Associate Director for Research Development

About the role

The Associate Director for Research Development will be vital in establishing a robust LRI research development program and lead the planning, development, submission, and ongoing monitoring of LRI proposals and research.

Responsibilities

• Consult with Director to establish a robust research development program that supports multidisciplinary research on Latino communities and research that is consequential for all communities.
• Works closely with Latino Research Institute (LRI) affiliates and other UT Austin faculty and graduate students to pursue grants which align with the UT Austin’s mission more broadly.
• Work with the Director and Associate Director of Research to strategically lead LRI research, programs, and grant management objectives.
• Affords assistance in establishing a comprehensive grant management tracking platform that monitors all LRI grants and programs, including the areas of focus (e.g., AI, transportation, housing, education, labor participation, social engagement, public health, and safety), professional development, and research and social impact of grants.
• Produces metrics to articulate LRI’s success for annual and ad hoc reporting.
• Works closely with COLA and OVPR grant management teams on all pre and post grant management processes.
• Provides faculty, students and key collaborators with ongoing grant opportunities that align with the LRI mission.
• Serves as LRI’s resident grants expert and provides timely and responsive support to researchers on a broad range of funding agency and university policies, procedures, and deadlines.
• Pursues and manages institutional/center grants to support LRI core operations and activities and expand institutional objectives and initiatives.
• Notifies researchers of relevant policy initiatives and changes from the university and sponsors (e.g., indirect cost agreements, tuition increases, UT fringe rate policy, sponsors’ fiscal policies, cost-share policies, conflict of interest policies, funding rules and regulations).
• Consults with PIs throughout pre- and post-award phases to integrate key aspects of LRI institutional mission and strategic goals into grants.
• Develops protocol documents, documenting formal grant application submission policies and procedures for the LRI.
• Continually refines and updates internal policies and procedures.
• Leads the LRI pre-award management/proposal process and development.
• Identifies and circulates grant opportunities concerning research of LRI affiliates and other UT Austin researchers.
• Assists LRI affiliated faculty, researchers, and other academic and staff personnel with proposal development, document and budget preparation, copy editing of proposal documents, and submission of funding applications to federal and private funding agencies.
• As appropriate, consults with PIs to strengthen their proposals through constructive feedback on scope of work, implementation plan, timelines and other proposal aspects.
• As appropriate, advises PIs about existing resources that might complement their projects and strengthen their proposals.
• At the direction of the PI, serves as primary contact with sub-award entities during the pre-award application process and throughout the post-award period.
• Reviews sponsor guidelines, university and external policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Leads the LRI post-award management.
• Provides oversight and ensures compliance during grant implementation, including assistance with progress reports; funding extensions; amendments, grant close-outs; facilitation of grant transfers, contracts, purchases, budget and SOW modifications, sub-award invoices, and overall expense management.
• Holds regular meetings with PIs and relevant LRI staff to monitor grant performance, establish best practices, and consider future opportunities.
• Participates in LRI and COLA staff meetings as relevant to position.
• Continually upgrades knowledge and skills through active membership in UT’s Association of Research Administrators, classes, workshops, committees, and other training opportunities.
• Serves as primary departmental contact for the College Research Support Office (RSO), the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), COLA and UT Foundation Relations, and the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) to facilitate timely, accurate, and complete proposal submission and post-award information requests.
• Serves as liaison between researchers and OSP; communicates with OSP reviewers, negotiators, and award administrators.
• Supervises the Academic Program Coordinator.
• Collaborates with the LRI’s Administrative Associate to ensure availability of timely and accurate faculty effort percentages and financial reports to PIs and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Five or more years of grants administration experience, with three or more years at a managerial level, including oversight of: development, preparation, processing and oversight of sponsored research proposals and awards; alignment of grant deliverables to advance institutional strategic goals; and leading research development initiatives and grants training for various constituents from a broad range of experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing multi-disciplinary grant collaborations across University departments and CSUs; and with local, state, national and international community partners (subawards, contracts, MOUs).
• Demonstrated cultural competence and successful experience working with various constituents and community partners in multicultural, multi-lingual contexts.
• Experience building positive working relationships with federal agency and foundation program officers to support faculty with interpreting and adhering to sponsor guidelines.
• Ability to work in a environment with sensitive and confidential information.
• Demonstrated self-starter with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficient use of MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Adobe Professional.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accuracy and pay close attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a "high volume" office in which there are multiple deadlines.