Research Director Interview

Can you describe your experience with the full research grant lifecycle, highlighting both pre-award and post-award processes?

I have over 20 years of experience working across the full research grant life cycle.I've LED a Grant's office at Madison Area Technical College for almost 9 years, and this included working with faculty and staff to submit grant applications to a variety of private.And state and federal funders.I've supported grant development through facilitation, through strategic discussions, prioritizing.Needs as well as evidence based strategies.I've also developed post award implementation strategies and support including quarterly meeting check insurance with grant teams, monthly financial analysis.Reviewing the finance financials against the approved budget and working with teams to provide technical assistance and support.If the project was off track or they needed additional resources or technical assistance or communication with the funder, I've also provided budget management for large federal grants.And we've.Implemented strategies to improve the grant seeking and grant implementation culture through grants, office receptions, trainings for new project managers, and a grants manual to streamline processes and systems.And save faculty from having to focus on aspects of the grant which take them away from their area of expertise.I've also been asked to manage a large project on behalf of the institution this was.The large Department of Education grant to redesign the student experience and convene 11 project teams and hundreds of people to implement technology solutions, educational plans.Revising rules to improve the impact for students.I've developed post award and pre award kickoff meetings, post award checklists. All of these strategies resulted in increasing grant revenue at Madison College from 12 million annually to $19 million annually and.

Your answer effectively covers your extensive experience with the full research grant lifecycle, detailing both pre-award and post-award processes. You provide specific examples of your work, such as leading a grants office, facilitating grant applications, and managing large federal grants. These elements underscore your expertise and contributions, particularly regarding strategic planning and financial management.

Strengths of your answer:
1. Experience: You clearly demonstrate over two decades in grant management, which establishes credibility.
2. Specific Examples: Mentioning your leadership at Madison Area Technical College and the increase in grant revenue from $12 million to $19 million adds quantifiable evidence of your success.
3. Processes Detailed: You describe both pre-award (grant application submission, strategic discussions) and post-award (budget management, monitoring, and communication) processes, ensuring you address all aspects of the question.

Areas for improvement:
1. Clarity and Organization: Your response is a bit lengthy and can benefit from clearer structure. Consider breaking it into sections for pre-award and post-award experiences.
2. Conciseness: Some areas can be streamlined. For example, instead of detailing every activity, highlight the most impactful strategies.
3. Closing Summary: Conclude with a brief statement reflecting on how your experiences have prepared you for the Research Operations Director role specifically.

Rating: 4/5. Overall, you have a solid foundation; with minor adjustments for clarity and conciseness, it could be even stronger.

How do you ensure compliance with regulatory requirements in research administration?

I utilize a variety of strategies to ensure compliance with regulatory.Requirements and research administration. These include playing close attention to the notice of grant award and staying apprised of changes in uniform guidance or, in the current situation, reviewing policy.Changes that are coming out of the federal grants processes like NIH and EH, all of the different federal funding sources and legal implications that impact our ability to manage grants in this regulatory environment.I am also a member of several professional organizations and listservs which allow me to benefit from.Membership organizations and individual sponsored research programs that are able to monitor things a little bit more closely.And I try to summarize the impact of these changes or talk to colleagues if they're monitoring certain aspects of these rules more closely, and summarize the.Policy implication on our specific projects I think it's important to help serve as a bridge between these federal organizations and the organizations that you work for so that.

Your answer demonstrates a solid understanding of the importance of compliance in research administration, and you highlight several strategies that show you are proactive in staying informed and engaged with regulatory changes. Here’s a breakdown of your response:

1. Awareness of Regulatory Framework: You mention attention to the notice of grant award and uniform guidance, which shows you understand the foundational elements of compliance.

2. Engagement with Federal Agencies: Your reference to keeping up with changes from funding sources like NIH indicates that you are attuned to critical stakeholders in the research landscape.

3. Professional Networks: Engaging in professional organizations and listservs shows that you recognize the value of community and shared knowledge in navigating compliance challenges.

4. Communication: Your emphasis on summarizing policy implications and serving as a bridge indicates strong communication skills, essential for translating regulatory language to practical application.

### Areas for Improvement:
- Structure: Your response could benefit from a clearer structure. Consider breaking it into main points or strategies, making it easier for the interviewer to follow.

- Specific Examples: Offering a specific example or case where your strategies led to successful compliance might strengthen your answer.

- Broader Impact: You could mention how compliance enhances the integrity of research and its potential impact on outcomes, emphasizing the bigger picture.

### Rating:
I would rate your answer 4/5. It shows a good understanding and proactive approach but could benefit from clarity and specific examples.

Describe a time when you successfully coordinated research teams to advance a project. What strategies did you employ?

In 2017, I was charged with leading the grant development for $3,000,000 Department of Education grant which included a research component.Testing the success of an accelerated math.Call.Course sequence which supported students that needed to finish a remedial math course before being able to take credit bearing courses.A project team and we really focused on.Collaboration. Transparency.Shared visioning and managing the project in a very.Methodical way. I ultimately reported to the president of Madison College, but all vice presidents in most departments within the organization played a critical role in the success of the project.We had an executive steering team, we had different project teams, and we sent regular communications to ensure that everyone was on the same page with where we were and where we were trying to go.CS GO. Ultimately there were 11 project teams and about 200 people involved in this effort. And early on we facilitated, we facilitated several retreats, but one in particular.Included mapping the current experience for students across the college and visually depicting 150 different.Programs, strategies, offerings for students which were not organized in any particular way. Students had to self advocate and find these services, but we at the college didn't necessarily focus on how to deliver these services in the most strategic.Efficient way for students we then created a road map, the ideal student experience, So what we were trying to achieve across the organization and through many, many discussions and.Uh, feedback through with a lot of stakeholders created strategies that would.Help us achieve a better experience For students, this included understanding their current educational goals earlier, helping the student understand the cost of the courses they wanted to attend as well as the career.Opportunities and salary levels. It also included educational planning, a technology system, and we evaluated the impact of these results over time and made sure to continue to engage our colleagues and engage the voice of.

Your answer provides a solid overview of a significant project, demonstrating your leadership and coordination skills in a complex environment. You highlighted key strategies such as collaboration, transparency, and a structured approach, which are crucial in research operations.

Strengths:
1. Specific Examples: You referred to a concrete project, including the funding amount and organizational context, which makes your experience relatable.
2. Team Coordination: Mentioning the involvement of multiple stakeholders and the establishment of project teams illustrates your ability to manage diverse groups effectively.
3. Strategic Planning: Your emphasis on mapping the student experience and developing a roadmap shows an understanding of both the process and the impact on end users.

Areas for Improvement:
1. Clarity and Structure: The answer could benefit from a clearer structure. Consider breaking it into distinct sections: context, actions taken, strategies employed, and results achieved.
2. Quantifiable Outcomes: Where possible, include specific metrics or outcomes to demonstrate the success of the project. For example, mention if there were improvements in student enrollment or completion rates due to your initiatives.
3. Engagement: You noted the importance of regular communication but could elaborate on how you maintained engagement and feedback loops with team members and stakeholders.

Overall, your response covers essential elements but could be refined for better clarity and impact.

Rating: 3.5/5