Job Description

Dean Of Research And Research Administration

Are you interested in building a career that makes a difference and creates a legacy? Parker University, the fourth-fastest growing college in Texas and the fastest-growing college in Dallas, is currently searching for a Dean of Research and Research Administration to join our rapidly expanding team! We are seeking individuals who desire to use their unique skills to innovate and make an impact.

The Dean of Research provides strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for Parker University's research enterprise and serves as the University's senior academic and administrative official responsible for the development, oversight, sustainability, and regulatory compliance of Parker University's federally funded and externally sponsored research enterprise, in accordance with NIH, HHS, OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), and institutional policies.

Job responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

Compliance and Integrity

• Serve as the Institutional Official (IO) for research compliance, with authority and responsibility for oversight of:
• Human subjects protections (IRB; 45 CFR 46)
• Animal research (if applicable; IACUC; 9 CFR / PHS Policy)
• Conflict of Interest (42 CFR Part 50, Subpart F)
• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
• Research Misconduct (42 CFR Part 93)

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive institutional research strategy consistent with Parker's mission and strategic plan.
• Collaborate with Deans, Chairs, and faculty to expand research capacity across academic programs.
• Set measurable research performance indicators and report progress to the Provost, President, and Board of Trustees.
• Guide the integration of research into the Human Performance Center, Parker Performance Institute, and other Centers of Excellence.
• Establish systems for tracking and reporting research productivity metrics, including proposal submissions, award rates, publications, trainee outcomes, and return on investment.
• Prepare institutional research performance reports for senior leadership, governing boards, and external sponsors.

Research Infrastructure and Culture

• Build and sustain a robust infrastructure supporting faculty, student, and clinical research.
• Foster a culture of inquiry, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Develop research training and mentorship programs for faculty and graduate students.
• Oversee internal grant programs, seed funding, and faculty development initiatives.
• Oversee and ensure the continuous improvement of Parker University's Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) functions, including pre-award, post-award, and compliance monitoring.
• Ensure institutional readiness for federal funding mechanisms, including NIH R-, U-, P-, and K-series awards.
• Develop systems and processes to support faculty competitiveness for federal funding, including grant writing support, internal peer review, and mock study sections.

Faculty Development and Pipeline

• Lead institutional efforts to build a sustainable research workforce, including early-career investigators, clinician-scientists, and student researchers.
• Develop structured mentorship models aligned with NIH best practices, including multi-mentor teams and external advisory engagement.
• Expand training in grantsmanship, regulatory compliance, data management, and dissemination of findings.

External Relations and Funding

• Cultivate relationships with external research partners, granting agencies, and philanthropic organizations.
• Expand Parker's visibility through strategic collaborations, publications, and presentations.
• Oversee grant development, submission, and management processes in coordination with Finance and Advancement.
• Seek new revenue sources and partnerships that support Parker's strategic initiatives.
• Represent Parker University in federal research forums, professional associations, and sponsor-engagement activities.
• Facilitate institutional participation in NIH-supported consortia, research networks, and collaborative initiatives.

Leadership and Personnel Management

• Supervise and evaluate research leadership personnel and assigned staff.
• Facilitate professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.
• Manage departmental budgets and ensure fiscal accountability.
• Represent the research division on institutional committees, councils, and governance bodies as appropriate.

Budgetary Management

The Dean of Research develops and manages the budget necessary to execute the departmental plan and is supported by the Research Administrator in the following:

• Develop budgets based on the strategic plan and submit timely requests.
• Conduct regular monitoring of departmental and grant-related expenditures.
• Adhere to Parker University policies for all expenditures.
• Manage grant monies consistent with applicable institutional and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure fiscal stewardship and compliance with NIH Grants Policy Statement and OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), including allowability, allocability, reasonableness, effort reporting, and subrecipient monitoring.
• Coordinate with Finance to ensure compliant systems for time and effort reporting, cost sharing, indirect cost recovery, and audit readiness.

What you will need:

Education/Expertise:

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.C., Sc.D., or equivalent) in a life or physical science, health-related discipline, or related field.
• Minimum eight (8) years of progressive experience in research leadership in higher education or a health sciences environment.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications and extramural funding.
• Experience managing compliance with federal, state, and institutional research regulations (e.g., IRB, IACUC, financial conflicts of interest).
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams of faculty, staff, and students in scholarly activities.
• Evidence of successful collaborations with external partners such as universities, health systems, and funding agencies.

Job requirements/knowledge/skills:

• Deep understanding of research administration, grants management, and compliance.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated fiscal and strategic planning ability.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis, grant management systems, and statistical software.
• Ability to work collaboratively and lead through influence across academic and operational divisions.
• Ability to effectively utilize software applications common in higher education and research environments, such as Microsoft Office.
• Ability to effectively utilize common software for statistical analysis, data, and reference management.
• Periodic travel to attend and/or present at scientific and professional conferences.

Physical requirements:

• Visual acuity to use a keyboard and view a computer terminal. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp.
• Requires ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; or the ability to stand and walk.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry and/or move light to medium weight up to twelve (12) pounds and/or exert up to twelve (12) pounds of force.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

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