Director, Training, Development & Outreach

Director, Training, Development & Outreach at Stanford University summary:

The Director of Training, Development & Outreach leads enterprise-wide training and workforce development initiatives within Stanford School of Medicine’s Research Management Group, focusing on research administration, grants management, and clinical research operations. This role designs and implements learning programs, manages staff, and fosters community engagement to ensure compliance and operational excellence. The position requires expertise in instructional design, regulatory knowledge, and leadership to drive continuous improvement in research administration across the institution.

The Director of Training, Development & Outreach is a strategic leader within the Stanford School of Medicine’s Research Management Group (RMG), the central office supporting the school’s diverse and complex research enterprise. Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Research Operations, this role plays a critical part in building a unified, skilled, and future-ready research administration workforce spanning grants administration, clinical research, and clinical trials.

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in research administration with direct experience in grants management, clinical research operations, or related regulatory environments, and a demonstrated ability to translate that expertise into effective training and workforce development strategies.

The Director designs and leads enterprise-wide training, professional development, and outreach programs that elevate compliance, strengthen service quality, and enhance career mobility. With oversight of onboarding, continuing education, and certification-readiness initiatives, the Director ensures consistent, high-quality learning experiences that drive operational excellence and institutional readiness across all research administration functions.

Duties include*:

• Manage, recruit, and develop staff; oversee team performance, professional growth, and departmental budgets.
• Lead a comprehensive learning and professional development strategy for research administration across grants, clinical research, and clinical studies.
• Design and implement enterprise-wide training programs that encompass onboarding, role-based development, certification preparation, and leadership training.
• Partner with subject matter experts and institutional stakeholders to develop and maintain high-impact learning tools, SOP education, and e-learning platforms that reinforce best practices and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee instructional design projects to ensure programs align with sponsor regulations, institutional policies, and adult learning principles.
• Evaluate and prioritize learning needs across Research Operations; recommend scalable and sustainable training solutions that meet faculty and staff needs.
• Drive community engagement and professional identity through school-wide initiatives, mentoring programs, and internal communications that foster belonging and collaboration across the research administration community.
• Collaborate with leadership to measure training outcomes, track workforce development metrics, and identify further opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Represent RMG and Research Operations in cross-campus partnerships to share best practices and ensure alignment with the School of Medicine’s strategic goals.

* - Other duties may also be assigned.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Organizational Development, Research Administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Professional certification (CRA, PMP, CPTD, or similar).
• 7+ years of progressive experience in training, learning design, or workforce development in complex organizations.
• Demonstrated experience managing professional development programs for adult learners, preferably in research, healthcare, or higher education settings.
• Knowledge of sponsor regulations (e.g., NIH, NSF) and compliance frameworks affecting research administration.
• Proficiency with modern learning platforms (e.g., LMS, Zoom, Canvas, etc.) and instructional design models.
• Experience with organizational change or transformation…