Director, Rehab Research – SCI Division, TIRR

Position Overview

We are seeking an accomplished Director of Rehabilitation Research – Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Division to provide scientific, administrative, and strategic leadership for a rehabilitation research program in Houston, Texas. This executive-level opportunity is intended for an established physician-scientist, PhD researcher, or scientific leader with extensive experience directing research programs and developing sustainable funding strategies.

The Director will help shape the scientific direction and research portfolio of the SCI Division, with responsibility spanning federal grant development, research strategy, scientific program management, research design, data analysis, and peer-reviewed publication. This position requires an experienced leader capable of combining scientific rigor with the administrative and strategic oversight necessary to develop and sustain a successful research program.

Required Qualifications

• Medical Doctorate (MD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Minimum 7 years of administrative leadership experience serving as a:
  • Program Director
  • Department Head
  • Principal Investigator
  • Or comparable scientific/research leader
• Demonstrated expertise in federal grant development and funding strategy
• Strong background in research design and methodology
• Advanced experience with research data analysis
• Established record of scientific peer-reviewed publications
• Experience with scientific program and research portfolio management
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic and administrative leadership within a research environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Research leadership experience within spinal cord injury, rehabilitation, or a closely related scientific or clinical discipline
• Demonstrated success developing or securing federal research funding
• Experience establishing long-term scientific and research portfolio strategies
• Strong history of interdisciplinary scientific collaboration
• Experience mentoring investigators, researchers, or scientific teams
• Ability to balance scientific objectives, funding priorities, program development, and administrative responsibilities

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an established MD, PhD researcher, physician-scientist, or senior scientific leader with a substantial record of research administration and program development. They should bring at least seven years of leadership experience as a principal investigator, program director, department head, or in a comparable research leadership capacity.

The strongest candidates will demonstrate a combination of federal grant development, funding strategy, scientific publication, research design, data analysis, and research portfolio management. This opportunity is particularly well aligned with a leader capable of establishing a long-term scientific vision while developing the programs, funding, and research infrastructure necessary to execute it.

Compensation

$143,000 – $180,000 annually

Compensation within the listed range will be determined based on the candidate's scientific and research leadership experience, federal grant and funding expertise, publication record, program-management experience, additional qualifications, and overall alignment with the position.

Why Join Through Tap Healthcare Solutions?

At Tap Healthcare Solutions, we recognize that executive research professionals need more than a position that simply matches their academic credentials. The right opportunity should provide the scientific scope and leadership responsibility necessary to build meaningful research programs, pursue important questions, and translate years of specialized expertise into lasting impact.

Our team will work with you throughout the hiring process with clear communication and careful attention to your professional background. We'll help ensure the opportunity aligns with your research expertise, leadership experience, funding background, compensation expectations, and long-term scientific goals, so you're considering a position where your experience and vision can meaningfully advance rehabilitation research.