Assistant Director of Research

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Gloucester Point (VA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

William & Mary’s Virginia Sea Grant program seeks an Assistant Director of Research to lead VASG’s research and fellowships portfolio, guide program development with partner institutions, and coordinate with NSGO and federal funders. This exempt role demands strategic oversight, budget management, and collaborative leadership to enhance coastal science impact.

Salary starts at $90,000 with commensurate commensurate with experience. Occasional travel within Virginia and nationally is required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in coastal and marine field or related field.
• Experience managing people and projects in higher education or similar settings.
• Proficient in IT, databases, websites, and digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Program oversight and leadership of VASG’s research and fellowships portfolios.
• Management, reporting, and evaluation of research investments and outcomes.
• Program development with member institutions and external funders.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Budgeting

Grants management

Data management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Time management

Education

Master's degree in coastal and marine field

PhD in coastal or marine science (preferred)

Job description

Job Description Summary:

School Mission Statement

William and Mary’s Batten School and Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has a three-part mission of research, education, and advisory service. Our over-arching goals are to:

• Make seminal advances in understanding marine systems through research and discovery.
• Translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance.
• Provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with a coastal and marine sciences education of unsurpassed quality.

Unit Mission Statement

The Virginia Sea Grant College Program (VASG) is a multi-institutional partnership that leverages the collective expertise at Virginia’s seven premier universities to address vital coastal and marine challenges. The program’s mission is to improve the environmental, social, and economic health of the Commonwealth's coastline and communities through university-based research, extension, and education programs.

VASG is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce) with matching support from the state of Virginia and other federal and non-federal sources. The program is housed at William and Mary’s Batten School and Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS).

Job Description:

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director, VASG’s Assistant Director of Research is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, and management to VASG’s research and fellowships program portfolio.

Key duties include:

• Program Oversight and Leadership: Leads, strengthens, and expands VASG’s research and fellowship portfolios. Supports VASG Director in advancing VASG’s mission.
• Management, Reporting, and Evaluation: Manages VASG’s investments in research and fellowships. Measures, evaluates, and communicates research impact through publications and presentations.
• Program Development: Fosters development of use-inspired, community-engaged research projects with VASG member institutions for submission to National Sea Grant Office (NSGO), and other federal and non-federal funding opportunities.
• Other Duties: Assists other essential functions as assigned by the Director that are critical to VASG operations.

The Assistant Director of Research is a member of the VASG leadership team which develops and implements an integrated strategic plan for VASG in collaboration with NOAA, the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO), William and Mary’s Batten School and VIMS, and VASG partner institutions. The position collaborates closely with VASG’s Fellowship and Internship Coordinator and serves as a backup for that position.

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Master’s degree in coastal and marine field, or other relevant field.

Experience

• Project management experience, e.g., coordinating large teams, fostering collaboration, time and budget management, using online software tools, staff and volunteer supervision and coordination, and data management.
• Experience working in higher education or similar settings.
• Experience managing people and projects.
• Proficient in the use of information technology, including computers, websites, databases, digital platforms, and social media.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of ocean and coastal issues, science, and policies, coastal and marine resources, and ecosystems, and understanding of coastal cultures.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Engaging, motivated, self-starter.
• Proven ability to work effectively with individuals at multiple levels of an institution or organization.
• Aptitude and technical skills in grants, contracts, and budget management.
• Attention to details, with strong organizational and time management skills to effectively fulfill multiple responsibilities.
• Technical skills to identify and assess expertise and experts.
• Possess excellent listening, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong commitment to quality, with a customer-oriented and collaborative team approach.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

• Ph.D. in coastal or marine science or related field

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in research administration, leadership, program management in any Sea Grant-relevant area or specialty.
• Experience managing competitive funding.
• Experience evaluating effectiveness of grant making.
• Demonstrated experience in collaborative co-production of knowledge, and fostering convergence science projects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of competitive grant-making.
• Proven ability to work with students, faculty, administrators, at multiple levels of an organization.
• Attention to details, with strong organizational and time management skills to effectively fulfill multiple responsibilities.
• Technical skills to identify and assess relevant subject matter experts.
• Demonstrated, effective communication and listening skills.
• Strong commitment to quality, with a customer-oriented and collaborative team approach.
• Problem-solving skills, innovation, and creativity.

