Special Assistant to the President for Title III & Sponsored Programs

About the Role

Reporting to the President of the University, the Special Assistant (partially grant-funded) is the executive leader presiding over the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). This position is responsible for the overall direction and effective management of the University's Title III Program and other externally funded projects, contracts, and strategic initiatives. The Special Assistant serves as the Transformation Lead, carrying the mandate of the President to make decisions and acting as the single point of accountability for transformational efforts monitored by the OSP.

This role assists campus stakeholders with defining the scope, goals, deliverables, and expected outcomes of initiatives and projects, using tools to manage project timelines, budgets, and resource allocations. The Special Assistant ensures forward progress, maintains stakeholders' accountability, and manages communications of sponsored transformation efforts, both internally and externally.

Responsibilities

• Monitor all programs, projects, initiatives, and contracts under management by the OSP.
• Administer all Title III programs daily, including compliance, CDP development, Phase II preparation, report creation and submission, and monitor all U.S. ED federal systems.
• Provide leadership to campus stakeholders and teams working to secure externally funded grants and contracts aligned with the university’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
• Work across units and at multiple levels to navigate, track, assess, and complete goals and initiatives driving university transformation.
• Drive success by collaborating with functional leads, PIs, Project Directors, and initiative owners to identify, mitigate, and break through barriers, remove obstacles, and escalate issues to leadership as needed.
• Ensure all agreed-upon initiatives, programs, grants, and contracts are completed on time, on budget, and with realized impact.
• Communicate progress weekly to internal stakeholders and provide ad hoc communications to external stakeholders.
• Serve as the Lead Administrator and Trainer for the WAVE project management software tool, ensuring its use for planning, tracking, reporting, and implementing initiatives from ideation to impact.
• Lead and train campus leaders on developing effective business cases, funding proposals, or project plans, including Executive Summaries, Financial Impact, Implementation Plans, and Key Performance Indicators.
• Act as a liaison for internal and external partners relative to sponsored programs at the university.
• Supervise all positions in the Office of Sponsored Programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten or more years of related experience in project management or large multi-stakeholder work environments implementing significant transformations.
• Ten or more years of experience in higher education, demonstrating strategic thinking and the ability to align efforts with university strategic goals.

Skills

• Philosophy consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of the organization.
• Vision, commitment, and experience in achieving goals and pursuing excellence.
• Strong oral and written presentation skills.
• Ability to work well independently and as a member of a team.
• Excellence in organization, decision-making, problem-solving, and creating a collaborative environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Fluency in English (reading, writing, and speaking).

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit or stand for up to 8 hours per day.
• Occasional lifting (up to 25 pounds), bending, and carrying.
• Regular requirement to talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to handle or feel.