Director, Research Applications

Position Description:

We're looking for those individuals-the creative thinkers and innovation seekers-who are content with nothing short of changing the world. Discover the endless opportunities within the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and be inspired by the work we can do together to improve health, and make a positive, daily impact in our communities. In the role of Director, Research Applications you will be working in our Research Office.

Purpose

The Office of Research helps to facilitate life-saving biomedical research at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Nine distinct units provide specialized support to meet the administrative needs of our investigators and research staff, and together we coordinate, regulate, and monitor research studies. The Research Systems unit supports multiple, enterprise-wide software applications that are critical to the operations and efficient functioning of the research mission at MCW. Our institutional research software systems and applications portfolio includes the eBridge Research Management System, OnCore Clinical Trials Management System, Study Payments, Florence eBinders, iLab Core Management System, Topaz Animal Ordering System, and LabArchives tool.

Leading a dynamic team of developers, business analysts,help desk, and other personnel, the Director, Research Applications, directs and oversees all activities, projects, policies and processes related to the design, analysis, testing, coding, implementation, and upgrades of campus-wide software that contributes to the research mission. The Director engages with MCW partners and affiliates, external vendors, other MCW departments, and institutional research leaders to develop or implement new interfaces to/from other research applications or systems. Working collaboratively with leaders and stakeholders, the Director leads efforts to plan and prioritize system enhancements, new features, and ongoing quality controls and improvement. The Director provides strategic guidance and oversight for the help desk and training functions that support these research applications. The Director maintains primary responsibility for research systems use and optimization and represents the Research Systems unit as a subject matter expert and liaison on committees and project- and inquiry- based consultation.

Primary Functions

• Engage with leaders across the research enterprise to understand current strategies and priorities; balance institutional plans with regard to future implementation, support of needed or requested functionality, system volumes, available resources, and automation and efficiency of critical research software systems and applications.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with key partners including members of the MCW Information Systems Department and the MCW Research Computing Core service which maintains hardware for the research mission.
• Establish an operating plan that aligns research mission goals with software application objectives. Derive tactical priorities based on strategic plans and operational funding support. Coordinate and collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure alignment, resource availability and support.
• Review and assess development proposals, business cases for project requests, feasibility, timelines, resources, and costs related to new work or changes to critical research systems.
• Enhance operations by establishing metrics, analyzing processes, and implementing standard methodologies, tools, and best practices to ensure high-quality deliverables and efficient procedures.
• Ensure the functioning of all research systems and processes are compliant with regulatory and institutional policies.
• Partner with the business units to identify and implement system/process changes and enhancements.
  • Conduct analysis to define scope, design and deliverables for strategic projects.
  • Provide innovative solutions to customer needs and effectively manage customer expectations.
  • Monitor all team project assignments and address escalated issues to resolution.
• Develop and manage project budgets, vendor relationships, or remote resources.
  • Effectively manage vendor relationships relevant to MCW support cases filed.
  • Plan for testing and deployment of patches and upgrades; remain aware of changes or features in future vendor releases and potential impact to MCW's version of vendor software.
  • Coordinate work efforts, resource needs, and impact of servers and databases with Information Services and/or other stakeholders.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of designated support staff.
  • Direct personnel and daily workflows to ensure that procedures are followed and customers are receiving timely and quality support.
  • Train/cross-train, evaluate and assess staff performance, provide reviews, resolve conflicts, counsel and terminate at a level commensurate with company standards.
  • Establish a performance culture by incorporating individual and team coaching and mentoring to achieve excellence.
• Create functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-functions within the Research Systems team and develop budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure.
  • Develop feedback processes for peer reviews, code reviews, and design reviews for the developer sub-team.
  • Provide effective process and support around the eBridge/OnCore Help Desk to address customer needs in a timely and effective manner.
  • Lead the training staff to create a framework that provides timely and effective training and help information to users when they need it.
  • Participate in the development and continuous improvement of IS methodologies, policies and procedures.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge - Skills - Abilities

Must have a strong background in software engineering and research-relevant software packages. Solid experience in all aspects of product implementation, including requirements elicitation, system and process design, test strategy development and implementation, user training and help desk support.

Experience implementing cloud-hosted applications requiring configuration, data conversion and integration activities.

Experience with enterprise financial and personnel management tools, namely Workday, is necessary.

Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, client service and technical writing skills. Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. Strong interest in further developing and integrating enterprise business processes with technology skills.

Must have ability to effectively coach and mentor staff to maintain high employee morale, provide training and growth opportunities and resolve personnel conflicts. Ability to recognize individual and team contributions. Must be able to manage and address performance issues.

Extensive experience working both independently and in a team-oriented environment.

#LI-AV1

Preferred Schedule:



M-F 8-5 pm (some flexibility)

Position Requirements:

Specifications

Appropriate experience may be substituted for education on an equivalent basis

Minimum Required Education: Bachelor's Degree.

Minimum Required Experience: Ten or more years of progressively more responsible information systems experience, ideally with experience in research-related products, however experience in other enterprise-wide administrative systems in multi-platform environments is also valuable.

Field: Computer Science, Information Sciences, or another field with required analytical thinking

Why MCW?

• Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options
• 403B Retirement Package
• Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Pet Insurance
• On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes.
• Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc.

For a full list of positions see: www.mcw.edu/careers

For a brief overview of our benefits see: https://www.mcw.edu/departments/human-resources/benefits

Eastern Wisconsin is a vibrant, diverse metropolitan area. MCW is intent on attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce and faculty body that reflects the community we serve. We value diversity of backgrounds, experience, thought, and perspectives to advance excellence in science and medicine. MCW is a welcoming campus community with a strong culture of collaboration, partnership, and engagement with our surrounding community. For more information, please visit our institutional website at https://www.mcw.edu/departments/office-of-diversity-and-inclusion.

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination


The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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