JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Job Title: Director, Grants and Research Development

Division: Academic Affairs

Evaluation Group: Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

Positions Supervised: N/A

Job Summary

The director, grants and research development provides strategic and entrepreneurial leadership to expand Lindenwood University’s research, scholarship, creative activity, innovation, and sponsored programs. Working with University leadership, faculty, students, and external partners, the Director strengthens the University’s research enterprise, expands opportunities for faculty and students, and advances institutional capacity for externally funded research. A primary responsibility is increasing the University’s success in securing grants and contracts by identifying high-value funding opportunities, developing competitive proposals, building partnerships, and cultivating relationships with government agencies, foundations, industry, and other sponsors.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Develops and implements a university-wide strategy for research, innovation, and sponsored programs aligned with institutional priorities
• Identifies high-value funding opportunities and develops a pipeline of significant grant and contract opportunities
• Leads the development of major and complex proposals from concept through submission
• Strengthens faculty capacity and expands faculty and student participation in research and sponsored activities
• Establishes metrics and assesses growth in proposals, awards, external funding, participation, and partnerships
• Oversee the sponsored-project lifecycle in collaboration with the Grants Manager, Fiscal Affairs, and investigators
• Serves as the University’s Authorized Organizational Representative and oversees internal research funding programs
• Provides oversight of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and institutional research compliance
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements
• Develops scalable policies, procedures, and systems to support research growth, operational effectiveness, and research integrity

Service Excellence

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Leads the Office of Grants and Research Development through a service-oriented approach that supports faculty, staff, students, and University stakeholders
• Provides responsive guidance and support to faculty and investigators throughout the proposal development and sponsored-project lifecycle
• Promotes effective and efficient processes that enhance the experience of faculty, staff, and other stakeholders engaged in research and sponsored programs
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Communication, Teamwork, and Collaboration

• Partners with University leadership and academic units to advance institutional research and innovation priorities
• Convenes and leads interdisciplinary teams to develop significant grant, contract, and research opportunities
• Advises University leadership on funding opportunities, research trends, partnerships, risks, and resource needs
• Communicates research priorities, funding opportunities, requirements, and outcomes effectively across the University
• Collaborates with the Grants Manager, Fiscal Affairs, investigators, faculty, and other University stakeholders to support successful sponsored activities
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with government agencies, research organizations, funding entities, and other external partners
• Builds internal and external partnerships that advance institutional priorities and contribute to measurable growth in research and sponsored funding

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered.

• Master’s degree in a research focused field or related discipline
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in research, sponsored programs, research administration, research development, or a related higher education or research environment
• Demonstrated experience supporting externally funded research, sponsored projects, and/or investigators pursuing external funding
• Demonstrated success in securing competitive grants, contracts, or external funding
• Working knowledge of research compliance, research ethics, and the regulatory environment applicable to university research
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically while also managing hands-on operational responsibilities in a developing organization
• Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, project management, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, institutional leaders, students, and external partners

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions.

• General office setting
• Non-standard flex

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hours daily
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time Ability to lift or carry items typically found in an office environment, such as documents or a laptop, usually up to 10-20 pounds
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function