Director of Research Development and Training Programs

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 Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Reporting to the Executive Director of the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, the Director of Research Development and Training Programs is a leadership role responsible for architecting and managing a comprehensive portfolio of research capacity-building initiatives across the nation’s public HBCU network.

This position serves as the Payne Center’s strategist for advancing the research enterprise at TMCF member institutions. The Director will design, implement, and oversee training programs, fellowships, and professional development opportunities that equip faculty, students, and institutions with the skills, partnerships, and resources needed to compete successfully for federal funding, engage with national laboratories, and lead transformative research. The Director will also serve as a key representative of the Payne Center and the broader public HBCU research community at national convenings, federal agency meetings, and with external partners including NSF, NIH, DOE, and private foundations.

The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with deep subject matter expertise in research development, faculty mentorship, and grant-funded programming. They will bring a national perspective on the research landscape and a demonstrated commitment to advancing HBCU research excellence. This role requires a highly collaborative, externally facing leader who can build trust across 50+ member institutions while representing the network with authority and credibility at the highest levels of the scientific and philanthropic community.

Reports To:

Executive Director of the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Research Development

  • Serve as the Payne Center’s subject matter expert on research development, capacity building, and the federal funding landscape, providing strategic guidance to TMCF leadership and member institutions.
  • Identify and cultivate strategic collaborations with national laboratories, federal agencies, and research-intensive universities to create pathways for HBCU faculty and students to engage in cutting-edge research.
  • Assist member institutions in identifying and pursuing research resources, including federal funding opportunities, facility access, and partnership agreements.
  • Provide direct campus assistance and consultation to HBCUs seeking to strengthen their research infrastructure, including grant-writing support, proposal development strategies, and compliance readiness.
  • Lead the development of exchange and partnership agreements that facilitate faculty and student mobility, collaborative research, and resource sharing across institutions and with external partners.
  • Coordinate with relevant federal interagency working groups and initiatives focused on expanding research capacity at minority-serving institutions.

Faculty and Student Training Programs & Fellowships

  • Design, launch, and manage the Payne Center’s signature faculty development initiatives, including an annual cohort-based program for distinguished faculty from each TMCF member institution.
  • Develop a compelling and prestigious identity for the faculty cohort program, ensuring it becomes a nationally recognized mark of scholarly distinction (e.g., “Payne Center Faculty Scholars,” “Payne Center Research Leadership Fellows,” or similar).
  • Oversee all aspects of faculty and student fellowship programs, including recruitment, selection, curriculum design, mentorship matching, and year-round programming.
  • Design and implement training programs and workshops that address critical research competencies, including federal grant navigation, responsible conduct of research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with national labs.
  • Develop student-focused research training initiatives, including summer institutes, research internships, and pathways programs that prepare undergraduate and graduate students for research careers.

Network Engagement & Campus Assistance

  • Serve as the primary liaison to TMCF member institutions on matters related to research development and training, building strong relationships with faculty, administrators, and research offices.
  • Conduct regular needs assessments across the network to identify gaps in research capacity and tailor training programs accordingly.
  • Coordinate convenings, workshops, and technical assistance sessions that bring together HBCU faculty and researchers for professional development and network-building.
  • Support the establishment of faculty affiliates and research networks across member institutions, fostering communities of practice in key research areas.

External Partnerships & Intergovernmental Coordination

  • Represent the Payne Center and the public HBCU research community at national meetings, conferences, and convenings hosted by NSF, NIH, the National Academies, and other key stakeholders.
  • Cultivate and manage relationships with program officers at federal agencies, foundation partners, and national laboratory leadership to advance HBCU research priorities.
  • Collaborate with intergovernmental bodies and national organizations working to expand research capacity at minority-serving institutions, ensuring the Payne Center’s voice is present in policy discussions.
  • Identify and pursue partnership opportunities that create new avenues for HBCU faculty and student research engagement, including cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, and joint programming.

Program Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

  • Work collaboratively with the Director of Institutional Research and Evaluation to assess the impact of all training programs and fellowships, ensuring alignment with the Center’s MEL framework.
  • Use data and participant feedback to continuously refine and improve program offerings, ensuring they remain responsive to institutional needs and national research priorities.
  • Contribute to grant reporting and progress updates for funders supporting research development initiatives

Other duties as assigned

Key Competencies:

JOB DETAILS:

  • Department: Operations
  • Location: Hybrid, Washington, DC
  • Employment Type: Full-Time
  • FLSA Status: Exempt
  • Travel Requirement: 25%
  • Supervisory Responsibility: No

Required Competencies and Qualifications:

  • An advanced degree (Ph.D. strongly preferred) in a STEM field, social science, or related discipline.
  • 7-10 years of progressive experience in research development, faculty affairs, scientific training programs, or grant-making, preferably within higher education, a federal agency, or a major research organization.
  • Deep familiarity with the federal research funding ecosystem (NSF, NIH, DOE, etc.) and demonstrated success in supporting or leading successful grant proposals.
  • Experience designing and managing prestigious fellowship, scholars, or training programs for faculty and/or students.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships across a diverse network of institutions and with external partners including national labs and federal agencies.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the network authoritatively at national convenings and in high-stakes partnership conversations.
  • A collaborative, consultative approach to working with member institutions, with the ability to listen deeply and tailor support to diverse institutional contexts.
  • Strong project management skills and the ability to oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously.
  • An unwavering commitment to the mission of HBCUs and the advancement of equity in the national research enterprise.
  • Strong project management skills and the ability to oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously.

An unwavering commitment to the mission of HBCUs and the advancement of equity in the national research enterprise.

Additional Information:

COMPENSATION:

  • Annual Salary: $75,000 – $85,000
  • Bonus Eligibility: Up to 5% of annual salary

Actual compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and organizational needs, in accordance with applicable laws.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) offers a benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision coverage on a cost-shared basis; employer-paid short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), and basic life insurance; retirement benefits (including a 403(b) plan with employer matching contributions of up to 6% of eligible compensation); paid time off; paid holidays; and professional development opportunities, subject to eligibility and plan terms.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This position may involve extended computer use, lifting up to 15 pounds, and require evening and weekend work. Participation in and assistance with special TMCF events may necessitate a temporary change in normal working conditions, including a shift in days or hours worked, and/or working in alternative locations (e.g., outdoors).

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS:

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations may contact hr@tmcf.org.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER:

Employment with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is at-will. This posting does not constitute a contract of employment or guarantee employment for any specific duration.

PAID LEAVE ADDENDUM:

In addition to any leave or benefits provided by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), employees may also be eligible for paid sick leave, paid family leave, or other statutory leave and benefits as required by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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