Research Director – Training & Proficiency Testing Programs

Illinois Institute of Technology; Bedford Park (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life and long-term disability

403(b) retirement plan with university

Tuition assistance programs

Flexible spending and commuterBenefits

Employee assistance program

University holidays

Paid leave benefits

Job summary

Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health seeks a Research Director to provide scientific and operational leadership for training and proficiency testing programs. You will oversee projects, support grant development, supervise staff, and ensure high-quality scholarly and applied research, with a focus on FSPCA and SSA curricula and related initiatives.

The role requires a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and manage a portfolio of funded training and research projects through design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Supervise research scientists, project coordinators, postdoctoral fellows and students, including performance management.
• Develop, promote, and deliver current and new training curricula and programs.
• Lead proficiency testing initiatives and support reference materials management and related program activities.
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed journals and conferences; develop reports and presentations for stakeholders.
• Guide and develop project budgets and resource allocation with timelines and reporting obligations.

Skills

Leadership

Grant & budget management

Project management

Communication

Staff supervision

Training program development

Attention to detail

Scientific writing

Education

Ph.D. in STEM field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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Research Director, Training & Proficiency Testing Programs

Research Director, Training & Proficiency Testing Programs
Position Details

Compensation: $120,000–$180,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
Position Type/Schedule: Full-time, exempt. Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Occasional weekend work and work-related travel may be required based on operational needs. This position is fully on-site; remote work is not available.
Work Location: Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH), 6502 S. Archer Rd., Bedford Park, IL 60501.
Work Authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Illinois Tech is unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment-based visa for this position.

Summary
The Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) Research Director, Training & Proficiency Testing Programs provides scientific and operational leadership in alignment with IFSH strategic initiatives and its portfolio of training and proficiency testing programs. This includes externally funded projects, faculty collaborations, and leading a team to meet established goals and deliverables.

The Research Director will oversee project execution, support grant development and implementation, supervise training and research staff, and ensure the production of high-quality scholarly and applied research. The Research Director will lead various aspects of training and research, particularly Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) and Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA) curricula, proficiency testing initiatives, reference materials management, and related programs. The Research Director will also provide scientific advice to the IFSH Executive Director and training and research team. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate must satisfy and maintain all applicable security clearance and access requirements associated with working in a secure research facility.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Identify, develop, and manage a portfolio of funded training and research projects through the design, implementation, and evaluation of training and research programs.
• Supervise research scientists, project coordinators, postdoctoral fellows, and students, including performance management and professional development.
• Develop, promote, and deliver current and new training curricula and programs.
• Lead proficiency testing initiatives and support reference materials management and related program activities.
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed journals and national and international conferences, and develop reports, briefs, and presentations for stakeholders.
• Guide and develop project budgets and resource allocation in alignment with university, sponsor, and regulatory requirements while managing project timelines, deliverables, and reporting obligations.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field or related discipline, with 15+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience serving as a Principal Investigator (PI) on significant grants and/or managing multiple contract research projects.
• Demonstrated success securing external research funding and producing scholarly publications.
• Experience supervising and developing research and training personnel.
• Experience developing and implementing training programs from concept through launch, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Strong scientific, problem-solving, communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and other relevant research and administrative software.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in scientific records, reports, and technical documentation.
• FSPCA Lead Instructor and Trainer-of-Trainers approval.

Service Standards and Performance Expectations

• Produces high-quality scientific research, training programs, documentation, and project deliverables.
• Maintains accurate and timely records, reports, and scientific documentation.
• Proactively addresses scientific, operational, training, and stakeholder needs.
• Manages assigned priorities, timelines, deliverables, and reporting requirements effectively.
• Works collaboratively and professionally with university colleagues, sponsors, research partners, industry and government partners, and other stakeholders.

Supervision & Budget Authority

• Supervises approximately 4–7 research scientists, including exempt and non-exempt employees.
• May provide direction to postdoctoral fellows and students assigned to research and training projects.
• Manages assigned project budgets and has spending authority of up to $5,000, consistent with university and project requirements.

Physical Qualifications
Work is performed primarily in an office environment, with additional time spent in laboratory, training, and related research settings. The position requires regular computer and documentation work, walking throughout research facilities, and occasional lifting and carrying of items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, consistent with applicable law.

Benefits:

• includes medical, dental, and vision coverage
• life and long-term disability insurance
• a 403(b) retirement plan with university contributions and matching for eligible employees
• tuition assistance programs
• flexible spending and commuter benefits
• an employee assistance program
• university holidays
• and applicable paid and job-protected leave benefits

Eligibility, waiting periods, employee contributions, and coverage levels vary by benefit and position.

Additional information is available at https://www.iit.edu/hr/benefits.

EEO Statement
Illinois Institute of Technology is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, inclusion, and diversity. It is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and actively seeks applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, regardless of race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, disability, age, unfavorable discharge from the military, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, including gender identity and expression, order of protection status, and/or genetic information. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.