Development of a Career Ladder for a Private University's Research Administration Department

Abstract

Research administration is a relatively new field that performs a wide array of duties to support the research enterprise from start to finish. As with many new fields, there are inconsistencies in what education, experience, and work duties are required to fulfill a specific job title. This is just one reason why career ladders and descriptions are essential for institutions to implement. In addition to this, studies have shown that career ladders can help improve employee satisfaction by enabling them to see where their career can take them and when they should expect a promotion. With this in mind, the author created a career ladder for pre-award and post-award research administration positions at a private university. By completing this Capstone Project, the author created a career ladder for eight pre-award and post-award titles at the university and developed a short summary of each position to be posted on the university’s website. These products and recommendations to review and update the current job titles will enable the university to increase transparency, improve employee satisfaction, and provide other resources for those in HR and hiring managers to reference. The career ladder can be improved upon and updated as needed and be applied to other areas at the university.