Associate Director for Administration | Senior Research Administrator
Position Summary
The Associate Director for Administration (ADA) serves as a senior administrative leader of the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center (HMNCC) Executive Committee and is responsible for translating the Cancer Center’s strategic vision and priorities into coordinated operational execution. Working in close partnership with the Cancer Center Director, Associate Directors, research and clinical leadership, and Houston Methodist institutional leadership, the ADA ensures that the infrastructure, resources, personnel, and administrative processes required to achieve the Cancer Center’s strategic aims are effectively aligned and executed.
The Associate Director for Administration provides leadership across the administrative and operational functions that support the Cancer Center’s research, clinical investigation, education and training, and community outreach missions. The position oversees teams responsible for basic and translational research laboratory operations, clinical research administration and operations, cancer research education and training, and community outreach and engagement, while ensuring integration across these areas.
The ADA will establish accountability for strategic initiatives, monitor progress against defined goals and performance metrics, identify operational barriers, and work with Cancer Center leadership to implement solutions. A primary responsibility of the position is ensuring that the Cancer Center has the organizational infrastructure and administrative capacity necessary to support continued scientific growth, multidisciplinary collaboration, clinical research expansion, community impact, and progress toward National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation.
Key Responsibilities, and Areas of Oversight
- Strategic Plan Execution and Cancer Center Administration
- Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research Operations and Planning
- Cancer Research Education and Training Initiatives
- Community Outreach and Engagement Development
- Organizational Integration and Team Leadership
- Performance Measurement and Continuous Improvement
- Resource Planning and Institutional Coordination
Qualifications
Required
· Master’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, research administration, life sciences, or a related field.
· Significant progressive leadership experience within an academic medical center, cancer center, research institute, healthcare organization, or comparable complex research environment.
· Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary administrative teams.
· Experience translating organizational strategy into operational plans and measurable outcomes.
· Strong understanding of academic biomedical research and clinical research operations.
· Familiarity with NIH, NCI, CPRIT, and other major cancer research funding mechanisms.
· Demonstrated experience managing complex programs involving multiple institutional stakeholders.
· Strong financial, organizational, analytical, and project-management skills.
· Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
· Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior physicians, scientists, executives, administrators, and external partners.
· Experience with NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) requirements and cancer center organizational structures.
· Ten years’ research administration and program management experience, preferably in a recognized university/research institute setting, with seven years in a people management role
Preferred
· Doctoral degree, MBA, MHA, MPH, or other relevant advanced degree.
· Administrative leadership experience within an NCI-designated or NCI-aspiring cancer center with a clear track record of performance.
· Experience supporting clinical trials, basic and translational science, research education, and community outreach programs.
· Experience managing research space, faculty recruitment, research infrastructure, and capital equipment planning. Find the following link to apply on the Houston Methodist Careers Page:
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