Academic Research Program Director

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Overview

Provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for the Yale Racial Liberation Lab in partnership with the Principal Investigator. Serves as the senior strategic advisor responsible for developing the infrastructure, systems, collaborations, and programmatic initiatives necessary to advance a nationally recognized research enterprise. Leads research planning, academic partnerships, scholarly communications, student engagement, and administrative operations that support the production and dissemination of rigorous, high-impact social science research.

This position serves as the Principal Investigator's primary strategic and operational partner, translating the Lab's academic vision into sustainable programs and measurable outcomes. The incumbent develops research infrastructure, coordinates interdisciplinary collaborations, oversees research readiness activities, supervises research personnel, cultivates academic partnerships, supports publication planning, and strengthens the Lab's visibility across Yale and nationally. This position combines executive-level program leadership with deep familiarity with empirical social science research and higher education.

1. Partner with the Principal Investigator to develop and implement the Lab's long-term academic, research, and strategic priorities.

2. Design, implement, and continuously improve research systems and infrastructure that support the timely production of high-quality scholarship.

3. Build and oversee research pipelines from concept development through publication, ensuring appropriate planning, coordination, and execution.

4. Identify, evaluate, organize, and synthesize theoretical frameworks and scholarly literature supporting current and future research initiatives.

5. Develop and maintain searchable repositories of scholarly literature, research resources, and emerging developments relevant to the Lab's mission.

6. Lead efforts to identify, evaluate, and coordinate secondary datasets and other research resources; collaborate with quantitative researchers to assess data quality and research readiness.

7. Develop timelines and processes for obtaining, licensing, managing, and maintaining research data resources.

8. Cultivate collaborative relationships with Yale faculty, research centers, external universities, policymakers, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to expand the Lab's scholarly impact.

9. Develop opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, visiting scholars, conferences, workshops, seminars, and public programming.

10. Supervise research staff, project personnel, undergraduate research assistants, graduate students, and other contributors while fostering professional growth and accountability.

11. Support publication planning, conference presentations, invited lectures, scholarly exchanges, and other dissemination activities that enhance the Lab's national visibility.

12. Provide leadership for grant development, sponsored research opportunities, research administration, compliance, IRB coordination, and stewardship of externally funded projects.

13. Represent the Principal Investigator in meetings and collaborative initiatives, serving as a key liaison with internal and external stakeholders.

14. Assist with budget planning, operational planning, performance metrics, and resource allocation supporting the continued growth of the Lab.

15. Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated commitment to advancing rigorous social science research and scholarship. Ability to translate a broad intellectual vision into actionable research plans, systems, and priorities. Strong strategic thinking and exceptional organizational skills.

2. Advanced project management and operational leadership capabilities. Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and ensuring high-quality execution.

3. Strong knowledge of academic culture, scholarly ecosystems, and research collaboration. Ability to build productive relationships across disciplines, departments, and institutions.

4. Excellent personnel management skills, including delegation, mentorship, performance management, and professional development. Ability to coordinate the efforts of diverse contributors toward shared goals.

5. Exceptional communication and relationship-building abilities. Demonstrated capacity to represent a senior academic leader in professional settings and to engage effectively with faculty, students, administrators, and external

6. Highly self-directed learner with intellectual curiosity, humility, and sound judgment. Ability to quickly develop expertise in unfamiliar subject areas and effectively share knowledge with others.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

Ph.D. in Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Criminology, Economics, Data Science, or a closely related social science discipline and eight years of progressively responsible experience leading complex academic research, policy, or programmatic initiatives, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated record of empirical social science research and scholarly publications.

Experience managing complex academic research programs and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Experience supervising research staff, graduate students, undergraduate researchers, or project teams.

Experience securing or managing sponsored research and grant-funded initiatives.

Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

Experience engaging policymakers, philanthropic organizations, and community partners.

Knowledge of racial equity, public safety, criminal legal systems, civic engagement, democracy, or related policy areas.

Strategic leadership and organizational development.

Executive-level project and program management.

Ability to build collaborative relationships across academic and external partners.

Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.

Ability to manage multiple complex priorities with sound judgment and discretion.

Ability to represent senior academic leadership in a professional and collaborative manner.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Strategy development and execution working with collaborators within and outside of the University. Working with leadership to develop and implement a strategic vision and work plans.  2. Recommend structural or programmatic adjustments, changes or additions based on full knowledge of missions, goals, and objectives. 3. Advise leadership on broad range of strategic, development, and communications issues related to research and policy development opportunities. 4. Manage ongoing partnerships with local, state, national, and non-governmental organizations focused on health research, policy development and implementation. 5. Identify new opportunities for expanding the program within Yale and among other academic and non-academic organizations locally and nationally. 6. Seek external funding opportunities and assist with the submission of grant proposals. 7. New program and fund development, catalyzing program development throughout the University and with external collaborators. Develops the metrics to identify and measure the success of the program. 8. Envision and direct communications to support strong communication and promote visibility of the program both inside and outside Yale through strategic outreach, conference attendance, special events, media and other avenues. 9. Assumes primary accountability to initiate, design, and manage the compilation of program communications; identifying outreach potential and promoting philanthropic and collaborative support of the program. 10. Envision and execute the communications efforts for the program. Contribute to the development and assist in the management of content on the program’s website and monitors all changes and additions to the editorial content. Required Education and Experience Bachelor's degree in a related field and seven years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Posting Date

08/03/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Senior Manager; Senior Program Leader (P6)

Salary Range

$90,000.00 - $165,750.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff Fixed Duration (Fixed Term)

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.