Associate Director, Research Operations

About the role

The Associate Director, Research Operations plays a critical leadership role in advancing Trinity College of Arts & Sciences' research mission by supporting faculty, departments, and school leadership across the full lifecycle of sponsored research.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Associate Dean for Research and OR&I leadership to identify, develop, and disseminate best practices for research administration across Trinity.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for the implementation of institutional initiatives, policies, and compliance requirements related to research administration.
• Advise departmental business managers and Trinity staff on research administration policies, procedures, sponsor requirements, and regulatory updates.
• Provide ongoing training and professional development to administrative staff supporting research activities.
• Collaborate with the Vice Dean for Finance and Administration to assess gaps in research administration support and align solutions with shared services models and departmental staffing structures.
• Partner with institutional committees and working groups to advance coordinated research administration practices.
• Serve as a key liaison between Trinity and OR&I to ensure open, consistent communication.
• Monitor the effectiveness of administrative support for proposal development, grant submission, post-award management, research-related HR, procurement, IRB review, data storage, and related research functions.
• Meet regularly with faculty, department chairs, business managers, and administrators to understand evolving research administration needs and communicate those needs to Trinity leadership.
• Facilitate strong coordination among faculty, departmental administrators, and central shared service teams to ensure seamless pre- and post-award support.
• Provide onboarding and individualized support for new Trinity faculty navigating Duke systems for grants submission and management.
• Support implementation and administration of research-related policies affecting graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate researchers.
• Identify breakdowns in research administration processes and work collaboratively with faculty and leadership to develop solutions.
• Serve as the primary point of contact within Trinity for research compliance matters.
• Consult on research administration resource needs and partner with school leadership on staffing and support strategies.
• Collaborate with the Office of Research Support (ORS) and designated grant managers on grant administration, policies, procedures, and budgeting.
• Identify, track, and analyze key performance indicators related to Trinity’s research activities, including sponsored funding, publications, and broader scholarly and societal impact.
• Partner with OR&I and Trinity Technology Services to develop infrastructure that supports data-driven decision-making and performance monitoring.
• Meet with faculty to understand grant development needs and connect them to funding development resources across OR&I and campus partners.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, allied health, or related field; Master’s degree or PhD preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of experience managing research staff and supporting sponsored research activities; Demonstrated experience with grant proposals and budget development; At least one (1) year of proven leadership experience; General knowledge of internal and external research compliance regulations.
• Preferred Skills: Strong proficiency with computing software and web-based applications; Ability to use administrative tools to track, model, and analyze institutional data; Proven ability to work effectively with researchers in an academic environment; Exceptional relationship-building skills and experience working with stakeholders at all organizational levels; Ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible guidance for diverse audiences; Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; A problem-solving mindset with the ability to navigate complex situations and identify practical solutions; Ability to work independently and collaboratively, providing leadership and influence without direct supervisory authority; Familiarity with financial tracking systems and/or research administration systems; Understanding of Duke University policies and processes related to proposal submission and grant administration.

Benefits

Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $0.00 to USD $0.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.