Director, Office of Research Management

Overview

The Geneva Foundation is a non-profit organization that advances military medicine through innovative scientific research, exceptional program management, and a dedication to U.S. service members and veterans, their families, and the global community. 

The Office of Research Management’s mission is to advance high-quality research by promoting an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, community, and commitment to the highest ethical values. The Director of ORM will play a key role in fostering a nurturing environment for research growth and compliance at Geneva in addition to providing direct oversight and leadership for all pre-award and post-award administrative functions for research carried out by the organization.

This position will be located at our corporate office in Tacoma, WA or Bethesda, MD, or remotely from San Antonio, TX. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Management or related degree required
• Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Health Administration (MHA), or related Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of sponsored research experience in a supervisory or leadership role at an active non-profit, academic health center, university or government agency required; additional earlier experience at non-leadership levels preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of direct management experience, including recruitment, training and professional development, and performance management of staff required
• Knowledge of US military system and DoD funding mechanisms preferred
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and manage staff
• Demonstrated experience leading change management processes
• Expert knowledge of all aspects of research administration and management of the lifecycle of awards occurring at all levels of research
• Expert knowledge of all applicable federal and industry requirements, regulations, and laws as they apply to sponsored programs administration and management
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to maintain strong relationships and work collaboratively with military and organizational leadership and with personnel at all levels of the organization
• Ability to support the mission and strategic vision of the organization and strengthen critical relationships within Geneva’s departmental units
• Strategic and analytical thinking skills with an ability to solve problems and make decisions
• Experience with training and leading remote, distributed team members preferred

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide principal oversight and leadership to the Office of Research Management team including the strategic planning, organization, and management analysis for all aspects of pre-award and non-financial post-award administration
• With Human Resources support, responsible for staffing, hiring, salary negotiations, and performance reviews for assigned employees
• Conduct counseling and corrective   action where necessary, up to and including termination, with support from Human Resources and President and CEO
• Oversee general administrative needs such as timesheet approval, new hire paperwork, distribution of forms for assigned employees
• Manage all assigned personnel to ensure optimal performance
• Ensure team members demonstrate basic understanding of their job duties
• Plan and facilitate individual and team meetings
• Assure all department personnel comply with Foundation and site policies, procedures, and SOPs

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with organizational leadership to set annual goals and communicate vision to ORM team
• Serve as the principal contact on complex matters relating to pre-award and non-financial post-award research administration
• Interpret, recommend actions, and/or resolve complex issues that span the considerations of research administration, including the policy areas of PI eligibility and criteria for an exception, responsible conduct of research, diverse types of research agreements (including non-monetary agreements), and indirect cost waivers
• In collaboration with the Office of Strategic Engagement, contribute to the development, communication, and execution of growth strategies for the research portfolio teams
• Oversee and direct ORM’s required external reporting
• Effectively communicate federal and non-federal sponsor and award requirements including but not limited to administrative and financial management
• Participate as an active member of the organizational Leadership Team.
• Prepare status reports, executive summaries, and analyses on items and other issues requiring organizational alignment and action
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) regarding issues that arise during the research and agreement administration processes which require advice and counsel
• Lead overarching research administration functions to ensure compliance; conduct risk analysis; support conformance with regulations, terms and conditions of prime awards and the advice of legal counsel, Research Compliance Officer, and Tech Transfer Specialists
• Serve as the departmental SME in the areas of regulations, terms and conditions, non-monetary agreements, subaward administration, and project monitoring
• Act as a SME for Principal Investigators on questions related to research and agreement administration
• Develop fiscal and financial operational strategies, initiatives, and resource management
• Conduct budget and operational analysis and recommend options for novel approaches and cost-effective services
• Evaluate, establish, and maintain an organizational structure and staffing plan to accomplish Geneva’s goals and objectives effectively and efficiently
• Develop and manage the department budget; monitor monthly budget reports, identify variances, and take appropriate action
• Develop appropriate metrics to ensure adequate support for research administration services (e.g., protected time and sufficient support) and make recommendations to CEO
• Identify programs and initiatives that may impact the budget and incorporate into the annual budget process
• Partner with other organizational departments to improve processes and relationships
• Direct and develop areas for work process improvements to meet critical timelines, researcher and sponsor expectations, and reporting requirements
• Respond in a timely manner to complex and varied administrative requests
• Apply expert knowledge of sponsor cost principles
• Coordinate communication into and out of the office and direct items as appropriate