Director Research Strategy and Operations

Director Research Strategy and Operations

Job no: 493050
Work type: FT
Location: West Des Moines
Categories: Staff

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.

*To see the full job description go to Position Description at the bottom of this posting.

Total Rewards:

This position offers a competitive annual salary ranging from $110,000 to $115,000, commensurate with experience, skills, and relevant research administration leadership experience.

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.

Required Documents:

Resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references required at time of online submission. Apply at www.dmu.edu/employment.

Department:

Status: Exempt

Advertised: 02 Nov 2026 Central Standard Time
Applications close:

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