Assistant Director

Assistant Director

The Assistant Director of Research Administration provides School-level leadership and oversight for the BBS Grant Core, with a primary focus on pre-award strategy, compliance, and operational consistency across departments. This position is a newly established role designed to support and guide embedded departmental Research Administrators (RAs) while strengthening coordination, standardization, and proactive management of the School's research portfolio. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Finance and Administration, with a dotted-line relationship to the Associate Dean of Research and the department research administrators, the Assistant Director serves as a key liaison between departments and central administrative units. The role ensures alignment with University policies, sponsor requirements, and federal regulations—including OMB 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance)—while providing senior leadership with regular reporting on proposal activity, projections, compliance risks, and areas of concern. This position supervises the Manager, Research Administration. Through training, oversight, and strategic coordination, this position enhances proposal competitiveness, mitigates risk, and ensures a consistent, high-quality approach to research administration across all BBS departments.

Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in related field. Three plus years relevant professional experience. Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education and Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in research administration within a university or comparable research environment. Demonstrated expertise in pre-award processes, sponsor guidelines, and regulatory compliance. Experience leading or coordinating research administration functions across multiple units or departments. Strong knowledge of NIH and other federal sponsor requirements; familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2CFR200). Experience with enterprise systems (e.g., PeopleSoft or comparable ERP systems). Professional certification (e.g., CRA, CFRA) preferred. Proven ability to analyze data, develop reports, and communicate insights to senior leadership.

Other Qualifications: To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Pre-Award Strategy & Oversight: Provide School-level oversight of pre-award activities across all departments to ensure consistency, compliance, and quality. Review complex proposals, budgets, and submissions for accuracy, competitiveness, and adherence to sponsor and University guidelines. Monitor proposal pipelines, submission timelines, and success rates; identify trends and recommend strategic improvements. Develop and implement standardized pre-award processes, tools, and templates across departments. Coordinate with Department Heads and RAs to ensure proper alignment of PI effort, cost share, and resource commitments.

Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure adherence to University policies, sponsor requirements, and federal regulations, including Uniform Guidance (2CFR200). Identify, assess, and proactively address compliance risks across departmental portfolios. Establish and maintain quality control processes for proposal review and submission. Partner with central offices (e.g., Office of Research & Innovation) to ensure consistent interpretation and application of policies.

Leadership Support & Reporting: Serve as a primary advisor to School leadership on research administration performance, risks, and opportunities. Prepare regular reports and dashboards on proposal volume, funding projections, compliance issues, and operational metrics. Escalate areas of concern and recommend corrective actions or process improvements. Support strategic planning efforts related to research growth and infrastructure.

Training, Coordination & Liaison Role: Provide training, mentorship, and ongoing support to departmental Research Administrators. Convene regular RA meetings to ensure communication, alignment, and knowledge sharing across departments. Serve as the School's liaison to central administrative units, facilitating issue resolution and process improvements. Collaborate with post-award counterparts to ensure seamless lifecycle support for sponsored projects.

Process Improvement & Infrastructure: Lead the continuous improvement of the BBS Grant Core model, focusing on efficiency, scalability, and service quality. Develop and maintain School-level SOPs, guidance documents, and training materials. Implement tools and tracking mechanisms to support forecasting, workload management, and performance monitoring.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent customer service skills. Detail oriented with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete tasks within deadlines. Ability to exercise initiative and judgment over non-routine administrative tasks. Ability to work both independently and cooperatively with others. Above average proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is a must.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Physical Activities Working Conditions

Additional Information: UT Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We offer an employee-friendly work environment with a comprehensive benefits package including: Competitive Salary Tuition Benefits BCBS PPO Medical Insurance Options – including 100% paid employee medical coverage for full-time employees AD&D Insurance Dental & Vision Plan Options Optional Long and Short-term Disability TSP Retirement Plan Fertility Benefits Paid time off All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program. Visit for more information.

About Us: UT Dallas is a top public research university located in one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan regions. Our seven schools offer more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs, plus professional certificates and fast-track programs. Our student body is 31,000 strong, reflecting students from over 100 countries and a multiplicity of identities and experiences. UT Dallas is committed to graduating well-rounded members of the global community whose education has prepared them for rewarding lives and productive careers in a constantly changing world. Rich with visual and performing arts venues, museum districts, professional and semi-professional athletics teams, botanical gardens, accessible trails and so much more, the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex has something for everyone to explore. UT Dallas partners with regional higher education institutions and school districts and with the Richardson Innovation Quarter (Richardson IQ), a major hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and educational activities. Let us be your employer of choice! #WHOOSH

Special Instructions Summary: Important Message - 1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public. 2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

1. Veteran Employment Preference - Form DD-214