Director of Research Development

Working Title: Director of Research Development

State Role Title: Administrative & Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

College/Division: Research and Scholarship

Department: 100305 - Research and Scholarship

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Beginning Review Date: 04/27/2024

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Director of Research Development, reporting directly to the Associate Vice President of Research and Scholarship, is tasked with overseeing the Office of Research Development. This role is pivotal in realizing the overarching vision for central Research Development that serves the James Madison University research enterprise while upholding the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning
- Develop and execute strategies aimed at enhancing productivity in the area of external funding.
- Assist in securing external funding from federal and state government agencies, industry, and foundations.
- Utilize campus, state, and federal data to inform planning, grant-making, program evaluation, and implementation of research development activities.

Strategic Initiatives
- Lead proposal preparation and program management of large-scale proposal development efforts.
- Identify and promote funding opportunities.
- Foster engagement with collaborators and external entities, including hosting program officers and relevant visitors.
- Cultivate strong relationships with faculty and staff across the university.
- Implement grant writing and other research development resources.
- Conduct research development resource workshops and develop tools.
- Lead the establishment and maintenance of faculty expertise databases and collaboration tools.

Collaboration and Communication
- Coordinate central research development planning with College Associate Deans for Research and College Research Development Associates.
- Maintain a strong relationship with research enterprise stakeholders and relevant parties such as Corporate and Foundation Relations.
- Weave JMU’s commitment to inclusive excellence throughout the planning and processes in the office.

Supervision
- Oversee daily operations and hiring, evaluation and supervision of staff.
- Ensure training and professional development opportunities.
- Complete the administrative tasks associated with these duties.
- Manage Office of Research Development budget.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications
- Advanced degree (graduate level or higher) in a related field
- Advanced project management and planning experience
- Leadership and managerial skills
- Demonstrated supervisory experience
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to interact professionally with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with institutional policies and processes or willingness to learn
- Familiarity with grant proposal development processes and funding opportunities in academic or research settings
- Familiarity with research databases and funding search engines or willingness to learn
- Previous experience in or strong interest in research development/administration and/or proposal writing
- Experience working or collaborating with federal and industry sponsors

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.