Sr. Research Operations Manager (Research Administration)

Affiliated Office Address

Baltimore, MD, United States

Requisition ID

122724

Date Created

October 09, 2026

Job Family

Finance & Business

Job Subfamily

Project Management

Job Function

Research

Exempt Status

Exempt

Shift Type

Full Time

Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00

Worksite

06-MD:School of Nursing

Work Modality

On-site: 90-100% of hours worked on-site

We are seeking a Sr. Research Operations Manager who will lead, direct, and execute various initiatives from concept to implementation with a high level of independence. The Sr. Research Operations Manager will oversee a portfolio of key projects, ensuring that all assigned projects successfully meet institutional goals, deliver impactful results, and drive excellence. Additionally, the Manager supports and mentors other project managers and staff, ensuring best practices in project management are followed.

This position is responsible for ensuring the successful completion of a portfolio of projects within the approved schedule, scope, and budget, and escalating major risks and issues to division/department leaders as appropriate. In partnership with other project stakeholders, the Manager leads the design and implementation of individual projects.

The Sr. Research Operations Manager serves as the senior operational partner to the Vice Dean for Research (VDR), translating school-wide research priorities into coordinated, measurable action. The position provides the connective infrastructure needed for initiatives that span faculty, research programs, administrative offices, centers, and institutional partners and that do not sit naturally within a single existing unit.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct the scope of projects, including goals, timelines, budgets, and objectives.
• Oversee and execute project plans, budgets, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies, and monitor and report on progress and outcomes.
• Complete activities/deliverables required to complete the projects, including analysis, benchmarking, data collection, and deliverable development.
• Identify and resolve conflicts, challenges, or barriers that may arise during the project lifecycle and escalate them as appropriate.
• Serve in various project roles as necessary to fill gaps and ensure projects proceed as needed.
• May oversee project teams and resources, including project managers and staff from other departments.
• Oversee key project deliverables, including project plans, budgets, timelines, status reports, presentation materials, reports, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Participate in the risk, issue, and change resolution process, and work with other leaders to take corrective action as needed.
• Serve as a key decision maker for the projects.
• Interface with key leaders to help define project priorities and communicate project risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Monitor KPIs for special projects, reporting progress and status to senior leaders.
• Oversee and collaborate with project teams and resources, including project managers and staff from other departments.
• Draft project deliverables, including written reports, presentations, spreadsheets, and data visualizations.
• Collaborate with project managers and staff outside of the assigned area to implement the project management methodology and best practices to positively impact the institution and support the strategic initiatives.
• Assist with coaching and mentoring other project management practitioners and share knowledge of best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

In addition to the duties described above

• Translate VDR priorities into implementation plans, timelines, deliverables, ownership, and follow-through.
• Manage a portfolio of cross-cutting research initiatives and special projects sponsored by the VDR, which may require participation across faculty, NORA, finance, HR, information technology, communications, centers, and other School or University offices.
• Maintain a school-wide view of major research priorities, dependencies, risks, and decision points. This includes developing and maintaining a research enterprise dashboard that tracks key indicators such as submissions, awards, funding mix, major proposals, faculty engagement, infrastructure utilization, and strategic initiatives.
• Map current research support processes, identify gaps or friction points, and work with responsible units to improve handoffs and reduce unnecessary duplication, while also supporting the launch and implementation of new shared research resources, services, and infrastructure approved by the VDR.
• Use a data-informed mindset to support annual and multi-year research planning and assessment; identify bottlenecks, emerging needs, and opportunities for investment; and coordinate periodic review of new VDR initiatives to assess uptake, impact, and return on investment.
• Contribute to major initiatives and team science by providing project-management support for large, multidisciplinary, multi-school, or institutionally strategic activities; coordinating activities to respond to major center grants and other complex proposal initiatives; and convening faculty and partners around emerging funding opportunities and strategic themes.
• Establish efficient operating routines for the VDR office, including priority tracking, meeting preparation, follow-up, and coordination of VDR-sponsored committees, advisory groups, retreats, and research planning activities.
• Prepare background materials and syntheses that enable efficient decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Five years of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional Certification.
• Substantial experience managing complex research, academic, health sciences or higher education operations.
• Demonstrated success leading projects across units without relying solely on direct supervisory authority.
• Strong understanding of the academic research environment, including externally funded research and faculty led programs
• Exceptional project management, organization, judgment, communication, and follow through.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into concise recommendations and decision ready materials
• Comfort working with senior faculty and institutional leaders in a fast moving, highly collaborative environment.
• Experience with research metrics, dashboards, process improvement, or strategic planning is highly desirable

Technical Qualifications & Specialized Certifications

• Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office Suite software applications, along with a general understanding of HRIS applications to retrieve data for reporting and analysis.
• Knowledge of SmartSheet or comparable project planning software.

Technical Skills & Expected Level of Proficiency

• Project Planning - Developing
• Financial Forecasting - Developing
• Critical Thinking - Developing
• Project Management Life Cycle - Developing
• Project Documentation - Developing

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.

Classified Title: Project Manager

Job Posting Title (Working Title): Sr. Research Operations Manager (Research Administration)

Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PE

Starting Salary Range: $75,135 - $131,510 Annually ($103,320 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)

Employee group: Full Time

Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD

Department name: Research Administration

Personnel area: School of Nursing

Total Rewards

The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Education and Experience Equivalency

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies

Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Accommodation Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at [email protected]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.