Director, Research and Faculty Development, IU Research - The Miami Herald : Job Details

Director, Research and Faculty Development, IU Research

Reports To: Associate Vice President for Research Development

Location: Indianapolis or Bloomington

Job Type: 12-month full-time appointment

Position Overview:

Indiana University is seeking a dedicated and experienced individual to serve as the director for research and faculty development as part of the ODice for Research Development (ORD) team, reporting directly to the associate vice president for research development. This position is a 12-month, full-time administrative appointment as a faculty member at IU. This position, based at a premier public, Carnegie-designated R1 institution, is responsible for: collaborating with campus leadership and relevant research leadership to design programming to enhance faculty skills critical to develop and/or grow an externally funded research portfolio; developing internal recognition awards to celebrate faculty success in research and creative activity across the university, coordinating closely with ORD personnel working to build a pipeline of IU faculty competitive for receiving prestigious external honors and awards; and working with senior leaders in IU Research to design, propose, and execute approved opportunities as part of the IU Internal Funding Program, overseeing internal calls for proposals, and managing internal award processes, across all IU campuses, as well as limited submissions.

Importantly, the director will also be expected to identify and distribute relevant external funding opportunities to IU Internal Funding Program awardees and proactively coalesce faculty researchers to prepare and submit proposals for external funding for research and creative activity.

Indiana University is one of the top research universities in the world, with over $785 million in sponsored research last fiscal year. Growing transformative research and creativity, innovation, industry engagement, and commercialization are key goals in IU 2030: The Indiana University Strategic Plan. Ensuring impactful internal funding programs and internal awards that recognize faculty who have achieved excellence in research are aligned with strategic plan goals. A director to ensure this work is done efficiently and effectively will be critical to strategic plan success.

Due to the broad responsibilities and abundant opportunities, the director will be expected to work extensively on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses; therefore, the selected individual may make their home in either location.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University's Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Key Responsibilities (Effort Allocation):

• Faculty Development (50%): Continually analyze faculty needs to inform and execute curriculum development for workshops and training programs to position faculty for long-term success in securing external funding for research and creative activity either independently or as members of high-functioning teams. Coordinate with IU Research senior leaders and academic affairs to design and implement faculty awards to honor and recognize excellence in research and creative activity across the university as part of a broader strategy to advance IU faculty to be competitive for prestigious, external awards.
• IU Internal Funding Program (40%): Lead the strategic development, execution, and ongoing review and analysis of the IU Internal Funding Programs for research and creative activities, ensuring alignment with the university's research goals and strategic priorities. Oversee the application, review, and award processes for internal funding programs, ensuring transparency, fairness, and efficient management. This includes monitoring and assessing program outcomes, developing and utilizing data-driven approaches, and adjusting strategies as necessary to maximize impact and reach. Working collaboratively with other ORD areas, position recipients of internal funding programs to leverage internal funding to build compelling, transformative research proposals to external funders.
• Limited Submissions (10%): Manage the limited submission grant application process, including but not limited to strategically communicating external funding opportunities for limited submission and overseeing an objective process of screening and selecting proposals, working closely with relevant ORD colleagues and chief research officers in IU Research.

The Organization:

The Office for Research Development currently employs approximately 40 FTE, and includes these divisions:

• Research Development Services (RDS): This team includes all personnel who support faculty preparing proposals for external funding for research and creative activity, including from corporate, foundation, and government funders, as well as responsibility for coordinating with the director for research and faculty development on faculty training and development workshops relevant to RDS areas.

RDS assists faculty with idea generation, team development, and all phases of proposal development, including but not limited to project management, administrative support, narrative development, review and editing, budget preparation, and system entry to initiate final review and submission by the Office for Research Administration. Proposal development support focuses on strategic, complex, large, and/or center-level submissions and/or areas identified in the IU 2030 Strategic Plan. The RDS team provides content expertise for professional development training and workshops to enhance faculty expertise in successfully seeking and receiving external funding for research and creative activity.

• Team-Based Research Development: This team provides upstream research development services, supporting faculty during the preliminary ideation process and fostering faculty partners and teams to seek large-scale external funding opportunities.
• Research and Faculty Development and Recognition: This team oversees all aspects of awards conferred as part of the IU Internal Funding Programs, the limited submissions process, and coordinates the creation and execution of awards to honor and amplify faculty excellence in research and creative activity across all IU campuses. The IU Internal Funding Programs include funding for fellowships, grants, bridge funds, and grants that support production, project, and equipment, etc. on all IU campuses. Also, importantly, this team maintains strong communication to share external funding opportunities targeting internal funding awardee cohorts to ensure IU Research's return on investment.
• External Consulting Firm to Expand Federal Agency Research Funding: This external firm coordinates closely with an identified team of IU Research leaders to foster and develop strong relationships and to grow federally funded research and creative activity at IU.

Required Qualifications:

• A doctoral or terminal degree from an accredited institution
• Academic credentials necessary to be appointed as a faculty member at IU
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments and campuses with people from a variety of backgrounds
• Experience in faculty mentoring in their pursuit of externally funded research and creative activities from different funding sources
• Understanding and familiarity with internal funding programs and limited submissions at an R1-designated university
• Extensive knowledge regarding designing, managing, or administering funding programs and/or awards
• Demonstrated ability to coalesce, facilitate, and lead diverse faculty research teams
• Prior demonstrated experience in pursuing sponsored research from different sources as a key member of a research team

Preferred Qualifications:

• D. in STEM and/or life/biosciences with at least 7 years of relevant professional experience
• Academic credentials necessary to be appointed as a tenured faculty member at IU
• Prior demonstrated success with internal funding programs and limited submissions at a research university
• Prior demonstrated experience designing, managing, or administering funding programs and/or awards
• Prior demonstrated success in securing sponsored research from different sources as principal investigator
• At least five years of experience as a program director/manager
• Experience working at a senior level within a research-intensive university research development office, or leading a multidisciplinary center or institute that received recurring and large-scale funding

Work Location:

As part of the Office for Research Development, the position may be based on either the Indianapolis or Bloomington campuses, with regular travel between campuses.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds.

The planned start date is August 14, 2025 but is negotiable. Only applicants currently legally eligible to work in the United States will be considered. This is an open, national, and rolling search. Review of applications will begin immediately as they are received. Candidates meeting all the required qualifications may be contacted immediately for inquiry and interview. It is possible that a preferred candidate may be selected as other applications are still being received. Therefore, the most serious and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. To receive the fullest and timely consideration, applications should be submitted prior to April 1, 2025; however, the position will remain open until filled. Applications submitted after April 2, 2025, will be reviewed and considered if the position remains unfilled. Application materials should include: 1) a full and updated resume, 2) cover letter summarizing interest in the position and how the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications are met, and 3) a list of four references with full contact information. However, references will only be contacted after written consent of the candidate. Please apply via this link:

Inquiries can be directed to Bethan Roberts, ...@iu.edu