Salary: Starting at $90,000 commensurate with experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Conditions of Employment:

• This is an exempt position.
• Position restricted to term length and available funds.
• Occasional evening and weekend work.
• Travel in the state, regionally, and nationally.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Program Oversight and Leadership — 50%

• Serves on the VASG leadership team contributing to advancing VASG’s mission and effectively integrates science across all Sea Grant focus and functional areas.
• Contributes to VASG’s strategic planning process, and development of VASG’s omnibus proposal.
• Provides focus and direction to VASG-led research competitions, addressing challenges, fostering alliances, and embracing opportunities.
• Evaluates and communicates the impact of VASG’s investments in science and people.
• Oversees the management of VASG’s proposal management and review system.
• Oversees the collection and analysis of reporting data across all Sea Grant functional areas including research and fellowships, extension, education, communication, and administration.
• Provides accountability for outcomes, accomplishments, benefits, and impacts of VASG’s investment in research, fellowships program development, and other research opportunities.
• Provides accountability for responsible management of VASG-led research and fellowship competitions, budget allocations, expenses, revenues, and external funding sources.
• Strengthens existing and builds new partnerships to enhance the integrity, relevance, and usefulness of VASG-supported research projects and people.
• Engages effectively with VASG’s Board of Directors in matters related to VASG’s Research and Fellowship program.
• Represents VASG within the national Sea Grant’s Research and Fellowships Coordinators Network, and relevant regional and national meetings.

Management, Reporting, and Evaluation — 25%

• Develops, implements, oversees, and assesses VASG's strategic investments in research including VASG's Biennial Research Competition, VASG's Graduate Research Fellowship program, Program Development awards, Aquaculture Supplement, national strategic investments offered by NSGO, and other state and federal funders.
• Supports VASG’s Fellowship and Internship Coordinator in coordination of student opportunities.
• Serves as VASG's program officer for prospective and funded researchers and students, facilitating the recruitment of a broad pool of applicants, proposers, and reviewers; developing request for proposals, convening merit review panels, evaluating proposals, and contributing to funding decisions.
• Collaborates closely with the VASG communication team on dissemination strategies, including tailored outreach targeting potentially interested applicants.
• Manages all VASG-sponsored awards, including budgetary authority and engagement with VIMS Office of Sponsored Programs and other personnel at institutions and agencies across the Commonwealth, ensuring compliance with university, federal, and state policies and requirements.
• Tracks and monitors data management plans and abbreviated environmental compliance questionnaires, as appropriate.
• Reviews all reporting data and oversees submission to timely and impactful reports to federal, state, and other funders.
• Shares information broadly with VASG partners and other interested parties through presentations, publications, and required reporting.

Program Development — 25%

• Collaborates closely with VASG Director to contribute to strengthen alignment of VASG with its host university.
• Collaborates closely with VASG’s member institutions to develop and sustain effective coastal and marine research programming and support research development.
• Identifies and develops capacity to address emerging coastal and marine issues.
• Fosters the development of community co-developed and collaborative, use-inspired research projects focused on improving the health of Virginia’s estuaries, coastlines, and people.
• Convenes researchers, partners, and stakeholders to facilitate science-based solutions to complex marine and coastal challenges in the Commonwealth.
• Collaborates with Mid-Atlantic Sea Grant programs to address Bay-wide research needs.
• Leads efforts to develop and obtain funding support for VASG’s Research and Fellowships program including writing grant proposals.
• Develops and executes VASG’s Coastal Leadership Conference and other research convenings.
• Cultivates career advancement and enhancement opportunities for VASG-supported researchers and students including orientation, wrap-around support services, and training for new awardees.

Additional Job Description:

Job Profile:

JP0730 - Scientist IV - Exempt - Salary - S14

Compensation Grade:

S14

Position Restrictions:

Restricted Funds & Restricted Term

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Probationary Period Notice:

Individuals selected for full-time staff positions will be required to complete a twelve (12) month probationary period in accordance with university policy.

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