Director of Rehabilitation Research

Director of Rehabilitation Research
Location: Houston, TX 77030
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Allied Health
Experience: 7+ Years Research Leadership

Position Summary

We are seeking an accomplished Director of Rehabilitation Research – Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to provide strategic and scientific leadership for the organization's rehabilitation research program.

The Director will lead a portfolio of SCI and rehabilitation research initiatives while maintaining an active independent research program. This position will drive research strategy, secure external funding, mentor investigators, develop academic and clinical partnerships, and strengthen the organization's national reputation in rehabilitation research.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the rehabilitation research program within the SCI Division.

• Develop and execute short- and long-term research strategies and priorities.

• Provide scientific leadership across SCI and rehabilitation research programs.

• Maintain an active, independent research program.

• Lead, mentor, and develop investigators, research staff, and affiliated faculty.

• Develop new research initiatives and identify funding opportunities.

• Lead efforts to secure federal research funding , including NIH, NIDILRR, and other relevant agencies.

• Advise executive leadership on research strategy, priorities, and opportunities.

• Build partnerships with academic institutions, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and professional organizations.

• Lead multidisciplinary research teams and support investigator development.

• Promote translational research that improves rehabilitation outcomes and patient care.

• Represent the organization's research program with external research and professional organizations.

• Support fundraising initiatives to expand and sustain research programs.

• Contribute to investigator and physician recruitment.

• Strengthen national visibility through high-impact research, publications, presentations, and scientific collaborations.

• Manage research budgets, resources, and strategic initiatives.

• Ensure compliance with applicable research policies, standards, and requirements.

Required QualificationsEducation

• MD or PhD required.

Experience & Expertise

• 7+ years of administrative/research leadership experience as a Program Director, Research Director, Principal Investigator, Department Head, Division Director, or comparable role.

• Demonstrated expertise in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and/or rehabilitation research .

• Strong or outstanding national reputation in medical rehabilitation research .

• Proven success obtaining federal research funding , preferably through NIH, NIDILRR, or similar agencies.

• Strong record of peer-reviewed scientific publications .

• Experience leading multidisciplinary research teams and developing investigators.

• Strong understanding of rehabilitation research funding sources and grant strategies.

• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborations across clinical, academic, and research environments.

• Excellent scientific writing, presentation, communication, and executive leadership skills.

• Experience managing research programs, budgets, resources, and strategic initiatives.

Preferred Skills

• Spinal Cord Injury research

• Rehabilitation medicine/research

• Translational research

• Clinical research

• Federal grant development

• NIH/NIDILRR funding

• Research program and portfolio management

• Scientific writing and peer-reviewed publications

• Research design and data analysis

• Investigator mentorship and development

• Academic/clinical research partnerships

• Strategic research planning