Director, Research Administration Pre - award Services

Director, Research Administration Pre-Award Services

The Director, Research Administration Pre-Award Services leads the central pre-award organization within the Stanford School of Medicine's Research Management Group (RMG), providing strategic oversight for one of the nation's most complex and research-intensive academic medical environments. This senior leadership role directs the teams responsible for expert proposal development, sponsor and regulatory compliance assurance, and institutional submission across Stanford Medicine's diverse, high-volume, and rapidly evolving research portfolio.

The Director plays a pivotal role in strengthening school-wide pre-award operations by establishing shared standards of excellence, modernizing processes and systems, and ensuring a cohesive, faculty-centered service model. This includes guiding the thoughtful reimagining of the central pre-award structure to better align resources, expertise, and workflows with the School of Medicine's expanding research portfolio and the varying complexity of proposals across disciplines. The role is well suited for dynamic leaders who have successfully driven innovation and change within research administration, bringing forward new approaches, technologies, and service models that enhance clarity, efficiency, and institutional readiness. Through deep collaboration with department-based research administrators, faculty, and institutional partners, the Director advances sponsored research practices that promote consistency, transparency, and operational excellence.

As a member of the Research Operations leadership team, the Director champions operational excellence, develops a thriving and skilled pre-award workforce, and leads continuous improvement efforts that elevate the faculty experience and strengthen Stanford Medicine's ability to pursue bold, world-changing research.

Duties Include*:

• Provide strategic leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of pre-award operations across Stanford Medicine.
• Lead and mentor a team of pre-award professionals, overseeing and modernizing all aspects of proposal development.
• Drive institutional readiness at the enterprise level by shaping and overseeing scalable, transparent, and audit-resilient policies, procedures, and systems.
• Spearhead institution-wide collaboration with faculty, departmental leaders, research finance, and administrative units to align pre-award services with organizational priorities and ensure high-trust, high-impact support.
• Lead the end-to-end management of the pre-award process, using data-driven metrics to track efficiency, identify bottlenecks, and deploy resources strategically to maintain optimal timelines and outcomes.
• Establish and advance a cohesive, enterprise-level service model that supports over a billion dollars in sponsored research annually through seamless, compliant, and faculty-centered proposal development.
• Coordinate pre-award strategy across the Research Support Office (RSO), Sponsored Proposal Office (SPO), and department-embedded staff, fostering alignment through a clear vision, standardized processes, open communication, and strong cross-functional partnerships.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (Master's preferred).
• Professional certification (e.g., CRA, CPRA, CFRA).
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, including leadership and direct oversight of pre-award operations.
• Proven track record of leading organizational transformation or system redesign in an academic or biomedical setting.
• Experience managing hybrid central-decentral service models.
• Deep working knowledge of federal research compliance (e.g., Uniform Guidance, NIH/NSF policies), institutional routing, and sponsor systems.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with demonstrated faculty-facing experience.
• Familiarity with Stanford systems and structures (Cayuse, SeRA, ORA).

Education & Experience (Required):

Bachelor's degree and ten years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Required):

• Leadership, supervisory, planning and change management skills.
• Advanced, excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills to clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups and all levels of management.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of faculty, staff, and university leaders; Ability to maintain rapport with employees at all levels.
• Ability to exercise influence, solve problems, think creatively and resolve conflicts.
• Expert analytical and problem-solving skills to review and analyze complex information; excellent judgement and common sense required.
• Advanced expertise in research administration practices and regulatory environments, the university research environment and policies.
• Expert proficiency in internal and external business systems applications.
• Proven ability to perform with a high degree of accuracy under tight deadlines while managing multiple projects.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Advanced understanding and experience in contracts and grants administration, agreement negotiation and regulatory issues pertaining to sponsored programs, including extensive experience successfully negotiating complex issues pertaining to sponsored and research-related agreements with all sponsor types including industry, non-profit, government and higher education.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a complex university administration; understanding of the structure, purpose, functions and objectives of research and sponsored projects administration at Stanford.

Physical Requirements*:

• Frequently sitting, grasping lightly, use fine manipulation and a computer (keyboard, mouse, monitor).
• Occasionally use a telephone, rarely stand/walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat, write by hand, sort, and file paperwork or parts.
• Rarely lift, carry push, and pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.

Working Conditions:

May have occasional extended or weekend work hours during peak business cycles.

Work Standards:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide.

The expected pay range for this position is $202,735 to $238,332 per annum. This role is open to candidates anywhere in the United States. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs. At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website provides detailed information on Stanford's extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.