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.
• 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.
• Works in close partnership with the Senior Associate Director of Research Stewardship to ensure seamless integration and alignment across the full sponsored project lifecycle.

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
• 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
• 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