Director, Office of Sponsored Programs

Summary of Job Duties

The Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) provides operational leadership and oversight for the central sponsored programs administration unit at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, encompassing pre-award, research contracting, and post-award administration (including research accounting).

Key Responsibilities

• Translate institutional strategy into effective operational practices across OSP units.
• Ensure consistent, efficient, and compliant execution of sponsored programs processes.
• Align staffing, workflows, and service delivery with institutional priorities and research growth.
• Maintain strong partnership and coordination with the Director, Campus Research Services, to support enterprise-wide business processes and performance goals.
• Provide direct leadership and support to the Director of Pre-Award, Director of Research Contracting, and Director of Post-Award units.
• Serve as a key resource and escalation point for unit directors and their staff, providing guidance on complex operational, compliance, and policy matters.
• Establish clear expectations, performance goals, and accountability for each unit leader.
• Maintain strong partnership and coordination with Campus Research Services (CRS), other ORA units, and college/department units to deliver a coordinated, seamless, "faculty-first" experience across the research lifecycle.
• Identify and mitigate compliance risks across the sponsored programs lifecycle.
• Partner closely with Campus Research Services (CRS), other ORA units, and college/department units to deliver a coordinated, seamless, "faculty-first" experience across the research lifecycle.
• Support development of tools, guidance, and training that improve faculty engagement and administrative efficiency.
• Maintain clear, well-documented policies and procedures across all OSP functions.
• Identify and mitigate operational and compliance risks through strong internal controls and process discipline.
• Develop and maintain a strong partnership with CRS leadership and campus units to optimize business process workflows, system use, and service delivery.
• Promote standardization, automation, and data-informed decision-making across OSP units.
• Ensure alignment between research administration systems and institutional financial systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in research administration across pre-award, contracting, and post-award functions at an R1 University
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multiple functional units and leaders
• Strong working knowledge of federal regulations and sponsor requirements
• Experience with research financial management and accounting principles

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in accounting, business, or public administration
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or equivalent certification
• Familiarity with electronic research administration and financial systems (e.g., Cayuse, Workday, InfoEd, or similar)