Executive Director, Research Operations & Strategy

MSU Careers Recent Jobs

East Lansing (MI)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 140,000

Full time

6 days ago

Be an early applicant

Application generator

Don’t send a generic resume — generate a resume and cover letter tailored to this exact role.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

MSU Careers Recent Jobs seeks an AVPRO to provide strategic oversight of the administrative and operational infrastructure that advances research, innovation, and institutional initiatives at Michigan State University. The role collaborates with institute directors, college leadership, central administrative units, and compliance offices to foster integrated, efficient operations.

The AVPRO will lead cross-unit alignment, implement standardized processes, and build partnerships to support

Qualifications

Advanced degree in a relevant field and significant leadership experience in research administration or large-scale organizational management.
Strong understanding of research compliance, regulatory frameworks, and university governance.
Proven ability to build and sustain internal partnerships and lead organizational change.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for research operations and ensure alignment with institutional priorities.
Drive continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, service delivery, and compliance across the research enterprise.
Build and sustain partnerships with internal stakeholders across colleges, institutes, HR, Finance, IT, and Sponsored Programs.
Lead development and implementation of standardized processes and service models to support research growth and compliance.
Coordinate internal workflows and resource allocation to support emerging priorities and initiatives.