Penn State's Office of Research Information Systems seeks a Director to provide vision, development, and operational oversight for information systems supporting the research enterprise, ensuring robust, compliant, and innovative systems that facilitate research productivity and data stewardship.
Requirements
- Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, complex technology projects within a research or IT environment.
- Strong knowledge of regulatory and compliance frameworks relevant to research data (e.g., IRB, IACUC, federal and state requirements).
- Expertise with research administration systems (e.g., grants management, protocol tracking, data repositories, electronic lab notebooks).
- Experience with cloud-based research infrastructure and SaaS research administration solutions.
- Familiarity with data standards, ontologies, and interoperability frameworks for research data.
Responsibilities
- Oversee the selection, development, and seamless integration of research administration system components including proposal management, awards management, compliance, and data warehouse systems.
- Champion the adoption of scalable, secure, and user-centered platforms that support both current and future research initiatives.
- Establish and enforce rigorous policies for data stewardship, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance (including IRB, IACUC, and federal grant requirements).
- Identify, evaluate, and champion emerging technologies and industry best practices that enhance research administration, foster collaboration, and fuel research excellence.
- Oversee the development and continuous improvement of training programs and user support services.
- Lead ongoing assessment of system performance and user feedback, driving continuous enhancement through data-driven decision making.
- Develop and implement comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery strategies for mission-critical research systems.
Other
- Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing, cross-functional teams.
- Exceptional communication skills, capable of translating complex technical concepts for diverse audiences.
- Experience in budget development, resource planning, and vendor contract negotiation.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Active participation in national or international research IT or research administration associations.
