Associate Director, Research Development Services

Our Commitment Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are:
Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who We Are Research Development Services (RDS) is a unit within Texas A&M University's Division of Research dedicated to advancing research capacity and competitiveness across the university. We partner with faculty, researchers, and stakeholders to support strategic research initiatives, secure external funding, and develop high-impact proposals. Through collaborative expertise, professional development, proposal support, and innovative research services, we help transform ideas into successful research programs that advance scholarship, innovation, and discovery.

What We Want We are seeking an experienced and collaborative professional to serve as Associate Director of Research Development Services (RDS). In this leadership role, you will advance the university’s research mission by developing and delivering faculty training and proposal development programs, providing strategic guidance on research funding opportunities, leading outreach and engagement efforts across campus, and overseeing key RDS programs and staff.

The successful candidate will partner with faculty, academic leaders, and research stakeholders to strengthen grant competitiveness, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, support professional development initiatives, and drive strategic research development efforts that enhance institutional research success.

Salary:
Commensurate with experience. A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.

• Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Eight years of related experience in research development, professional development, grant writing, or research administration in a higher education.

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential or active involvement in NORDP.
• Direct experience establishing faculty development programs and team science facilitation initiatives.
• Experience using research intelligence and analytics tools (e.g., Academic Analytics, Elsevier Sci Val, Clarivate Web of Science).
• Demonstrated track record of designing, delivering, and evaluating long-term faculty grant-writing cohort programs (e.g., NSF CAREER, NIH Early-Stage Investigator initiatives).
• Active participation in national research development organizations (e.g., NORDP committee leadership, conference presentations, or formal mentoring programs).

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Organizes and hosts professional and proposal development training programs for faculty and other users.
• Provides guidance and support to researchers in proposal development.
• Develops and coordinates documentation provided to customers.
• Participates in training and professional development focusing on leadership.
• Serves as part of departmental leadership team and assists in developing departmental strategies for research development.
• Develops strategic plans and sets goals for assigned programs in collaboration with administration.
• Establishes performance goals and measures to evaluate the success of areas of responsibility.
• Assists in formulating and implementing policies and procedures.
• Provides leadership for the department in specific areas of expertise.
• Monitors national trends and seeks new information for faculty professional development.
• Participates in planning, directing, and coordinating operational matters related to programs.
• Develops, implements, and oversees programming for various services.
• Manages and directs Help Desk and user support with a mission to provide robust support services.
• Collects data and analyzes for reporting and tracking progress.
• Maintains program activity records and provides progress reports to leadership.
• Oversees and manages personnel issues of employees supervised.
• Develops program budgets based on needs and availability of funding.
• Supervises and directs staff and activities of project teams.
• Develops and executes a proactive,…