's degree in English, communications, science, business or a related field. Advanced degree is highly desirable with demonstration of an understanding and familiarity with a broad range of science or technical subject matter.

Experience

Seven years of experience working with extramural grants and contracts

or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience

Preferred Skills & Experience

Self-starter, independent worker

Outstanding oral and written communication skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Project management skills

Adaptability

Managing across diverse research methodologies in the environmental sciences.

Proven ability to work under pressure with multiple concurrent demands.

Previous experience working on and facilitating teams of high performing researchers and cross functional peers and stakeholders.

Previous experience writing and editing technical documents.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and 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.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Bachelor's degree in English, communications, science, business or a related field. Advanced degree is highly desirable with demonstration of an understanding and familiarity with a broad range of science or technical subject matter.

Seven years of experience working with extramural grants and contracts. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.