Director, Research Education

Department: Research Training
Salary/Grade: EXS/11

Job Summary:

The Director, Research Education is a member of the Office for Research (OR) leadership team, supporting an innovative research ecosystem for twelve schools and colleges, and all centers and departments across three campuses (Chicago, Evanston, Illinois and Doha, Qatar) at Northwestern University, a distinguished AAU institution.

Reporting to the Chief Research Operations Officer, the Director, Research Education is responsible for the development, implementation, assessment, and ongoing management of comprehensive research administration training programs and related activities. The Director will work closely with OR units, schools, faculty and research administration leaders/staff to identify training and resource needs to ensure robust and effective education and research compliance programs that maintain a motivated and skilled workforce both within OR and throughout the university's research ecosystem.

The Director, Research Education is responsible for the supervision, training, mentoring, performance management and development of all staff in the Research Education unit.

The Director, Research Education will lead the Research Training Advisory Group within the Office for Research leveraging current resources and sharing best practices.

The Director, Research Education will support the OR mission and values of understanding empathy, modeling accountability, ensuring fairness, embracing community, and valuing creativity.

Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• The Director, Research Education is responsible for the development, implementation, assessment, and ongoing management of comprehensive research training programs and related activities.
• Partners with OR units, including but not limited to, Sponsored Research, Center for Comparative Medicine, Export Controls & International Compliance, Innovations and New Ventures Office, Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee Office, Institutional Review Board Office, Research Safety, Risk Management/Conflict of Interest, Research Misconduct and Research Integrity. Also partners with central units, schools, faculty and research administration leaders/staff to identify and create solutions for learning needs.
• Works closely with central and departmental research administration leaders/staff to plan, implement and maintain training programs focusing on the award lifecycle.
• Leverages proven training technologies and methods, while also investigating new ones. i.e. curriculum based, testing based.
• Directs and prioritizes the research administration educational offerings, staying abreast of changes within the research administration field to ensure regulatory requirements are met.
• Measures and reports training effectiveness.
• Manages, directly and indirectly, a team of learning management professionals, instructional designers and trainers.
• Develops policies, procedures and forms related to education, training, and development.
• Leverages subject matter experts and HR Training department offerings to provide general management, leadership and staff development training designed to attract, develop and retain the highest caliber team members.
• Hires, supervises, mentors and evaluates staff.
• Manages unit non-personnel budget.
• Performs related responsibilities as required.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Master's degree and 7 years of training experience; OR appropriate combination of education, training and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired.
2. Previous, demonstrated experience supervising and mentoring staff.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

1. Ability to supervise and motivate professional staff in a team environment.
2. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across organizational units and at all levels, including faculty, deans, central administration and senior institutional officials.
3. Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
4. Customer-focused; dedicated to providing optimum service to internal and external customers.
5. Highest level of professional and personal integrity.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience and/or certification in Project Management
2. A minimum of 5+ years previous work experience in the administration of research at an educational institution, in the federal government, or entity engaged in sponsored research.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

1. Knowledge and application of relevant codes and regulations necessary to administer and manage externally funded sponsored research.
2. Intermediate level of knowledge of:
   • Federal regulations related to research administration, including Uniform Guidance, RTC terms and conditions
   • Other major federal funding agency guidelines
   • Major sponsor electronic systems such as Grants.gov, Commons, & Research.gov

Target hiring range for this position will be between $110,000-$130,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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