Associate Director of Research

Job Description

Overview

The University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology, a complex academic and clinical department in the School of Medicine, has an excellent opportunity for the newly created role of Associate Director of Research. The Department has an annual budget of approximately $46 million, including $24 million in research funding from numerous federal, industrial, and philanthropic sources. The Department of Ophthalmology is one of the 31 departments in the School of Medicine with approximately 50 faculty members, 35 trainees, and 75 staff. The mission is to alleviate suffering from eye disease by providing state-of-the-art, compassionate care, advancing research, and sharing knowledge with trainees and the community. The department emphasizes healthcare equity, an inclusive and safe learning environment, and diversity among faculty, staff, and trainees. Faculty provide care at eight major sites of practice, see approximately 100,000 patient visits and perform over 5,000 surgeries annually, and serve a five-state WWAMI region. The department engages in services such as ocular oncology, uveitis, and medical and hereditary retinal disease, and trains residents, fellows, medical students, and vision science researchers. In the academic year, the department published 175 papers and ranked #3 in NIH funding among ophthalmology departments; UW is in the top 10 nationally for funding from the National Eye Institute.

Position Purpose

The Associate Director of Research oversees all financial and administrative functions related to research conducted within the Department of Ophthalmology. This role requires broad knowledge and experience in academic medicine, policy conformance and compliance, and collaboration with research faculty and staff to develop and implement processes and manage programs. The position exercises independent judgment in daily operations, strategic planning, communications, pre- and post-award grants management, coordination of personnel, space, and resources across multiple projects. It maintains adherence to regulatory requirements for human subjects research and robust record-keeping for clinical research and clinical trials. The role advises faculty investigators and staff on current institutional and agency policies and procedures and provides timely notification of policy changes.

Duties And Responsibilities

This role oversees and provides leadership for the department across all research-related activities including policy development, operations, strategy, finance, grants and contracting, regulatory support, risk management, research staffing, and events.

Leadership (30%)

• Provide overall management of pre- and post-award grant and contract activities, including development, implementation, and administration of internal grant-related policies and procedures, financial management, record keeping, monitoring, and reporting.
• Oversee and manage compliance with policies and procedures of the School, University, and external funding agencies.
• Serve as contact for sponsors and central administrative offices on the substance of funded work and contractual arrangements.
• Monitor policies, processes, and researcher relations for consistent application and continual improvement.
• Design, prepare, and interpret analytical reports on departmental research funding and expenditure trends and projections.
• Participate in the clinical trial feasibility committee to shape departmental research priorities.

Research Finance & Operations Management (20%)

• Design and implement consistent processes for clinical research and clinical trial infrastructure from the application stage through study startup to closeout and reporting.
• Manage departmental space needs across vision science research labs, research faculty, and clinical trial locations including equipment and material requirements.
• Maintain rhythm of business throughout research activities and ongoing trials with a focus on financial stability and forecasting departmental need.
• Ensure timely reporting activities for research products, including philanthropy, state and federal sponsors (RPPR).

Grants & Contracts Management (15%)

• Direct grant managers on matters concerning research administration, grant submission, compliance, conflict of interest, pre- and post-award management.
• Provide subject matter expertise and support to grant managers on research-related activities in Workday finance, such as award setup, cost share, and effort reporting.
• Monitor grant funding trends to anticipate internal and external financial problems.
• Ensure timely reporting activities for research products, including philanthropy, state and federal sponsors (RPPR).
• Serve as backup for research grant and contract proposals including eGC1 submissions, development of budgets, subawards, IRB/IACUC concerns, and related research matters.

Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Management (15%)

• Ensure all departmental research activities comply with federal, state, and institutional regulations, as well as ethical standards and guidelines.
• Ensure all departmental research activities are in compliance with UW EH&S, IRB, and IACUC guidelines.
• Stay updated on changes in research administration and compliance, including new sponsor and university procedures and systems, and adjust document workflows accordingly.
• Provide strategic oversight to researchers to ensure adherence to compliance requirements and mitigate risks, including collaboration with UW offices overseeing IP, COI, Export Controls, Data Security, SFI, and other areas.

Human Resources & Supervisory (10%)

• Oversee the day-to-day activities of the Research Operations Team, including recruitment and hiring processes, training oversight, performance management, and leave approval. Advise research labs on hiring needs and best practices.
• Offer consistent coaching and feedback to enhance employee performance; engage in performance management initiatives and career development planning.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly assessing and updating policies and procedures.
• Compose and disseminate routine communications regarding policy changes, compliance updates, sponsor requirements, and emerging research trends as necessary.

Departmental Research Initiatives (10%)

• Represent the department at university and research meetings, acting as a strategic liaison.
• Lead high-impact project management for emerging initiatives, mobilizing resources and directing efforts to align with organizational goals and achieve successful outcomes.
• Oversee the development and execution of high-profile events featuring distinguished guests, enhancing the department’s visibility and impact.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage four 1.0 staff members: Research Finance Manager, Grants & Contracts Manager, Research Coordinator Lead, and Regulatory & Compliance Specialist.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Sciences, or Health-related field.
• Five (5) years of progressive experience including a combination of research administration, grants and contracts management, clinical research operations, regulatory and compliance support, and/or clinical research finance.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Additional Requirements

• Experience with managing budgets and running projections.
• Ability to communicate respectfully, effectively, and professionally in written and verbal formats; and the ability to explain, present, or distill complex information for various audiences.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders and manage complex projects.
• Experience in leading meetings and giving presentations.
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Experience working independently and leading individuals or groups of faculty, administrators, and/or staff in a research setting.
• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations and ethical standards related to research.
• Ability to work effectively in the face of ambiguity, maintain openness to new ideas, and facilitate innovation within a distributed organization.
• Ability to effectively manage up, including anticipating superiors' needs, providing timely updates, and proactively seeking guidance to ensure alignment with organizational goals and priorities.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctoral Degree in a health sciences-related field.
• Project or program management experience within an academic or medical environment involving complex/open-ended projects, development of project charters, setting program requirements, prioritizing goals, and evaluating success criteria.

Compensation, Benefits And Position Details

Pay Range Minimum: $100,008.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum: $138,540.00 annual

Benefits For information about benefits for this position, visit

Shift First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular? This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) 100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit Not Applicable

About The UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees benefit from professional growth and a diverse, dynamic environment.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at or Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current or past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

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