Operations Lead Program Director III

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Houston is seeking a Program Director to lead operations for an NIH Center grant within the UH Population Health department. The role requires coordinating strategy and day-to-day activities across multiple teams to ensure successful milestone delivery.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience directing complex programs, managing budgets, timelines, and cross-functional operations, and will work closely with Center PI, core directors, investigators, and NIH stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Requires a 4-year degree with strong analytical, technical or professional discipline knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Administers a complex center or multiple departments.
• Manages budget and engages in strategic planning to ensure all goals are met.
• Hires and directs the activities of staff.
• Resolves personnel issues as they arise.
• Engages in budget-planning, grant oversight, and policy development.
• Implements new programs and projects and monitors ongoing activities of department or center.
• Reviews department policies and processes and implements improvements as needed.
• Represents department or center to internal and external constituents.
• Performs other job-related duties as required.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Strategic planning

Staff management

Cross-functional coordination

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department: UH Population Health Salary: 75,100- 87,000

Description

The Program Director will serve as the Operations lead for an NIH Center grant, providing strategic and day-to-day leadership to ensure effective coordination and execution of the Center’s activities. The ideal candidate will have significant prior experience directing complex, multi-component research programs, or centers, with a demonstrated track record of managing teams, budgets, timelines, and cross-functional operations. This individual will work closely with Center Principal Investigator, Core directors, investigators, institutional partners, and NIH stakeholders to align priorities, monitor progress, and ensure successful delivery of milestones and objectives. Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills are essential.

Responsible for the operations of a complex center or multiple departments at the university. Oversees staff and budgets, and projects.

• Administers a complex center or multiple departments.
• Manages budget and engages in strategic planning to ensure all goals are met.
• Hires and directs the activities of staff.
• Resolves personnel issues as they arise.
• Engages in budget-planning, grant oversight, and policy development.
• Implements new programs and projects and monitors ongoing activities of department or center.
• Reviews department policies and processes and implements improvements as needed.
• Represents department or center to internal and external constituents.
• Performs other job-related duties as required.

MQ: Education: Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed.

Experience: Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of directly job-related experience. Certification/Licensing: None.

• Department is willing to accept education in lieu of experience.
• Department is willing to accept experience in lieu of education.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.