Director of Rehabilitation Research – Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Division

Location: Houston, TX 77030

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Allied Health

Salary: $ 143000 (Min) - 180000 (Max) / Yearly / Full Time

About the Organization

Our organization is committed to delivering high-quality, efficient care while creating exceptional experiences for patients, employees, and the communities we serve. We foster an environment built on safety, compassion, personalization, innovation, and collaboration.

We are seeking an accomplished rehabilitation research leader to provide strategic and scientific leadership for our Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Division and advance the organization's national reputation in rehabilitation research.

Position Summary

The Director of Rehabilitation Research – SCI Division will provide strategic and scientific leadership for the division's research program. This individual will oversee a portfolio of spinal cord injury research studies while maintaining an active research program of their own.

The Director will establish and execute a strategic vision for rehabilitation research, with a focus on achieving national prominence, improving patient outcomes, advancing scientific knowledge, supporting investigator development, and ensuring the long-term growth and financial sustainability of the research program.

This position will lead and mentor investigators and research staff, develop new research initiatives, secure external funding through federal grants and other sources, and establish collaborative relationships with physicians, clinicians, academic institutions, national research organizations, and community partners.

The Director will also serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on research-related matters and contribute to investigator and physician recruitment, fundraising initiatives, and the continued growth of the organization's rehabilitation research enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the rehabilitation research enterprise within the SCI Division.
  

• Develop and implement short- and long-term strategic plans for rehabilitation research.
  

• Provide strategic and scientific direction for a portfolio of spinal cord injury research programs.
  

• Maintain an active, independent rehabilitation research program.
  

• Lead, mentor, and develop investigators, research staff, and affiliated faculty.
  

• Develop major research initiatives and identify new sources of research funding.
  

• Pursue and secure federal grants and other external funding opportunities.
  

• Advise executive leadership on research strategy, priorities, opportunities, and challenges.
  

• Establish and maintain high-level research collaborations with academic, clinical, governmental, and professional organizations.
  

• Support research activities conducted by investigators and clinical staff.
  

• Foster collaboration between researchers, physicians, clinicians, affiliated faculty, and community partners.
  

• Promote innovation and the translation of research findings into improved rehabilitation outcomes.
  

• Represent the organization's research mission and interests with prominent public and private agencies, institutions, and professional organizations.
  

• Support fundraising activities designed to expand and sustain rehabilitation research programs.
  

• Contribute to investigator and physician recruitment efforts.
  

• Enhance the organization's national reputation through high-impact research, publications, presentations, and scientific partnerships.
  

• Manage research resources and budgets in alignment with organizational priorities.
  

• Lead research-related projects and initiatives as assigned.
  

• Promote professional growth, mentorship, continuing education, and research excellence.
  

• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, quality standards, and applicable research requirements.
  

• Perform other duties as assigned.
  

Desired Skill Set

• Strategic research leadership
  

• Spinal cord injury research
  

• Rehabilitation and translational research
  

• Federal grant development and funding strategy
  

• Scientific program and research portfolio management
  

• Research design and data analysis
  

• Scientific writing and peer-reviewed publication
  

• Team leadership and mentorship
  

• Investigator development
  

• Cross-functional collaboration and partnership development
  

• Executive communication and stakeholder engagement
  

• Strategic planning and organizational development
  

• Research budget and resource management
  

• Knowledge of rehabilitation research funding sources
  

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) required.
  

Licenses/Certifications

• None required.
  

Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Strong or outstanding national reputation in medical rehabilitation research.
  

• Demonstrated success obtaining federal research funding, preferably through agencies such as NIH, NIDILRR, or other relevant federal funding organizations.
  

• Substantial record of peer-reviewed scientific publications.
  

• Minimum 7 years of administrative leadership experience as a Program Director, Department Head, Principal Investigator, Research Director, or comparable research leadership position.
  

• Demonstrated expertise in spinal cord injury and/or rehabilitation research.
  

• Strong understanding of funding sources and funding strategies for rehabilitation research.
  

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships across clinical, academic, and research environments.
  

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary research teams and develop investigators.
  

• Strong scientific communication, presentation, and executive leadership skills.