Director of Research Operations - University of California, Irvine

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The School of Medicine Office of Research, co-led by the Vice Dean for Basic Science Research and the Vice Dean for Clinical Research, oversees all basic science, clinical and translational research activities in the School of Medicine. This position reports to the Assistant Dean of Research Operations, who oversees projects, policies, and initiatives related to basic, clinical, and translational research.

The Research Operations Director will manage and direct the work of the research administration team in the School of Medicine Office of Research. This positions will oversee, organize, and participate in complex projects and initiatives related to basic, clinical, and translational research policies, resources, and events. Importantly, this position will collaborate directly with internal and external stakeholders, provide direction according to established policies and management guidance, and represent the School of Medicine’s research interests (e.g., attending meetings, workgroups, and leading initiatives) that bridge across internal units and across the enterprise. Additionaly, this position will lead efforts to develop implement changes and to provide consultative services to department administrators, partners and external stakeholders, research and drafts complex proposals, reports, and policies, and participate in the development and monitoring of research policies, project planning, and development for this unit and across the organization.

Required:

• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and students in an academic or research setting.
• Academic background and experience in relevant area of research.
• Ability to build relationships, collaborate and problem solve both internally and with external organizations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of program development as well as grant proposal development and administration.
• Demonstrated leadership skills including effective communication, negotiation, coaching, and conflict resolution.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of human resources management practices and policies.
• Knowledge of financial principles and budget practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge university, state, and federal policies that influence higher education.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
• Solid knowledge of applicable policy analysis techniques.
• Analytical / problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently, using judgment and decision-making skills to conduct short and long-range planning to prioritize tasks, and to follow through with related activities and request for information in an environment with a high-volume diverse workload, of frequent interruptions, competing deadlines, changing priorities, and compelling requests.
• Ability to create visual and graphical material to support reports and presentations.
• Advanced degree in a related area or comparable experience in a related clinical, academic, or business organization
• 5 years of related experience in increasingly responsible roles in project or operations management and at least 2-years professional experience working in an institution of higher education.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of University of California policies, procedures, and organizational structure.
• Prior research and grants experience.
• Experience in basic or clinical research in an academic institution.

Special Conditions:

• Must be able to work safely with chemicals and hazardous materials
• Must be able to work overtime and flexible shifts

Total Compensation

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.