Director of Research Strategy and Operations

Des Moines University; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement match

Flexible work arrangements

Tuition assistance

Wellness facilities

Job summary

Des Moines University is seeking a forward-thinking Director of Research Strategy & Operations to lead the development and execution of initiatives expanding institutional impact. You will oversee research centers, partnerships, and strategic funding, ensuring compliance and vibrant collaboration across the enterprise.

The role requires a PhD with proven leadership in research administration, budget oversight, and complex grant management, with a focus on building sustainable programs and

Qualifications

• PhD in a biomedical, clinical, health, scientific, engineering, or closely related discipline with 5+ years in academic research administration or leadership.
• Experience supervising or leading teams with accountability for deliverables and cross-functional execution.
• Experience with sponsored research administration including pre/post-award activities, budget development, and sponsor compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of the institutional research strategy and coordinate initiatives, infrastructure, service models, and performance metrics.
• Direct research development and sponsored programs activities, including proposal development, grant administration, and multidisciplinary collaborations.
• Oversee research centers, shared resources, and strategic initiatives to ensure startup, sustainability, and resource planning.
• Advance external partnerships, IP processes, and technology transfer activities coordinating with Legal and compliance offices.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People management

Cross-functional collaboration

Grant administration

Budget planning

Education

PhD in biomedical/health/scientific discipline

MBA/MHA/MPH or related training (preferred)

Job description

Help build what's next. We are seeking a forward-thinking Director of Research Strategy & Operations to lead the development and execution of research initiatives that expand our institutional impact. From launching research centers and securing strategic funding opportunities to overseeing research agreements, compliance, and technology transfer activities, this position offers a unique opportunity to influence the growth of a dynamic research enterprise. The ideal candidate brings both strategic vision and operational expertise, with a proven ability to turn ideas into sustainable programs.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the execution of the institutional research strategy by coordinating key initiatives, research infrastructure, service models, operational improvements, and performance metrics in partnership with the Chief Research Officer. Direct research development and sponsored programs activities, including strategic funding opportunities, proposal development, grant administration, faculty engagement, and multidisciplinary research collaborations. Provide operational leadership for research centers, shared resources, and strategic research initiatives, ensuring successful startup, sustainability, resource planning, and achievement of research goals. Advance external partnerships and innovation efforts through the development and management of research collaborations, sponsored research agreements, technology transfer activities, intellectual property processes, and commercialization opportunities. Support research enterprise growth through budget planning, resource allocation, financial oversight, institutional readiness activities, accreditation support, compliance integration, and research governance initiatives. Supervise research administration staff and cultivate a high-performing, service-oriented culture focused on operational excellence, accountability, collaboration, professional development, and exceptional support for researchers and institutional stakeholders.

What we are looking for:

Minimum qualifications

• PhD in a biomedical, clinical, health, scientific, engineering, or closely related discipline, with demonstrated experience in academic research administration, research development, or research leadership. At least five years of progressively responsible experience in academic research administration, research development, research operations, institutional scientific programs or a comparable research-intensive environment. Demonstrated personnel supervision or substantial team leadership, including accountability for deliverables, performance and cross-functional execution. Demonstrated experience in sponsored research administration and grants management, including pre-award proposal development, sponsor requirements, institutional approvals, budget development, award administration, post-award coordination, budget monitoring, financial reporting coordination, and sponsor compliance. Experience supporting complex, multidisciplinary, or institutional grant proposals. Demonstrated experience coordinating research agreements, institutional partnerships, intellectual property activities, or technology development initiatives, with the ability to work effectively with Legal and other specialized institutional offices. Demonstrated knowledge of the regulatory and compliance requirements governing academic research, including human and animal subjects research, biosafety, research integrity, data privacy and security, sponsor requirements, and institutional oversight. Ability to identify regulatory risks, integrate compliance considerations into research planning and operations, and coordinate effectively with designated compliance officials. Experience with research budgets, resource planning, shared services or research infrastructure. Demonstrated ability to understand and evaluate multidisciplinary scientific research programs, translate institutional scientific priorities into actionable research development strategies, and work effectively with faculty investigators to advance competitive grant proposals, interdisciplinary collaborations, and research initiatives.

Preferred qualifications

• Additional MBA, MHA, MPH, research administration, business or commercialization training complementing the scientific or research leadership background. Experience with technology-transfer portfolios, licensing pathways, translational innovation, or research-related agreement workflows. Experience establishing research centers, developing cost-recovery services, building health-system/industry collaborations, or expanding an emerging research enterprise. Experience working with institutional research compliance programs, regulatory reviews, sponsor audits, or research-related accreditation and oversight processes. Experience managing federal, foundation, and industry-sponsored research portfolios, including complex awards, multidisciplinary proposals, sponsor compliance requirements, and institutional grants management systems.

Total Rewards:

Pay Scale: $110,000 to $115,000 Full Salary Range: $78,012 - $162,025

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences provides a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

Our employees are what make DMU special, so we treat them well! Our Total Rewards reflect this commitment. Qualified faculty and staff enjoy a generous employer contribution toward the medical plan, 10% retirement match, flexible work arrangements, community service time, tuition assistance, professional development funding and access to wellness facilities with programs that promote a well-balanced lifestyle. Visit www.dmu.edu/employment to learn more about our benefits.

DMU is proud to offer employees generous benefits and perks, paid time off, free use of wellness facilities and a host of employee engagement and recognition programs throughout the year.

About:

Founded in 1898, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is a premier medical and health sciences institution comprising three colleges — the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and the College of Health Sciences. DMU offers graduate-level professional degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health care administration, medical science, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and public health.

Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa’s capital metro, DMU provides a collaborative, student-centered academic environment. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks in board exam performance, certification pass rates and medical residency match outcomes. Our mission is to improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals.

It is an exciting time to join DMU. Our 88-acre campus in West Des Moines brings the entire academic community together in one collaborative, future-focused environment, while the Des Moines University Clinic serves patients within the DMU32 Health and Business Complex in downtown Des Moines. Our state-of-the-art campus features technology-rich, flexible learning environments that support innovative teaching and connect faculty and students across all of our programs. Modern research facilities include a vibrant open-concept laboratory that fosters collaboration, accelerates discovery and empowers faculty and students to advance the health sciences.

DMU enhances our community’s quality of life by educating outstanding health professionals and leaders, providing expert and compassionate patient care, serving the community in diverse ways and contributing to the vitality of central Iowa.

At DMU, you will make a meaningful contribution to the dynamic future of medicine and health sciences by supporting a diverse community of faculty and staff with programs and services across the employee lifecycle.

Required Documents:

Resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references required at time of online submission.

Department: Office of Research

Status: Exempt

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, age, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information and other characteristics protected by law ("protected class"). We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups.