Job Description
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the black college community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and several Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). The Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center (Payne Center) at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) advances rigorous scholarship, public policy research, and applied programming that informs practice and shapes opportunities for historically underserved communities. With a commitment to producing high-impact research and cultivating intellectual capital within and beyond Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the Center engages in original studies, institutional capacity building, and research-to-impact dissemination. The HBCU Innovation & Research Manager holds a pivotal role within the Payne Center. This position is responsible for the comprehensive execution and supervision of initiatives to strengthen research infrastructure, enhance institutional operations, and foster academic innovation across HBCUs. This role uniquely combines program leadership, advanced research administration, and strategic partnership development to elevate HBCUs as best-in-class institutions aligned with national standards of excellence. Reporting to the Executive Director & Research Scientist, the Manager will manage all facets of HBCU capacity building interventions and the design, implementation, and oversight of HBCU cohort engagements. The role demands a task-oriented leader with exceptional project management acumen, deep research expertise, and a proven ability to cultivate impactful collaborations among diverse stakeholders within the HBCU community and beyond. The ideal candidate will possess deep understanding of the HBCU ecosystem, exceptional project management and organizational skills, and a proven ability to lead and execute complex multi institutional initiatives. They must exhibit strong administrative discipline, strategic thinking, and the capacity to balance high-level ideation with detail-oriented project execution. Success in the role requires intellectual agility, comfort with complex problem-solving, and the ability to navigate competing demands across program timelines, grant requirements, and organizational priorities. The HBCU Innovation & Research Manager will serve as a key thought partner to Payne Center and TMCF staff, contributing to conceptual development of new initiatives and ensuring that the Center’s work remains responsive, credible, and catalytic. Candidates must bring a commitment to excellence in scholarship, a keen understanding of research infrastructure, and the interpersonal acumen to steward cross-sector relationships.
Reports To:
Executive Director and Research Scientist Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center
Responsibilities:
This position offers a transformative opportunity to drive lasting impact within the HBCU community—strengthening institutional capacity, amplifying research excellence, and advancing collaborative innovation. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to providing direction, aiding in research delivery, and developing and implementing programs that support and promote HBCU development, as well as coordinating administrative operations. Key duties include:
Cohort Initiative Coordination
- Manage the delivery of high-impact, structured cohort programs directly addressing HBCU capacity building:
- Research Infrastructure: Oversee collaborations to establish state-of-the-art research facilities, secure external funding, and improve research output and Carnegie Classification advancement. This includes identifying exemplary research centers and orchestrating grant-writing workshops to boost funding competitiveness.
- Institutional Operations: Coordinate the sharing and adoption of best practices in enrollment management, financial aid, academic advising, and student retention through data-informed systems.
- Academic Innovation: Facilitate academic programming and student success initiatives. Promote innovation in digital learning, and workforce development.
- Organize cohort convenings, including:
- Development of training curricula aligned with national benchmarks.
- Management of peer mentorship programs. o Facilitation of cross-institutional collaboration and problem-solving.
- Establish and monitor performance metrics to track progress and impact related to research output, operational efficiency, academic programming, and student outcomes.
Research & Capacity Building for Cohort Success
- Conduct environmental scans to proactively identify needs and emerging opportunities among HBCUs.
- Support grant development for cohort institutions.
- Oversee data collection and analysis to continuously refine cohort programming.
- Produce research briefs and case studies to highlight cohort successes and innovations.
Strategic Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement
- Cultivate strong relationships with HBCU leadership and faculty.
- Serve as liaison TMCF, the Payne Center, and HBCU campuses.
- Represent the Payne Center and TMCF at meetings, conferences, and convenings.
Administrative & Operational Oversight
- Manage cohort budgets and ensure compliance with grant requirements.
- Prepare progress reports and outcome summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
- Maintain detailed program documentation and records.
Key Competencies:
- Strategic Leadership: Ability to align cohort initiatives with institutional and national goals.
- Collaborative Innovation: Proven ability to build partnerships across institutions and sectors.
- Analytical Acumen: Capacity to leverage data to inform strategy and evaluate impact.
- Innovation Mindset: Embrace creative solutions to enhance HBCU capacity.
- Attention to Detail: Ensure precision in implementation, budgeting, and reporting.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, project management platforms (e.g., Monday, Asana), and collaboration tools.
- Knowledge of research methodology, analysis techniques, and institutional research design.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work across diverse constituencies.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to synthesize complex information into accessible content.
- Ability to manage and protect confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
- Capacity to learn new technologies and adapt quickly in a mission-driven, fast-paced environment.
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills with ability to manage multiple simultaneous responsibilities.
Required Competencies and Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in a relevant field such as public policy, sociology, higher education, political science, or a related social science (Doctorate preferred).
- Minimum 3 years of experience in higher education or nonprofit programs focused on research coordination or managing multi-institutional initiatives.
- Deep understanding of the HBCU ecosystem.
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools.
Additional Information:
- Employee Type: Full-Time, Exempt
- Location: Hybrid/In-Person (Washington, DC)
- Salary: Commensurate with experience and education
- Manages Others: No (but may supervise interns and research assistants)
- Benefits: Health, Dental, FSA, 403(b), 5% Bonus Potential