• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 annually

Position Summary

The Program Director will work at the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain and the Department of Neurology to direct administrative, managerial, and regulatory activities of a multidisciplinary scientific team conducting research in cognitive aging and dementia. We are seeking an experienced candidate with expertise in project management, human subjects' regulatory compliance, grant administration, personnel management, collaborative agreements (such as Data Use and Material Transfer Agreements), FDA-related research protocols, and a strong understanding of the scientific field.

In collaboration with the Principal Investigator (PI), the Program Director will be responsible for managing the operations, administration, and execution of laboratory-led and collaborative research project, while supervising a team of research assistants, coordinators, and research scientists. The candidate will also lead efforts to meet grant deliverables, ensure timely communication among stakeholders and collaborating laboratories, and manage reporting requirements. Additionally, the candidate will contribute to manuscript preparation and assist with grant applications as needed.

Responsibilities

Program Management

• Lead and assist PI and co-investigators in overseeing laboratory-initiated and collaborative research funded by grants.
• Oversee program requirements including deliverables, milestones, reports, and reagents as specified by regulatory and granting agencies.
• Manage human subjects' regulatory activities, including IRB applications, progress reports, amendments, and personnel requirements.
• Lead and manage collaborative agreements and FDA-related research procedures.
• Direct and prioritize resource allocation to meet all program research deliverables.
• Define key outcomes and timelines for project execution and completion.

Program operations and Financial Administration

• Oversee the general operations of the program, ensuring administrative and operational processes align with program goals and objectives.
• Plan and lead regular project team and laboratory meetings.
• Monitor productivity to ensure that grant deliverables are met on time and communicated to funding agencies and regulatory entities (e.g., IRB).
• Establish mechanisms to evaluate and respond to short- and long-term operational, scientific, and fiscal needs.
• Manage the financial administration of large-scale projects by working closely with the grants administration and finance teams.
• Liaise with relevant Columbia administrative offices (e.g., Clinical Trials Office, IRB), central resources (e.g., CTSA, CUB/BRIDGE), and collaborative laboratories (e.g., other investigators, Neuroimaging Center). 

Communications

• Serve as primary liaison with sponsoring agencies, key project personnel, sponsoring agencies, and collaborative laboratories on behalf of the PI.
• Write and distribute formal and informal communications and reports regarding project progress to sponsors, collaborators, and financial/administrative leadership.

Staff Management

• Provide oversight for all program personnel (>15 staff members).
• Work with PI to set strategy and establish standards for hiring, performance appraisal, and competency assessment.
• Lead recruitment, hiring and onboarding of new staff.
• Coordinate across investigator groups and provide administrative leadership in the development and implementation of program policies and procedures.
• Maintain team engagement, identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities for improvement. 

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Independently draft IRB protocols and other compliance documentation for research projects.
• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements for human subjects' research.
• Convey institutional policies and ensure adherence to compliance standards across the project team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience, plus five years of related experience.

Other Requirements

• Strong familiarity with key components of a scientific research program.
• Experience in human subjects regulatory procedures, DUA/MTA administration, and FDA-related documentation.
• Demonstrated project management experience, particularly in overseeing large, multi-component research programs.
• Experience in supervising, managing, and hiring staff.
• Knowledge of administrative and compliance aspects of managing large, sponsored research projects.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Experience with grant administration processes.
• Knowledge budget management, project reporting, and staff supervision in a research environment.
• Proven ability to work independently and take initiative in managing complex tasks.
• Familiarity with EPIC, CTMS, iLAB, REDCap, and FDA-specific documentation.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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