Sr. Director for the Advancement of Research Initiatives

Full-time - Senior

Educational Services

About the position

The Sr. Director for the Advancement of Research Initiatives is a newly established role within the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, aimed at enhancing the institution's capacity to secure, manage, and optimize research grants in a competitive landscape. Reporting to the Sr. Associate Dean for Research, this position is pivotal in providing leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to advance the research agenda of the institution. The Sr. Director will work closely with school leadership, junior faculty, and laboratory staff, overseeing grant writing and publication support, contributing to scientific projects, and managing laboratory operations. This role also involves administrative oversight and the championing of integration efforts across various Temple entities to optimize research resources and financial effectiveness. In addition to these responsibilities, the Sr. Director will engage in community outreach and initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to foster a collaborative and inclusive research environment. The position will be based at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and will require collaboration with the Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, as well as other departments and centers within LKSOM and Fox Chase Cancer Center. The successful candidate will be instrumental in developing and implementing strategic research plans, collaborating with stakeholders to identify opportunities for research improvement, and ensuring the submission of high-quality grant applications. Furthermore, the Sr. Director will lead efforts in literature research and writing to support impactful scientific publications, mentor junior researchers, and provide administrative leadership to various research programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic research plans to enhance the institution's research capabilities and impact.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify and prioritize opportunities for research improvement and innovation.
• Oversee the development and submission of grant applications, ensuring high-quality literature research, editing, and administrative management.
• Identify and pursue appropriate funding opportunities to support individual and programmatic research initiatives.
• Lead efforts in literature research, writing, and editing to support high-impact scientific publications.
• Contribute to groundbreaking scientific projects, leveraging expertise in genomics, DNA repair, and other cancer-relevant topics.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for junior researchers and laboratory staff.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive research environment to promote staff growth and innovation.
• Provide administrative leadership to the Department of Cancer Biology (DCCB) and other research programs.
• Oversee the integration processes for new faculty research hires, emphasizing work on those with cancer relevance ensuring a smooth transition during their first year at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM).
• Provide support for grant writing, literature research, editing, administration of labs, and the procurement of additional funding sources.
• Serve as a liaison for the utilization of Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) resources and core facilities.
• Administer pilot grant competitions, including the compilation of proposals and generation of reports as assigned.
• Manage document control processes to ensure the quality, integrity, storage, and retrieval of research documents as assigned.
• Conduct in-depth searches on various scientific topics to support the development of new research initiatives and ongoing projects.
• Collaborate with the Department of Research Administration to augment administrative support for the DCCB, ensuring efficient and effective day-to-day laboratory operations maintaining high standards of quality and compliance in the Department of Cancer and Cell Biology and/or other laboratories as assigned.
• In collaboration with LKSOM resources like OHEDI, lead community outreach programs and actively contribute to DEI initiatives, promoting inclusivity and engagement within the research community.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and at least 7 years of directly related experience.
• Seven (7) years of experience working as a faculty member (tenure-track or non-tenure track) in research and/or performing similar functions within an academic or research institution.
• Demonstrated success in productively contributing to the acquisition of grant funding.
• Proven track record in scientific facility management and research administration.
• Strong background in grant writing, literature research, and publication support.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop junior researchers.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Commitment to community outreach and DEI initiatives.

Nice-to-haves

• Extensive experience in cancer and cell biology research

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401k
• Flexible scheduling
• Professional development opportunities
• Paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Wellness programs