Research Institute Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pay Range

Pay Range $76,000 - $85,000

Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.

Staff Level S5

FLSA Status

FLSA Status Exempt

Hours

Standard University business hours
8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type

Job Type Full-time

Unionized Position Code Not Applicable

Job Description

• The BioInspired Institute for Material and Living Systems is a leading interdisciplinary research institute within the Office of Research at Syracuse University, uniting more than 60 faculty across the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering and Computer Science, together with SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, around research at the interface of living systems and engineered materials.
• The BioInspired Institute Project Manager provides centralized administrative, operational, and communications support for the Institute.
• The Project Manager serves as the Institute’s dedicated administrative lead, working in partnership with the central Office of Research teams that provide specialist finance, HR, and research-administration support, and is responsible for day-to-day operations that enable faculty, students, and researchers to focus on research and scholarship.
• The Project Manager works in coordination with central university partners to ensure institute activities align with established processes and policies.
• Research administration coordination is performed in partnership with the Office of Sponsored Programs, Research Development, Sponsored Accounting, the VPR Post-Award team, and partnering schools and colleges.
• Finance and operations are coordinated with the Office of Research Finance and Operations team and the Graduate School.
• Communications work is coordinated with SU’s marketing and communications teams as needed. Reporting and metrics work is coordinated with the VPR Data team.
• This is a high-visibility role reporting directly to the Institute Director, with primary responsibility for the operations of a growing interdisciplinary research institute.

Education and Experience

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (business, communications, public administration, science, or related field), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum three years of progressively responsible administrative, operations, or program management experience, preferably in a higher education, research, or other complex organizational setting.
• Preferred: Master’s degree. Experience supporting a research institute, center, or academic unit. Familiarity with sponsored research administration, university financial systems, and event coordination.
• Experience in an interdisciplinary research environment spanning multiple colleges or institutions. Project Management Institute ( PMI ) certification ( CAPM or PMP ) a plus.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong organizational and project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities under deadline pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear correspondence, event materials, and internal communications for varied audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and to coordinate with multiple stakeholder offices, including faculty, central administrative units, and external partners.
• Working knowledge of university financial, procurement, and HR systems; aptitude for learning new tools quickly.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Customer-service orientation and a collaborative working style.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with website content management, project management, and communications platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

• Institute Operations
• Manage day-to-day operations of the Institute, including office and space coordination, calendar and scheduling support for the Director, meeting logistics, hosting visitors and partners, and maintaining institute records and internal documentation.
• Provide day-to-day coordination for Institute-managed office and laboratory spaces, serving as first point of contact for work orders, repairs, custodial and conference-room scheduling requests, deliveries, and space and access support.
• The Materials Research Core is administered separately.
• Coordinate meetings of institute leadership, focus groups, and the External Advisory Board. Serve as the primary point of contact for institute administrative matters.
• Events, Programs, and Outreach Coordination
• Coordinate institute events and programs, including the annual research symposium, the Stevenson Biomaterials Lecture Series, seminars, webinars, partner convenings, and public-facing outreach activities.
• Manage end-to-end event logistics, including planning, vendor coordination, registration, communications, and on-site execution.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for the Institute’s education and training programs, including graduate and postdoctoral development, undergraduate research, and pre-college outreach programs; this includes participant logistics such as offer letters, stipends, housing and meal plans, card and network access, and travel reimbursements, and compiling program data and metrics for sponsor reporting, in coordination with dedicated program coordinators where they exist.
• Coordinate cross-institutional programming with SUNY Upstate Medical University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and other partners as needed. Support outreach to faculty, students, campus partners, and external stakeholders to build engagement with institute activities
• Finance, Operations, and Institute Administration
• Coordinate office operations and process institute-level financial transactions, including procurement (standing purchase orders and Institute office equipment), reimbursements, p-card reconciliation, travel and expense vouchers, journal entries, interdepartmental orders, stipend and professional-service payments, hourly student payroll, and routine account monitoring, in coordination with the Office of Research Finance and Operations team.
• Monitor the Institute’s operating budgets (unrestricted, restricted, and sponsored), support budget planning and year-end close, and prepare financial reports for Institute and Office of Research leadership.
• Support hiring and onboarding logistics, visitor coordination, and routine personnel administration for institute personnel in coordination with the Office of Research Finance and Operations and Postdoc Affairs teams.
• Coordinate graduate student researcher and assistant appointments with the Graduate School, including appointment processing and onboarding logistics. Support administration of the Institute’s internal seed-grant and pilot funding programs, including call logistics, submission intake, review coordination, and award tracking.
• Communications
• Coordinate institute communications, including website content updates (working with web developers as needed), newsletters, internal announcements, and event-related communications. Maintain the Institute’s event calendar and coordinate event listings across central, college (Arts and Sciences and Engineering and Computer Science), and learning-management system calendars.
• Maintain institute-level communications materials and support correspondence with affiliated faculty, partners, and stakeholders. Institutional marketing strategy and branded materials development are led by SU’s marketing and communications teams, with whom the Project Manager works in close coordination.
• Research Administration and Coordination
• Serve as the Institute’s primary liaison for research administration matters, coordinating pre- and post-award activities with campus partners on behalf of institute faculty.
• Pre-award coordination includes deadline tracking, internal routing, and serving as the institute liaison to the Office of Sponsored Programs for proposal submission and budget preparation.
• Post-award coordination includes routine sponsored account monitoring and serving as the institute liaison to the VPR Post-Award team and the Office of Sponsored Accounting for award setup, financial reporting and monitoring, effort certification, and closeout activities.
• Support reporting requirements for institute-held training and center grants, and coordinate with partnering schools and colleges as needed for joint or cross-unit awards.
• Reporting and Metrics
• Compile institute-level reporting, including activity summaries, affiliated faculty rosters across partner institutions, event metrics, and routine institute data requests.
• Serve as the institute liaison to the VPR Data team for institutional dashboards, data analytics, and enterprise reporting needs.
• Other Duties
• Other duties as assigned by the Institute Director or by the Office of Research leadership.

Physical Requirements

“Not Applicable”

Tools/Equipment

“Not Applicable”

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.

About the Syracuse area

Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.

EEO Statement

Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans

Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.

Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community

Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.

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