Director of Research Planning & Development / Translational Molecular Pathology

The Director, Research Planning & Development in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine will provide strategic leadership, oversee research administration, and support program development for a broad portfolio of research initiatives. The Director, Research Planning & Development will serve as a key resource for faculty, staff, sponsors, and institutional stakeholders, ensuring the successful planning, execution, and growth of research programs. The Director, Research Planning & Development will lead research administration operations, grants management activities, and personnel development while aligning departmental priorities with UT MD Anderson's mission.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Science, Oncology Research, or a related field and extensive experience in grant writing, funded grant submissions, and full-lifecycle grant management. Experience leading research administration teams, supervising staff, supporting complex research programs, working in fast-paced academic environments, collaborating with senior leadership, and serving as a subject matter expert for grant processing is highly desirable.

Why Us?

This role offers the opportunity to lead high-impact research initiatives that directly support UT MD Anderson’s mission to eliminate cancer through outstanding research, education, prevention, and patient care. The position offers exposure to large-scale scientific collaborations, strategic institutional initiatives, and complex grant-funded programs, along with opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and meaningful contributions to translational cancer research.

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

· Identify new funding mechanisms to promote clinical, translational, and basic science faculty

• Collaborate on short- and long-range strategic goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures for research programs.

• Prioritize projects based on funding availability, urgency, and institutional objectives.

• Lead expansion of technical capabilities, services, and development of new research programs.

• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements when needed.

• Reassign projects with professionalism, competence, and discretion.

• Maximize existing research administrative resources and develop service enhancement strategies.

• Serve as departmental, divisional, and institutional liaison for research planning initiatives.

• Identify laboratory research support needs and improve workflows and documentation resources.

• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, rules, and regulations.

• Report progress and outcomes of research activities and initiatives.

Research Administration & Program Oversight

• Serve as the primary administrative resource for divisional faculty involved in clinical, translational, and basic research.

• Coordinate preparation and submission of research proposals, reports, and sponsor updates.

• Direct grants and contracts administration teams supporting funded research programs.

• Serve as liaison among departmental, divisional, institutional, and external stakeholders.

• Direct tracking, reporting, and evaluation of research activities and outcomes.

• Monitor funding streams and ensure budget adherence, financial integrity, and regulatory compliance.

• Serve as a subject matter expert and primary point of contact for research administration matters.

• Direct research compliance activities involving protocols, MTAs, CDAs, and research contracts.

• Communicate federal policy changes and institutional initiatives to faculty and staff.

• Conduct critical reviews of funding applications, progress reports, and related research communications.

Pre-Award & Post-Award Grant Management

• Provide oversight of budgeting activities for industry-sponsored trials, NCI studies, investigator-initiated studies, laboratory studies, clinical trials, and chart review protocols.

• Analyze translational trial activation processes and identify budget-related barriers to activation.

• Develop and implement funding strategies supporting clinical and translational research.

• Ensure compliance with institutional, sponsor, federal, and regulatory requirements for sponsored projects.

• Monitor research budgets and accounts to verify accuracy and optimize resource utilization.

• Design and implement administrative standards and operating procedures.

• Develop timelines that support timely activation of research programs.

• Oversee financial and administrative activities associated with translational studies funded by industry, foundations, state agencies, and federal agencies.

• Serve as liaison between investigators, sponsors, and institutional officials.

• Lead annual reporting activities for large-scale grant-funded programs.

Research Planning & Program Development

• Provide administrative leadership for development and evaluation of large programmatic grants and initiatives.

• Participate in strategic planning committees supporting research growth and development.

• Advise faculty on long-term planning for research initiatives, funding opportunities, and program feasibility.

• Identify opportunities for new collaborative research initiatives within and outside UT MD Anderson.

• Connect faculty and programs with divisional, institutional, and external resources to expand programmatic activities.

Personnel Management

• Establish productivity and performance standards for program staff.

• Optimize utilization of personnel resources across research administration functions.

• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback.

• Implement disciplinary actions in accordance with institutional guidelines when necessary.

• Ensure compliance with mandatory training, in-service requirements, accreditation standards, and federal and state regulations.

• Direct and support a team of approximately 7–8 direct reports.