Associate Dean for Research

Belmont University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Supportive community environment

Job summary

A reputable educational institution in Nashville, TN is seeking an experienced Associate Dean for Research. This role involves leading and implementing a comprehensive research strategy, ensuring compliance, and fostering partnerships. The ideal candidate will have significant leadership experience in research administration, commitment to ethical standards, and hold a relevant terminal degree. Join a mission-driven team focused on educational excellence and community engagement.

Qualifications

• 8 years of related experience in research administration or leadership.
• Demonstrated success in leading multi-program research enterprises.
• Experience supervising research administrators and core personnel.

Responsibilities

• Lead the research strategic plan and set priorities.
• Design and implement laboratory operations and training.
• Ensure compliance with ethical standards and regulations.
• Develop partnerships with external organizations.
• Build a culture of mentoring across the university.

Skills

Strategic planning

Knowledge of research regulations

Grantsmanship

Partnership development

Communication skills

Commitment to equity and inclusion

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Terminal degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent)

Job description

We are now accepting applications for a qualified Associate Dean for Research at Belmont University.

Employment Type

Faculty

Internal Job Category

Tenure Track (Faculty)

Full-Time

Department

College of Medicine

Hours

N/A

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Associate Dean for Research is a visionary, collaborative leader with enterprise-wide responsibility for shaping FCoM’s research infrastructure, culture, and strategy for students, faculty, and staff. This newly created position will establish, lead, and steward an integrated research ecosystem encompassing pre‑and post‑award services, compliance and human subjects protection, laboratory and clinical research capacity, mentorship and training, and external partnerships—advancing FCoM’s mission, vision, and values while expanding the school’s scholarly impact.

Key responsibilities:

• Leadership & Strategy: Lead, develop, own, and execute the research strategic plan aligned with mission, vision, and values; set priorities and success metrics; assess and optimize research infrastructure, policies/SOPs, and performance; diversify, expand, and stabilize revenue sources; and act as the institutional authority and central point of contact for research-related inquiries and compliance.
• Laboratory & Facilities: Design and implement laboratory-based and clinical, translational, population health, and community-engaged research components in research and education, including facility planning, operations, safety, training, and recruitment.
• Compliance, Ethics & Risk: Ensure the highest ethical standards and regulatory compliance through proactive risk assessment, audit readiness, and continuous monitoring (IRB/Human Subjects, HIPAA/data privacy, research integrity/misconduct, COI, biosafety, export controls as applicable); establish, maintain, and regularly update policies/SOPs.
• Partnerships & Community: Formalize collaborations and create networks across public health, health care, industry, foundations, philanthropy, and government agencies; support school-wide research events and scholarly activities; advance sponsored research and strategic investment opportunities.
• Centers, Institutes & Programs: Provide oversight/support to centers and institutes for strategic plans, governance, performance metrics, and resource alignment; support development/growth of graduate and combined degree programs.
• Mentorship, Faculty Development & Training: Build a culture of mentoring; lead research mentorship program for faculty and doctoral students (including external funding streams for doctoral trainees); develop and oversee training on grantsmanship, design, compliance, data stewardship, statistics, publishing, and communication via workshops/seminars and course offerings.
• Operations & Performance: Manage Research operations and budgets; implement performance dashboards/KPIs; drive continuous improvement.
• The above statements describe the job’s essential responsibilities and requirements. They are not an exhaustive list of the duties that may be assigned to job incumbents.

Reporting & Appointment

Reports to the Dean; collaborates with senior leadership, department chairs, center/institute directors, compliance officers, and core managers. Holds faculty appointment with rank commensurate with credentials and experience.

First‑Year Priorities (Illustrative)

Develop research structure, staffing, and SOPs; complete infrastructure assessment and deliver a prioritized, costed implementation plan; launch research strategic plan with defined milestones and KPIs; initiate lab‑based component (design, safety, staffing); formalize collaboration agreements with key partners; start faculty/doctoral mentorship and grantsmanship programs with participation targets; deploy research dashboards and quarterly performance reporting to senior leadership.

Required Qualifications

Belmont University seeks to attract and retain highly qualified faculty and staff who will support our mission and vision. As a Christ‑centered and student‑focused community, we aim to:

• Form diverse leaders of character;
• Equip people to solve the world’s complex problems through teaching, research and service;
• And be radical champions for helping people and communities flourish.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strategic planning and change management; deep knowledge of research regulations (IRB, HIPAA, COI, effort, biosafety, export controls); grantsmanship across the lifecycle; laboratory operations and shared instrumentation; partnership development; communication, diplomacy, negotiation; commitment to equity, inclusion, research integrity, and community‑engaged scholarship; proficiency with research administration systems/analytics.

Leadership Competencies

Vision & Strategy; Collaboration & Influence; Talent Development & Mentorship; Operational Excellence; Ethical Stewardship & Compliance; Innovation & Growth; Financial Acumen; Stakeholder Engagement; Results Orientation.

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree required. Terminal degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) preferred.

Required Experience

Required: Eight (8) years of related experience in research administration, strategy, or leadership. Preferred: Demonstrated success leading institution‑level or multi‑program research enterprises; sustained record of peer‑reviewed scholarship; proven, diversified grant success as PI and/or institutional leader; experience supervising research administrators and core personnel; experience aligning research with accreditation and strategic planning.

The selected candidate will be required to complete a background check satisfactory to the University.

Belmont University participates in E‑Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Belmont University is a Christ‑centered community. The University faculty, administration, and staff uphold Jesus as the Christ and as the measure for all things. As a community seeking to uphold Christian standards of morality, ethics, and conduct, Belmont University holds high expectations of each person who chooses to join the community. In compliance with federal law, including provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service, or sexual orientation in its administration of education policies, programs or activities; its admissions policies; or employment. Consistent with applicable civil rights law, the University primarily hires employees of the Christian faith who are committed to support the mission of the University. The University has appointed the Chief Human Resources Officer/Deputy Title IX Coordinator to serve as coordinator of non‑discrimination compliance for staff and faculty. The Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator serves as coordinator of compliance for Title IX (sex discrimination) issues and questions for students. Click here to learn more.

*In accordance with accrediting standards for its professional education programs in law and medicine, the University does not apply religious criteria in hiring employees within those programs. All employees hired by the University, regardless of religious faith, shall be committed to Belmont’s Christ‑centered, student‑focused mission.

Belmont’s Office of Human Resources will conduct ongoing evaluations of the means by which candidates for employment are sought, to the end that the pool of candidates will include qualified women, minorities, veterans and disabled individuals. Belmont University is an equal opportunity employer under all applicable civil rights laws.