Director Research Operations - Gastroenterology & Hepatology

The Director of Research Operations - Gastroenterology & Hepatology is responsible for managing financial and administrative activities within the research department. This includes overseeing human resources, program and business development, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and other fiscal and operational functions. The role works in close collaboration with department leadership, including reporting to the Administrator/Vice President/COO, and Physician Leader, to support the department's goals.

This position oversees research operations such as facilities, materials, and personnel management within the department's support staff. It drives operational changes to meet cost, quality, and satisfaction objectives while monitoring budgets, financial outcomes, program improvements, staffing levels, and employee performance. The Director also serves as a representative of the department, specialty, or business unit on various internal and external committees, as well as in local community engagements. The role's responsibilities are split approximately evenly between daily operations and strategic initiatives. 

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Research Operations

• Management and development of department personnel to achieve research specific aims.
• Develops expertise in specific research functional area, ensuring staff are providing effective and efficient support of research projects.
• Maintains research code of conduct.
• Develops familiarity with study protocols, procedures, timelines, etc.
• Effectively develops research functional area to be customer focused, promoting collaboration throughout the system.
• Develops and implements strategic plans for research functional area to improve processes, operations, and other research key performance indicators (grants, compliance, retention, publications, etc.).
• May oversee clinical research or lab operations.

Financial 

• Management of department financials including clinical, research, teaching, or endowments. Develops and maintains various management systems with spreadsheets and databases to assist with this process. Reviews, at least monthly, the financial performance of the department, corrects errors, and develops corrective action plans with leadership, as necessary.
• Supports the budget development of all grant and research contract proposals including ensuring a tracking system for pending and active grant proposals including percent of effort and ensure correct accounting relative to clinical, research, or teaching activities.
• Develops and implements the department or sections annual budget.
• Develops detailed business plans for new and existing clinical and research programs to include market demand assessment, capital needs, facility 
  requirements, and return on investment modeling.

Administrative 

• Works closely with senior and support staff in the preparation of staff job descriptions for new hires and restructure current job descriptions for upgrading of applicable positions as needed. Advises all staff of appropriate pay grades and salary. Coordinates submission of appropriate paperwork for review and appropriate submission to department management and Human Resources.
• Ensures that all department payrolls are completed in full and accurate manner. Ensures that forms for new hires, termination, and salary changes for current employees are processed. Keeps apprised of annual performance dates. Performsevaluations on direct reports.
• Coordinates and approves all staff leave time and overtime.
• Makes recommendations and develops new administrative policies and procedures as needed to ensure smooth operation of the department.
• Works with department members to resolve various personnel and financial 
  problems.
• Outlines existing opportunities to improve space utilization and define needs and justification for additional space to department leadership.
• Establishes communication channels with staff and faculty to ensure that they receive information on internal and external issues which affect the operations of the assigned areas. Provides advice, assistance, and service that aid them in attaining related objectives, and to be a source of information to senior leadership.
• Seeks and prepares proposals for external funding possibilities from governmental or other private sources in conjunction with the chair, administrator, research administration, or department faculty.
• Maintains accountability for the operations of the department or section 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.
• Promotes positive relationships through effective communication.
• Maintains and enhances professional and managerial expertise and competence through appropriate educational and organizational activities.