Director, Pre-Clinical Sciences

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Closing Date:

10/17/2025

Type of Position:

Researchers and ScientistsNo

Job Type:

Fixed Duration of Project/Grant (Fixed Term)No

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

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Department:

Executive Director I3R

Summary of Job Duties:

We are seeking a Director of Pre-Clinical Sciences for pre-clinical research, development, and translational innovation for the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R). This position is a key scientific, regulatory, and management leadership position. In this pivotal position, the successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for the planning, development, and implementation of pre-clinical research to support pharmaceutical, medical device development, and animal science initiatives aligned with the Institute’s and the University's research, academic, and economic development missions.

Team leadership is a key aspect of this role, where the Director will lead and inspire teams of research professionals, creating a collaborative fast-paced and adaptive work environment while promoting professional development and mentorship opportunities for team members. The Director will have a professional demeanor and ability to establish effective working relationships, building trust and influence to accomplish work within a setting that includes a wide array of individuals, groups, policies, and processes.

In this position, you will:

• Engage closely with academic units and university leaders and liaison with members of the animal care facilities and regulatory compliance committees including those for animal welfare and environmental health and safety.
• Outreach and engagement with external partners to establish and enhance industry partnerships.
• Collaborate and guide Institute faculty, staff and students on research and development projects and invention disclosures, participate in developing and writing study protocols for regulatory approval of standard and novel procedures and technologies, offer technical support for grant proposal, patent, and regulatory submissions, and draft and review final reports for internal and external use including public-facing presentations and publications.
• Play a crucial role in developing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations related to pre-clinical sciences and related veterinary care and identify risks, develop risk mitigation plans, and escalate risk mitigation strategies to the Institute Director as appropriate.
• Work closely with the facility manager and the Director of Information Technology to assure design, implementation, and maintenance of a robust and secure physical and technology infrastructure, ensuring the availability, reliability, and performance of key systems and services.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• DVM or a PhD in a Biological discipline with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant working experience

• Demonstrated ability to apply regulatory compliance laws and policy requirements (FDA, USDA, international, or others) for assessment of pre-clinical science, toxicology for pharmaceutical or medical device development

• Demonstrated experience with development and application of Novel Alternative Methods, such as in vitro models

• Certification and training in Good Manufacturing Practice

• Experience with grant writing and reviewing

• Project and personnel management experience

• Prior experience in collaborating with medical device, pharmaceutical, or veterinary science industry

• Demonstrated strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Veterinary small or large animal surgical procedures

• Experience with obtaining regulatory approvals for novel drugs and medical devices

• Prior direct management experience and CRO management experience strongly preferred

• Demonstrated peer-reviewed publication record

• Teaching and training students and other technical staff

Additional Information:

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR INTEGRATIVE & INNOVATIVE RESEARCH (I³R):
Established through a transformative gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the University of Arkansas Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) pioneers solutions to wicked problems through convergence research across academic, industry, government, and non-profit sectors to make a positive societal impact by creating and deploying innovations at scale.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with purpose-driven coworkers in one of the fastest-growing and most naturally beautiful regions in the U.S. You will join a growing team of visionary researchers and thought leaders dedicated to working with a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem to deliver innovative solutions. I³R is committed to building a collaborative proactive team and cultivating a welcoming atmosphere where all opinions are valued, all voices are heard, and ideas become reality.

This position is renewable annually based on continued need for the position, availability of funding, and satisfactory job performance.

Commensurate with education and experienceCover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), ResumeProof of Veteran StatusCrystal Ellis, Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist, [email protected]

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS  

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

N/A

Frequent Physical Activity:

N/A

Occasional Physical Activity:

N/A

Benefits Eligible:

Yes