Executive Director, Research Administration (Pre-Award)

About the role

The Office of Research Administration (ORA) at the University of Miami seeks an Executive Director of Research Administration (Pre-Award).

Responsibilities

• Leads the teams responsible for the review, approval and submission of proposals for sponsored awards.
• Acts as liaison to external sources and government agencies to identify and retain funding opportunities.
• Serves as the Authorized Organization Official (AOR) for sponsor systems proposal submissions and other pre-award actions.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with the Office of General Counsel, Office of Tech Transfers, Business Services in addition to local departmental leadership.
• Recruits, trains, mentors, and develops talent and prepares performance reports.
• Recognizes and removes obstacles to organizational effectiveness.
• Evaluates, develops and implements procedures to maximize efficiency, ensure adequate internal controls and improve the faculty experience.
• Makes sure to monitor external regulatory trends and implements changes by training staff appropriately.
• Drafts and updates policies related to research administration.
• Collaborates with staff and other departments to set clear priorities and develop new procedures to further the University’s research goals and objectives.
• Promotes transparency and accountability in the research administration organization in support of principal investigators and the University’s research mission.
• Provides grants management expertise for the University regarding 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations) in relation to pre-award and training operations.
• Coordinates documentation, approval processes, record keeping, data quality assurance, reporting, and liaison activities within the University of Miami (UM) and outside awarding agencies.
• Directs, reviews, and submits proposals, and coordinates the pre-award activities for Federal agencies, industry and private foundations for support of University sponsored programs.
• Makes sure to monitor for compliance with agency and UM requirements for all pre-award activities.
• Ensures ORA Pre-Award unit performance to ensure compliance with established Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Provides training and support to faculty and administration regarding sponsored requirements and best practices.
• Facilitates communication and effective management of University sponsored awards.
• Provides information to sponsors and UM personnel in a prompt, accurate and cordial fashion.
• Affirms the regulatory impact on internal business processes.
• Completes special projects in support of the Office of Research Administration.
• Strives to improve and enhance service delivery.
• Maintains the commitment to continuous evaluation and assessment of organizational effectiveness.
• Supervises Associate Directors and ORA staff to accomplish responsibilities listed above.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field is required, Master’s degree in Law, Business, or Public Administration is highly preferred.
• Certification and Licensing: Certified Research Professional (CRA) and Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA) preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of relevant experience. Prior experience managing staff in a research administration setting. High preference of proven customer service orientation.
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: Thorough knowledge of sponsored program regulations; specific areas of expertise in proposal preparation, contracting accounting, and finance principles. Demonstrated leadership, as a leader and manager, in a research administration setting. Proficient with research and grant administration software as well as Microsoft Office applications. Demonstrated expertise in federal web-based grants management systems and enterprise financial systems. Excellent written and oral communication. Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills. Highly numerate with demonstrated excellence in analytic skills. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Works independently with minimal supervision and respects deadlines. Enjoys working in a fast-paced and challenging environment and with all levels of institute staff. Knowledge of business and management principles. Ability to direct, manage, implement, and evaluate department operations. Ability to establish department goals, and objectives that support the strategic plan. Ability to effectively plan, delegate and/or supervise the work of others. Ability to lead, motivate, develop, and train others.