1646 Research Director, JVIC

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Research Director, JVIC

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1646

GRADE 47

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Assistant Director, JVIC

GENERAL FUNCTION

The primary job duty of the Research Director, JVIC is to conduct and manage research at the Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC). This position manages a number of labs to conduct sponsored research programs, as well as serves as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on a number of grants/contracts, manages research projects, and exercises independent thinking and judgment to carry out research objectives. The Research Director, JVIC supervises research scientists, research technicians, research faculty, and students and trains those supervised on a number of research-related procedures and protocols. The position develops guidelines and protocols for JVIC lab operations, is designated as a leader within the JVIC infrastructure, and promotes the general operational efficiency of JVIC. This position contributes to the overall research direction decision-making process, assists in the design process of developing appropriate facilities to conduct high-risk research and development, and assists in the decision-making process regarding new scientific equipment and staffing.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Master’s degree in an Applied Science or a related appropriate discipline is required.

Experience: Five years of research experience is required which includes a thorough knowledge of lab techniques and other related research lab protocols that pertain to the area of expertise. Three years of experience with grants and contracts development and execution is required. This includes preparing technical and cost proposals, technical reporting, project deliverable execution, and budget management assistance. Experience in writing and presenting scientific research papers is required. Three years of experience working with corporate R&D research or JVIC-related research projects is preferred.

Skills: Effective organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills are required. Must have the ability to work effectively with staff, students, faculty, and corporate collaborators. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and graphics software is required. 

Other: This position is designated “sensitive” as defined by University policy. This position may include job duties, responsibilities, or activities that are subject to export control regulations.

Effort: Occasional lifting and carrying of materials and equipment weighing up to fifty pounds. Normal color vision is required in order to conduct experiments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Manages an operational lab environment in order to conduct sponsored research projects by supervising research scientists, research technicians, research faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students and providing training to the cohort on procedures and protocols relating to complex scientific operations, analyses, and equipment.

2. Manages research projects by determining and assigning tasks, timelines, and milestones for the completion of sponsored research projects.

3. Conducts and mediates sensitive interactions between corporate research scientists and university research faculty, research scientists, research technicians, and students to control dissemination of information regarding corporate intellectual property issues.

4. Develops and updates guidelines and protocols for lab operations and procedures and disseminates that information to cohorts of research staff, faculty, and students that work in the labs.

5. Serves as a leader within the JVIC infrastructure by managing a number of facility-defined resources, implementing the overall mission scope of JVIC by assuring quality and quality control within the JVIC research, and promoting the general operational efficiency of the JVIC infrastructure.

6. Conducts research effectively by maintaining accurate records of experiments and analyses performed, conducting relevant literature searches, and maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of all current methods of experimentation and specialize scientific equipment.

7. Contributes to the dissemination of knowledge gained through research by preparing and publishing findings and presenting findings in meetings with partners and at scientific conferences.

8. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development training, and attending training and/or courses required by the supervisor.

9. Contributes to the overall success of JVIC by performing all other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Research Director, JVIC supervises research scientists, research technicians, research faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students.

HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JANUARY 2025

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 5.0 - 3300 Points: Knowledge of the principles and methods of an administrative, managerial, or professional field such as accounting or auditing, financial management, information technology, business administration, human resources, engineering, law, social sciences, communications, education, or medicine. Knowledge permits employee to supervise projects and/or departments using standard methods to improve administrative and/or line operations. Knowledge also permits employee to plan steps and carry out multi-phase projects requiring problem definition and modified techniques, to coordinate work with others, and to modify methods and procedures to solve a wide variety of problems. Knowledge at this level requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree with substantial related work experience, including up to two years of administrative or supervisory experience. Alternatively, this level may require a professional or clinical degree beyond the Bachelor's degree with moderate related work experience; knowledge requirements include significant levels of related work experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 270 Points: Supervision of a limited number of (a) operative, administrative support, or paraprofessional employees who do not exercise a full range of supervisory responsibilities over other full-time employees, (b) a very small number of professional employees, or an equivalent combination of (a) and (b). The incumbent performs a full range of supervisory responsibilities including performance reviews of subordinates. The incumbent is generally responsible for training, planning, and directing the work of permanent employees, and provides major input into hiring decisions. Supervisory responsibilities consume moderate amounts of work time and may include general work planning tasks.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 4.0 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 4.0 - 850 Points: The employee operates under administrative supervision and makes decisions based on broadly-stated University objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are expressed in terms of project or program outcomes and deadlines with few comprehensive guidelines. Decisions are based on inadequate guidelines that require considerable interpretation and force the employee to plan all phases of the assignment. Assignments may be unrelated in function and the work requires many different processes and methods and a great deal of analysis to identify the nature and extent of problems. The work may require the employee to develop new methods and to deal with many variables, including some that are unclear or conflicting. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing large and/or complex programs, projects, or departments in which the work cuts across functional lines or requires dealing with unprecedented issues.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 5.0 - 2350 Points: Work involves primary accountability for a larger department, program, or process. Work activities involve managerial decisions that directly affect the efficiency, costs, reputation, and service quality of the department, program, or process. Work affects a limited range of professional projects or administrative activities of the University, influences internal or external operations, or impacts students, faculty, and/or staff. Work activities have a direct and significant impact on the department. Work activities also have a significant effect on the efficiency and reputation of the cost center and represent a relatively major function within the cost center. At this level would be jobs in which the incumbent may have responsibility for developing budgets, distributing budgeted funds, and exercising primary control over a moderately-sized budget.