Administrative Director, Protocol Research

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. It was named the nation's No. 1 hospital for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's 2021-2022 rankings. It is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Strategic Planning for Research Program:

• Responsible for participating in long range strategic planning of research initiatives. Specifically, provide input about administrative aspects of onboarding process/throughput for industry sponsored lab studies, alliance contracts and grants.
• Lead efforts to develop appropriate methodologies to manage all post award activity relating to industry sponsored lab studies and alliance contracts.
• Oversee the research "cradle to grave" administrative processes; connecting the handoffs across the department laboratory research teams (grant, regulatory, budget and contracting) for the purpose of maintaining financial stability and accountability for the department's lab study, alliance contract and grant research portfolios.

Research Study Management

• Monitor the research study milestones and reporting process.
• Develop all lab study research and alliance contract post award management tools including invoicing workbooks and shadow accounting systems. Develop processes for timely submission of invoices to sponsors, tracking of payments, and payment allocation to correct funding sources.
• Lead research operation "team meetings" including but not limited to study onboarding (post site visit), study "contract agreement" team meetings and study team "effort allocation" meetings.
• Meet regularly with faculty scientific investigators to provide lab study performance including contract deliverables & analysis of "burn rates".
• Direct the development of policies and procedures for lab study, alliance contract and grant projects; and assure appropriate approval from institutional compliance committees and funding agencies.
• Liaise with Legal Services, Office of Sponsored Programs and Grants and Contracts offices to ensure all transactions are processed expeditiously.
• Liaise with department Scientific Manager and faculty investigators to negotiate favorable budgets for lab study agreements.
• Oversee the development and processing of all amendments related to industry sponsored lab studies.
• Liaise with Legal Services and the Office of Sponsored Programs to initiate and expedite the amendment process to finalization through the submission of RCTS records and revised lab study agreements.

Revenue and Reporting activities for Lab Study, Alliance Contract and Grant Projects

• Oversee department effort reporting to assure accurate and timely faculty effort is calculated and reported on lab studies, alliance contracts and grants.
• Manage audits of systems and practices to ensure quality and regulatory compliance for research studies.
• Recommend & lead research administration process improvement activities.
• Provide regular reporting on lab study, alliance contract and grant operations to the department Administrator and department Chairman.

Closeout of Lab Study, Alliance Contract and Grant Projects

• Liaise with faculty investigators to ensure all lab study and alliance contract milestones are met to set time zero for study close out.
• Oversee the reconciliation of study review of milestones to ensure audit proof close out.
• Oversee closeout processes for all lab study, alliance contract and grant projects, including the reconciliation of all charges to projects and the submission of projects for closeout to central Grants and Contracts office.

Human Resource Management

• Responsible for the recruitment, selection and evaluation of grants management, closeout and financial/accounting personnel (3-5 FTEs) Provide direct supervision in accordance with departmental and institutional policies.
• Ensures grant management, closeout and financial/accounting personnel are properly trained within their scope of responsibility.
• Directs workflow of personnel to meet deadlines and provide efficient utilization of staff.
• Oversees both routine and ad hoc assignments to staff.
• Provides staff mentoring to ensure increased levels of performance and teamwork.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

Required: Bachelor's degree in Science, Healthcare, Nursing or related field.

Preferred: Master's degree in Science, Healthcare, Nursing or related field.

Experience

Required: Seven years of extensive research administrative experience in a biotechnology or academic setting to include three years experience with research protocols, grants and contracts and three years supervisory/management experience. With preferred degree, five years of required experience to include three years experience with research protocols, grants and contracts and three years supervisory/management experience. Successful completion of the LEADing Self Accelerate program may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience.

Other

Required: Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html