Director, Research & Development Operations

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Director, Research & Development Operations to lead the execution of multiple complex federal contract-based funded programs and growth of such awards under the Research & Development Operations Portfolio (RDO) as part of RDO leadership.

This position will ensure strict compliance with FAR and contractual requirements while delivering on cost, schedule, and performance objectives. This role serves as the primary interface with government stakeholders and is responsible for contract execution, financial oversight, risk management, and program delivery across multi-disciplinary teams. This position strategically guides one or more project managers and related technical staff to ensure they are all working effectively toward the program's stated objectives and expansion of HJF's contracts (number and size). This position will also serve to align PM processes and approaches across the RDO portfolio, serving as a bridge with other portfolios and Enterprise Optimization.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing, and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

Federal Award and Program Management

• Lead complex federal contract-funded programs, ensuring delivery aligns with contract scope, requirements, goals, and milestones.
• Ensure compliance with FAR, agency-specific requirements, contractual terms, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Manage program performance, including scope, schedule, deliverables, resources, budgets, quality, risks, and outcomes.
• Oversee financial performance and proactively manage program and contract risks.
• Serve as a primary interface with KOs and CORs and liaison among customers, Principal Investigators, Program Sponsors, leadership, program teams, and other stakeholders.
• Supervise, advise and guide Project Managers and technical staff throughout the program lifecycle, focusing on the strategic direction of the projects.
• Develop and convene sessions (i.e. training, etc.), and mentoring when required, for Program Managers which do not directly fall under this position's supervisory chain but overseeing RDO/Enterprise awarded contracts
• Identify program interdependencies and align resources and expertise across teams and portfolios.
• Build and maintain effective relationships that strengthen program performance, customer engagement, and growth.

Business Development and RDO Growth

• Serve as a strategic liaison between RDO program operations and Business Development, translating customer and program insights into growth opportunities.
• Participate as a member of RDO leadership and its engagement with Business Development, leading opportunities as assigned, to advance growth priorities through customer engagement, opportunity development, and capture.
• Participate as part of RDO Leadership to identify and qualify opportunities to expand existing work, addressing adjacent customer needs, and developing new business with a particular focus on contract awards.
• Support opportunity shaping, capture planning, solution development, teaming, and proposal activities.
• Connect emerging customer needs with capabilities and expertise across RDO.
• Support the transition of new contracts from capture through program execution.
• Build business development and capture capabilities among RDO Program Managers through mentoring and guidance.

Cross Portfolio Engagement

• Support leveraging capabilities and expertise across HJF portfolios to address emerging customer needs and advance RDO growth opportunities.
• Engage cross-portfolio subject-matter experts and Business Development to identify, shape, and advance RDO opportunities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct Supervisor: Direct authority to make decisions on the following: employee hiring, disciplinary action, starting salaries and merit increases; conduct employee performance evaluations and directs work activities.

Education and Experience

• Master's Degree in Scientific, Management, or related field required. Doctoral Degree in a scientific discipline preferred.
• More than 15 years of experience required.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), proven extensive experience capturing and managing large federal contracts, federal budget processes and fundamental principles of project management.
• Solid interpersonal skills, including the ability to clearly communicate verbally and in writing, build and maintain teams, and identify and resolve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, schedule, and coordinate activities to meet deadlines.
• Working knowledge of software including Microsoft Office, proposal/project tracking, and data analysis tools.
• Prior experience in life sciences preferred.

Physical Capabilities

• Lifting: Requires lifting materials up to 10 lbs.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in an office setting.

Compensation

• The annual salary range for this position is $183,000-$215,000. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.