Director of Research Planning & Development / Translational Molecular Pathology

UT MD Anderson

Houston (TX)

Hybrid

USD 129,000 - 194,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical coverage

PTO accrual + holidays

Tuition Assistance Program

Pension plan

Job summary

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks a Director of Research Planning & Development in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine to provide strategic leadership, oversee research administration, and support program development for a broad portfolio of cancer research initiatives.

Ideal candidate will hold a PhD with extensive grant writing and full lifecycle grant management experience, plus a track record of leading research administration teams in fast-paced academic environments.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in science or related field is required.
Advanced degree (MS/PhD) preferred for leadership and grant oversight.
Strong track record in grant management and research administration.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for research planning and development.
Oversee pre-award and post-award grant management activities.
Direct budgets, compliance, and reporting for sponsored programs.
Lead a team of research administration staff and supervise personnel.
Collaborate with faculty and leadership on strategic research initiatives.
Ensure alignment with institutional mission and policies.

Skills

Leadership

Grant writing

Research administration

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Science or related field

Master's Degree in Science or related field

PhD in Science or Oncology research

Job description

The Director, Research Planning & Development in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine will provide strategic leadership, oversee research administration, and support program development for a broad portfolio of research initiatives. The Director, Research Planning & Development will serve as a key resource for faculty, staff, sponsors, and institutional stakeholders, ensuring the successful planning, execution, and growth of research programs. The Director, Research Planning & Development will lead research administration operations, grants management activities, and personnel development while aligning departmental priorities with UT MD Anderson's mission.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Science, Oncology Research, or a related field and extensive experience in grant writing, funded grant submissions, and full-lifecycle grant management. Experience leading research administration teams, supervising staff, supporting complex research programs, working in fast-paced academic environments, collaborating with senior leadership, and serving as a subject matter expert for grant processing is highly desirable.

Why Us?

This role offers the opportunity to lead high-impact research initiatives that directly support UT MD Anderson's mission to eliminate cancer through outstanding research, education, prevention, and patient care. The position offers exposure to large-scale scientific collaborations, strategic institutional initiatives, and complex grant-funded programs, along with opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and meaningful contributions to translational cancer research.

Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Responsibilities

Identify new funding mechanisms to promote clinical, translational, and basic science faculty
Collaborate on short- and long-range strategic goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures for research programs.
Prioritize projects based on funding availability, urgency, and institutional objectives.
Lead expansion of technical capabilities, services, and development of new research programs.
Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements when needed.
Reassign projects with professionalism, competence, and discretion.
Maximize existing research administrative resources and develop service enhancement strategies.
Serve as departmental, divisional, and institutional liaison for research planning initiatives.
Identify laboratory research support needs and improve workflows and documentation resources.
Ensure compliance with institutional policies, rules, and regulations.
Report progress and outcomes of research activities and initiatives.

Strategic & Operational Leadership

Identify new funding mechanisms to promote clinical, translational, and basic science faculty
Collaborate on short- and long-range strategic goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures for research programs.
Prioritize projects based on funding availability, urgency, and institutional objectives.
Lead expansion of technical capabilities, services, and development of new research programs.
Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements when needed.
Reassign projects with professionalism, competence, and discretion.
Maximize existing research administrative resources and develop service enhancement strategies.
Serve as departmental, divisional, and institutional liaison for research planning initiatives.
Identify laboratory research support needs and improve workflows and documentation resources.
Ensure compliance with institutional policies, rules, and regulations.
Report progress and outcomes of research activities and initiatives.

Research Administration & Program Oversight

Serve as the primary administrative resource for divisional faculty involved in clinical, translational, and basic research.
Coordinate preparation and submission of research proposals, reports, and sponsor updates.
Direct grants and contracts administration teams supporting funded research programs.
Serve as liaison among departmental, divisional, institutional, and external stakeholders.
Direct tracking, reporting, and evaluation of research activities and outcomes.
Monitor funding streams and ensure budget adherence, financial integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Serve as a subject matter expert and primary point of contact for research administration matters.
Direct research compliance activities involving protocols, MTAs, CDAs, and research contracts.
Communicate federal policy changes and institutional initiatives to faculty and staff.
Conduct critical reviews of funding applications, progress reports, and related research communications.

Pre-Award & Post-Award Grant Management

Provide oversight of budgeting activities for industry-sponsored trials, NCI studies, investigator-initiated studies, laboratory studies, clinical trials, and chart review protocols.
Analyze translational trial activation processes and identify budget-related barriers to activation.
Develop and implement funding strategies supporting clinical and translational research.
Ensure compliance with institutional, sponsor, federal, and regulatory requirements for sponsored projects.
Monitor research budgets and accounts to verify accuracy and optimize resource utilization.
Design and implement administrative standards and operating procedures.
Develop timelines that support timely activation of research programs.
Oversee financial and administrative activities associated with translational studies funded by industry, foundations, state agencies, and federal agencies.
Serve as liaison between investigators, sponsors, and institutional officials.
Lead annual reporting activities for large-scale grant-funded programs.

Research Planning & Program Development

Provide administrative leadership for development and evaluation of large programmatic grants and initiatives.
Participate in strategic planning committees supporting research growth and development.
Advise faculty on long-term planning for research initiatives, funding opportunities, and program feasibility.
Identify opportunities for new collaborative research initiatives within and outside UT MD Anderson.
Connect faculty and programs with divisional, institutional, and external resources to expand programmatic activities.

Personnel Management

Establish productivity and performance standards for program staff.
Optimize utilization of personnel resources across research administration functions.
Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback.
Implement disciplinary actions in accordance with institutional guidelines when necessary.
Ensure compliance with mandatory training, in-service requirements, accreditation standards, and federal and state regulations.
Direct and support a team of approximately 7-8 direct reports.

EDUCATION

Required: Bachelor's Degree Science or medically related field, business or healthcare administration.
Preferred: Master's Degree Science or medically related field, business or healthcare administration.
Preferred: PhD in Science, Oncology research or related

Work Experience

Required: 8 years Experience in an academic research setting facilitating research program development and management of research resources to include two years of supervisory/management experience. or
Required: 5 years Required experience to include two years of supervisory/management experience, with Master's degree.
Preferred: Extensive experience with grant writing and submission of funded grants, extensive experience managing the grant process from beginning to end, experience working in a fast-paced environment and able to meet deadlines, experience serving as a departmental resource for grant processing, experience working effectively with all levels of leadership
May substitute required education degree with additional years of experience in research administration management at MDACC on a one to one basis.
Successful completion of the LEADing Self Accelerate and/or LEADing Self Discover programs may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience. Completion of both programs can be substituted for a maximum of two years of supervisory or management experience.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information