Director Of Research Development Jobs in Reston, VA

Department: Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact
Classification: Administrative Faculty
Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: On Site Required
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
Research and Innovation Initiatives (RII) advances George Mason University's research enterprise by strategically engaging faculty, external partners, and sponsors to identify, catalyze, and scale high impact research and creative initiatives. The unit proactively connects principal investigators with new and emerging funding opportunities and facilitates the formation of strong multidisciplinary teams across colleges and administrative units, as well as with public, private, and nonprofit partners. Through targeted guidance, research development expertise, and partnership building, RII helps position faculty and teams to compete successfully for major funding opportunities, including large, multi investigator awards and research centers.
The unit plays a central role in building institutional research capacity, accelerating translational impact, and advancing multidisciplinary research and scholarly excellence.
In addition, RII maintains close, collaborative relationships with key campus partners-including the Office of Research Services, Corporate and Foundation Relations, the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, Graduate and Undergraduate Education, Mason Libraries, and Faculty Affairs-to ensure integrated, seamless support and to connect researchers efficiently with relevant resources and expertise.
Collectively, these efforts foster a dynamic, collaborative, and supportive research environment in which faculty, staff, and students can thrive and contribute to George Mason University's growing research, innovation, and economic impact.
About the Position:
Reporting to the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, the Associate Vice President (AVP) leads the development of an environment that enables and empowers faculty to identify, pursue, and secure external funding and partnerships in support of their research, scholarship, and creative activity. The AVP drives strategic planning and actively manages the university's research development programs and resources to expand and strengthen multidisciplinary research and scholarship.
Working closely with the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (VPRIEI), the AVP plays a central role in building institutional research capacity, accelerating translational impact, and advancing multidisciplinary research and scholarly excellence. The AVP proactively cultivates external partnerships and leads development activities to identify new resources that support and scale the university's research enterprise, including large scale awards and strategic initiatives.
The AVP collaborates extensively with Associate Deans of Research across colleges and schools, the Office of Research Services, Mason Enterprise, the Office of Graduate Education, Corporate and Foundation Relations, and research development and innovation leaders at the national level to align strategy, share best practices, and enhance competitiveness.
As a core leader within the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, the AVP designs, implements, and advances research and innovation programs and initiatives that directly support George Mason University's Strategic Plan and the priorities of the Provost and President.
Responsibilities:

• Work with the Vice President for Research Innovation and Economic Impact (VPRIEI), Deans, Associate Deans for Research, and faculty to understand opportunities and challenges in seeking and obtaining external funding and developing a strategic approach to effectively leverage the university's core research resources and infrastructure to increase external funding and partnerships in collaboration with the VPRIEI, assisting in the development of data-informed strategic plans for research by fully engaging in discussions of priorities, institutes, centers, and faculty needs, as well as gathering information and providing content and feedback;
• Support the ongoing positioning of the university as a major research university in the Commonwealth by engaging with external partners and representing the university at meetings;
• Oversee continued implementation of the Grand Challenge Initiative. This includes working with senior leadership on development and implementation of the RFP and award cycles; coordinating closely with University Institutes in their support of researchers and teams aligned with solution areas; providing strategic leadership on the design and implementation of Launch Pad, a project management support system for awardees and strong emerging centers; partnering with the Dean's Business Offices in each of the colleges and schools on the development of strong GCI teams and strategic alignment with college and university research goals; working with communication and marketing teams to promote GCI as a "whole of university initiative"; and collaborating with University Institutes on GCI community engagements and workshops across campus;
• Lead efforts to identify, cultivate, and expand strategic external partnerships that advance George Mason University's research enterprise. This includes engaging federal agencies, industry partners, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to explore opportunities for collaboration and investment aligned with institutional research priorities. The AVP works closely with internal stakeholders to translate these relationships into funded research initiatives, large scale projects, and long term strategic alliances. Through proactive outreach and external engagement, the AVP enhances the university's visibility, competitiveness, and access to new funding streams;
• Provide active and strategic direction of George Mason's research and innovation. This will require providing leadership and management of a highly qualified Research Development Services team to be deployed to enable high quality proposal development and effective start-up of major awards. This also requires a multifaceted approach that leverages the university's strengths and aligns resources to support team building essential to the development of high-quality team- and center-scale disciplinary and multidisciplinary proposals in alignment with University Institutes;
• Work closely with the Office of Federal Relations on requests from the university's Congressional and Senate offices related to research activities and identification of subject matter expertise as requested. Work with the Director of Federal Relations on applications for Congressionally Directed Spending/Community Projects;
• Coordinate and meet regularly with other departments and units across the university and academic units including Associate Deans for Research, Office of Graduate Education; Corporate and Foundation Relations and Advancement officers; Faculty Affairs; Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research (OSCAR) among others to ensure synergistic pursuit of opportunities; and
• Serve on and lead as appropriate university working groups and committees as assigned including, but not limited to, Space Working Group, Research Equipment Committee, and Mason Korea IUCF.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Generally, at least 5 years of experience developing and supporting research programs at a university or other research institutions;
• Experience successfully interfacing with external funding agencies including federal agencies;
• Experience working with external collaborators (industry, philanthropy, etc.) to expand research capacity and impact;
• Knowledge of university-based research initiatives, complex proposal development, and team science;
• Knowledge of the federal and non-federal funding landscape;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to lead multiple initiatives concurrently; and
• Ability to discuss research priorities across varied disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in related field;
• Generally, 6-10 years of experience directly managing research development programs;
• Experience working at a large R1 University;
• Experience in the Defense and Security sector; and
• Knowledge of the federal appropriations process.

Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Associate Vice President, Research and Innovation Initiatives at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume for review.
Posting Open Date: July 15, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: August 5, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level, along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
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