Associate Director of Sponsored Projects Administration (focus: Research Stewardship)

About the role

The Associate Director of Research Stewardship provides operational leadership for sponsored projects administration functions associated with identifying and mitigating risk in grant awards and agreements, and safeguarding the financial integrity of sponsored project funds, including execution of award and agreements and administrative and financial activities required to meet award terms, institutional and sponsor policies.

The role advances operational coordination across SPA teams, strengthens and maintains productive relationships with sponsors, and leads implementation of SPA initiatives that enhance administrative and financial integrity and lifecycle continuity, and establishes clear, consistent processes that support both staff effectiveness and the faculty experience.

The Associate Director serves as a member of the SPA leadership team responsible for developing and implementing programs and procedures to enhance research administration processes across campus.

Responsibilities

• Provides operational leadership for sponsored projects administration functions associated with identifying and mitigating risk in grant awards and agreements, and safeguarding the financial integrity of sponsored project funds, including execution of award and agreements and administrative and financial activities required to meet award terms, institutional and sponsor policies.
• Oversees SPA’s award acceptance, restricted fund accounting, payment and cash management, and reporting functions, and plays a lead role during internal and external audits directed at or involving sponsored projects.
• Advances operational coordination across SPA teams, strengthens and maintains productive relationships with sponsors, and leads implementation of SPA initiatives that enhance administrative and financial integrity and lifecycle continuity, and establishes clear, consistent processes that support both staff effectiveness and the faculty experience.
• Learns and implements SPA’s risk management framework, improves audit readiness, and facilitates sound financial management.
• Leads through managers to implement operational systems and processes to ensure awards terms align with institutional capabilities and restrictive clauses are negotiated so the university can meet its legal and financial obligations; and awards are managed in compliance with sponsor terms, federal regulations, and institutional policies.
• Serves as a member of the SPA leadership team responsible for developing and implementing programs and procedures to enhance research administration processes across campus.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree and seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in research administration and interpreting and applying federal and state laws and regulations, including significant experience in financial management (A Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for a portion of required experience)
• Proven leadership skills related to research administration including four years of experience managing financial administration of sponsored projects
• A minimum of three years supervisory experience including ability to mentor and motivate professional staff in a team environment
• Experience using financial accounting systems or fund accounting systems
• Extensive knowledge of policies, procedures, and requirements of federal and private granting agencies, as well as legal, business and academic requirements governing administration of research
• Significant experience with financial and/or administrative management of sponsored projects
• Experience with interpretation of laws, regulations, and policies as it relates to research administration
• Demonstrated communication skills, to both internal and external audiences

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree and seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in research administration and interpreting and applying federal and state laws and regulations, including significant experience in financial management (A Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for a portion of required experience)
• Proven leadership skills related to research administration including four years of experience managing financial administration of sponsored projects
• A minimum of three years supervisory experience including ability to mentor and motivate professional staff in a team environment
• Experience using financial accounting systems or fund accounting systems
• Extensive knowledge of policies, procedures, and requirements of federal and private granting agencies, as well as legal, business and academic requirements governing administration of research
• Significant experience with financial and/or administrative management of sponsored projects
• Experience with interpretation of laws, regulations, and policies as it relates to research administration
• Demonstrated communication skills, to both internal and external audiences

Skills

• High level of diplomacy, discretion, and problem-solving skills
• Organizes workload priorities, manages multiple projects simultaneously, be flexible in responding to stressful situations, cope with unexpected job demands, and deal with frequent interruptions
• Communicates ideas, thoughts, and meaning both verbally and in writing to clearly articulate positions and communicate clearly and diplomatically with all levels of the University, sponsors and audit agencies
• Interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across organizational units and at all levels, including faculty, deans, central administration and senior institutional officials
• Exercises independent judgment and proven skill in problem solving and decision making in the most difficult and unique areas; demonstrates ability to anticipate consequences of decisions, proactively plan to resolve problems, and identify and implement viable solutions
• Dedication to providing optimum service to internal and external customers

Benefits

An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Pay

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be between $96,468 and $112,146, but may be negotiated above this range dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 40hrs per week, schedule to be determined