Associate Director, Research Planning & Development

Overview

The Director of Team Science Development will play a pivotal leadership role within the Division of Cancer Medicine (DoCM) guiding initiatives to foster a culture of collaborative team science and interdisciplinary research. This position is responsible for driving the strategic planning, development, and submission of large-scale, multi-investigator, and multi-institutional grant applications. This role will implement the Division's research goal of maximizing impact through coordinated scientific collaboration, optimizing resource allocation, and driving strategic planning aligned with institutional goals.

The Director will work closely with faculty, department chairs, research administrators, and institutional leadership to support high-impact team science initiatives aligned with the Cancer Center's strategic goals and will implement structures and systems that enhance research productivity. In addition, the Director will also lead training and mentorship activities to build institutional capacity in collaborative grant development and management.

Qualifications (Ideal Candidate) The ideal candidate will have five or more years of pre-award and post-award management of NIH or NCI grants.

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

• Strategic Development & Implementation
  • Lead the development and execution of the DoCM strategic plan focused on collaborative team science.
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration by identifying synergies across departments and fostering new investigator teams to support complex, multi-disciplinary grant proposals.
  • Identify and prioritize team science funding opportunities (NIH, DoD, foundation, and other mechanisms) that align with institutional research strengths and priorities.
  • Lead the coordination and development of large-scale, multi-PI grant applications, including overseeing timelines, scientific narratives, administrative components, and budget alignment.
  • Provide scientific editing and strategic input on Specific Aims, Research Strategies, and programmatic components to enhance proposal competitiveness.
  • Serve as a liaison between DoCM and institutional research support offices (e.g., Sponsored Programs, Research Development, Finance) to ensure smooth submission and compliance.
  • Establish and manage a strategic planning task force or working group with faculty representation across divisions.
• Cross-Institutional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Foster ongoing relationships with other divisions, departments, and centers across the institution to build a pipeline of collaborative research initiatives.
  • Partner with external collaborators, institutions, and consortia to support large-scale proposals with multi-site involvement.
  • Represent the Division of Cancer Medicine on institutional working groups, committees, and initiatives focused on research development and academic advancement.
  • Organize faculty meetings, workshops, and interactive forums to encourage cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration.
  • Lead the planning and execution of symposia and seminars focused on team science methodologies and strategies.
• Training, Mentorship, and Capacity Building
  • Design and implement training programs, workshops, and one-on-one consultations focused on NIH grant development, with an emphasis on multi-PI and collaborative funding mechanisms.
  • Mentor junior and mid-career investigators in team science best practices, proposal preparation, and effective collaboration strategies.
  • Develop templates, toolkits, and internal guidance documents to support consistent, high-quality submissions across the division.
• Performance Tracking and Metrics
  • Design and…