Job Details

The mission of the School of Nursing is to improve the health of individuals and diverse communities locally and globally through leadership and excellence in nursing education, research, practice, and service. We are seeking a Director Research Administration who will provide strategic vision, leadership, and management of financial, operational, and administrative activities related to sponsored projects and contracts in the School of Nursing. The position is focused on building and maintaining best practices, processes, and policies that ensure a highly functioning and collaborative team that achieves high levels of communication, productivity, effectiveness, efficiency, and engagement. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration and Vice Dean for Research, the position requires a seasoned leader who is able to develop strong relationships and networks within SON and the JHU community, influence decisions and the direction of SON research activities, and think strategically about how research administration can advance the mission of the school. This individual represents the University and School in institutional and national/regional sponsored research administration committees and organizations and serves as the research administration expert within the school for all faculty and staff.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Research Operations

• Provide a high level of leadership, coordination, and oversight for all research administration activities, processes, and operations.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the research administration strategic goals, ensuring that goals and activities are aligned with the school's strategic plan.
• Execute on leadership's vision for creating a best-in-class infrastructure that supports the work of all faculty, research staff, and students. Proactively identify staffing, process, and knowledge gaps that might hinder progress and present solutions in a timely manner.
• Continually assess resource needs and potential risks/challenges to achieving the school's research goals. Put mitigation plans in place as risks are identified.
• Ensure timely responses to data requests from all stakeholders.
• Oversee fiscal management of the sponsored research portfolio including pre and post award management of grants, contracts, and sub-contracts.
• Provide oversight of fiscal management for international research, including foreign subcontracts.
• Apply specialized knowledge and training to assist the team with complex grants.
• Provide advice and counsel to research staff and faculty during proposal preparation stage. Review RFPs with staff and faculty to advise on submission strategy.
• Participate in training/guidance of staff and faculty in research compliance and clinical research systems and administration.
• Identify opportunities and champion major initiatives for continuous improvement in support of internal controls and reporting processes.
• Provide regulatory and compliance oversight and advice to research administration staff related to University policies and procedures and all applicable legal rules, regulations and sponsor guidelines.
• Track and report sponsored projects activity. Maintain a dashboard to monitor compliance and performance metrics of staff.
• Provide annual budget and quarterly projections of research activity (including spending, cost sharing and indirect cost recoveries) that will be incorporated in the school's overall budget and five-year plan.
• Transform new/revised regulatory language to practice through writing policies, procedures, contract language, and boilerplates.
• Represent the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration / Vice Dean for Research in their absence.
• Collaborate with the office of Development and Alumni Relations to ensure that gifts received from donors are classified correctly as a gift or a sponsored award and oversee the contracting, flow of funds, and administrative set up of all monies received.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Manage a team of direct reports, including professional level staff and support staff.
• Direct and consult as needed with divisional Human Resources staff on organizational structure of the team, staffing plans, employment and compensation issues, performance management issues and disciplinary actions, and salary planning.
• Promote an inclusive and innovative remote and hybrid work environment.
• With the Grants and Contracts Managers, the Director is responsible for effective management and leadership of the team including hiring, orientation, training, development, workflow, support and performance management.
• Ensure the skills and competencies of research administration staff address the changing needs of the research enterprise.
• Provide oversight of staff training, work to identify and address gaps in knowledge and competencies. Develop procedures to improve effectiveness of the team.
• Exercise independent managerial and professional judgement and assume responsibility for decisions, consequences and results.
• Manage complex collaborations and processes related to preparing, submitting and supporting large grants to ensure successful, long-term partnerships between the school, JHU, and other organizations and collaborators.
• Develop and document standard administrative and operating policies and procedures, as needed, to ensure smooth operation of the unit and to provide transparency.
• Participate in special projects that include financial modeling, scenario planning, and forecasting.
• Provide oversight of initiatives to build research and scholarship capacity among faculty, staff and students.

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Superior organizational and exemplary customer service skills.
• Must be self-confident, articulate and oriented to assisting the faculty to acquire sponsored funding and comply with relevant regulations.
• Thorough knowledge of accounting and budgeting theory and practices.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of The Johns Hopkins University accounting system (SAP) and related fiscal offices strongly preferred.
• Thorough understanding of regulatory requirements contained in the Uniform Guidance.
• Technical qualifications or specialized certifications: Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification highly valued.

Technical Qualifications or Specialized Certifications

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification highly valued.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Direct reports include Grants and Contracts Manager (2), Program Coordinator, and Grant Writer.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced Degree (PhD, JD, MS) in related field and relevant specialized training.
• Ten years of directly related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five years supervisory experience.
• Experience with sponsored research agreements and contract drafting/negotiation and sponsored regulatory environment preferred.
• Experience should demonstrate past performance effectiveness, knowledge of the field and increasing responsibility.

Classified Title: Director Research Administration
Role/Level/Range: L/04/LG
Starting Salary Range: $111,800 - $195,900 Annually ($155,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/School of Nursing
Department name: Research Finance
Personnel area: School of Nursing

Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University's salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here:

Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at ...@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit

Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit and all other JHU applicants should visit

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.