Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Research Operations Director

Overview

The Research Director for the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the department’s research enterprise, ensuring excellence in research administration and compliance. This role leads the DFMCH Research Administration team with deep expertise in the full research grant lifecycle, including pre-award and post-award processes, and works in close alignment with the University’s Research and Sponsored Programs and the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Research Administrative offices. The DFMCH Research Operations Director ensures that DFMCH research operations are strong stewards of resources, adhere to regulatory requirements, and serve as a resource to reduce administrative burden so research can thrive.

This leadership position partners with the DFMCH Vice Chair of Research, supervises research support staff, coordinates research teams, and collaborates with faculty and stakeholders to advance research priorities. Responsibilities include oversight of Core Research Services and Operations, strategic planning, resource allocation, and securing funding to support departmental research initiatives. This role requires building and maintaining campus connections, providing technical expertise in research procedures and policy, and fostering cross-unit partnerships to prevent silos and promote collaboration. The Research Operations Director serves on the Research Committee, works closely with Principal Investigators, and provides vision and leadership for research operations that align with both departmental mission and broader school-wide goals. Critical aspects of this role include project management, navigating compliance and regulatory requirements, and advocating for research teams to ensure operational excellence and sustainable growth.

• This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
• Candidates who demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities will be given first consideration:
  • Administration and knowledge of business management principles in strategic planning, resource allocation, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Active listening skills and the ability to communicate effectively and manage relationships.
  • Critical thinking skills with the ability to solve problems and identify alternative and creative solutions to unique challenges.
  • Monitoring and sound judgment skills to make well-informed, logical, and appropriate decisions.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Serves on the Research Committee and works closely with Principal Investigators and the Core Research Operations Staff on Pre-Awards and Post-Awards processes
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• Collaborates with project directors and the full range of clients whose knowledge and expertise varies
• Serves as a unit liaison to internal stakeholder groups to foster cross-unit partnership efforts regarding research programs and activities
• Determines unit personnel needs and the unit personnel resource allocation plan
• Serves as a consultant to project directors and provides technical expertise to research and operational personnel
• Oversees departmental Core Research Services and Operations, leading the connection of support for research to empower scholarship across all departmental missions
• Provides strategic oversight of multiple grants and funding for the department research areas
• Manages large research projects for a center or program
• Assists with planning, implementation, and management of strategic initiatives for a center or program

Department:
School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Research Core Group

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) at the University of Wisconsin is a leading clinical department within the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). DFMCH is dedicated to advancing patient care, education, and research. Our 18 clinics provides primary care to over 175,000 patients yielding over 374,000 patient visits annually, and we train more than 150 residents and 300 medical students each year. Learn more: https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/.

Compensation:
The starting salary for the position is $116,426; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and the SMPH Academic Staff Benefits Flyer.

Required Qualifications:

• At least five years of supervisory experience, ideally in research operations.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite to organize information, manage data, and perform basic analyses.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Seven years of supervisory experience
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification or Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA) credential through the Research Administrators Certification Council.
• Experience working in Schools of Medicine or Research and Sponsored Programs of an academic institution.

Education:
Bachelor’s Degree Required. Master’s Degree Preferred Minimum.