Job Description:Description of Department: The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) advances SUNY Oswego's research, scholarship, creative activity, and externally sponsored initiatives by supporting faculty, staff, and administrators throughout the sponsored project life cycle. ORSP provides proposal development and submission support, budget development, award administration, compliance guidance, fiscal monitoring, internal grant administration, and liaison services with the Research Foundation for SUNY (RF), sponsor agencies, and campus administrative offices.
Reporting to the Associate Provost for Research Development and Administration and RF Operations Manager, the Assistant Director will provide experienced, service-oriented leadership for the day-to-day administration of sponsored programs and Research Foundation activities at SUNY Oswego. The position will support both pre-award and post-award functions, supervise and coordinate assigned ORSP operations, assist faculty and staff with proposal and budget development, monitor sponsored project accounts, promote compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements, and help strengthen campus capacity for externally funded research, scholarship, creative activity, and institutional initiatives.
The successful candidate will be a collaborative problem-solver who can translate complex sponsor, RF, SUNY, and campus policies into clear guidance for Principal Investigators and departments. The Assistant Director will help maintain efficient office procedures, improve transparency and communication of ORSP practices, support audit readiness, and contribute to strategies that increase grant activity and effective award management across campus.
Posting Date: July 22, 2026
Review Date: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Compensation: $85,000 commensurate with experience plus full New York State benefits package. For more information, visit: https://www.suny.edu/hr/compensation/salary/
Benefit Information: The State University of New York provides an excellent benefit package. This is a United University Professions (UUP) position. Visit: https://www.suny.edu/benefits/benefit-summaries/ for more information on benefits for full-time United University Professions (UUP) professional staff.
Date of Appointment: As soon as possible
Description of Responsibilities: - Provide day-to-day coordination for assigned ORSP pre-award and post-award activities to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant support for grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other externally sponsored projects.
- Assist faculty, staff, and administrators with identifying funding opportunities, developing proposal budgets and budget justifications, preparing proposal materials, reviewing sponsor requirements, and submitting approved applications through sponsor and institutional systems.
- Review proposals, budgets, award documents, expenditures, and related transactions for compliance with federal, state, sponsor, Research Foundation, SUNY, and campus policies and procedures.
- Advise Principal Investigators and departments on award administration, allowable costs, sponsor prior approval requirements, cost sharing, effort and personnel matters, procurement and reimbursement processes, financial projections, reporting deadlines, and closeout requirements.
- Monitor and maintain assigned Research Foundation-funded accounts, including analysis of expenditures, accounts receivable, financial activity, award balances, projections, and closeout status to support fiscal accountability and minimize campus liability.
- Prepare and review financial reports, internal management reports, projections, and other analyses needed by ORSP leadership, campus administration, and the Research Foundation.
- Serve as a campus liaison to Research Foundation Central Office staff and other campus offices on matters related to sponsored program administration, contract and grant processing, financial management, compliance, human resources, and business systems.
- Support audit preparation and responses, maintain auditable documentation, and assist in implementing corrective actions or process improvements related to sponsored program operations.
- Assist with supervision, workflow coordination, onboarding, cross-training, and professional development of assigned ORSP staff; help foster a collaborative, responsive, and team-oriented office culture.
- Help develop, document, and maintain office policies, standard operating procedures, training materials, templates, and campus communications that improve service to Principal Investigators and departments.
- Participate in the development and delivery of workshops, consultations, and outreach efforts related to proposal development, budget development, award management, compliance, and responsible stewardship of sponsored funds.
- Use RF, SUNY, sponsor, and campus systems effectively to track proposal and award activity, analyze data, support reporting, and improve the efficiency of ORSP operations.
- Contribute to short- and long-term planning efforts that strengthen SUNY Oswego's sponsored program activity and research development infrastructure.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
SUNY Oswego works continuously to create an inclusive environment which respects, embraces, and promotes cultural safety, belonging, civil discourse, cultural humility, and other values and goals outlined in SUNY Oswego's Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Plan. As such, the incumbent is expected to contribute to these efforts and possess communication and interpersonal skills necessary to engage effectively with an increasingly diverse community of students and colleagues.
Requirements:Required Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree by time of appointment.
- Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs administration, grants and contracts administration, research administration, fund accounting, higher education administration, nonprofit financial administration, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated experience with proposal budgets, financial management, account monitoring, fiscal projections, reporting, or compliance review.
- Working knowledge of federal, state, sponsor, and/or institutional regulations and policies governing grants and contracts, including familiarity with the Federal Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200, or demonstrated ability to interpret and apply comparable regulatory frameworks.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret complex policies and communicate requirements clearly to faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners.
- Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with careful attention to detail and accuracy.
- Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, editing, and customer-service skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, follow through on complex transactions, and work effectively both independently and as part of a professional team.
- Demonstrated proficiency with spreadsheets, financial systems, databases, and/or electronic proposal or award management systems.
- Commitment to providing inclusive, respectful, and responsive service to an increasingly diverse campus community.
Preferred Qualifications:- Master's degree in business administration, public administration, higher education administration, accounting, finance, research administration, science, social science, humanities, or a related field.
- Five or more years of research administration or sponsored programs experience in a college or university setting.
- Experience with both pre-award and post-award administration.
- Experience with Research Foundation for SUNY policies, procedures, systems, or sponsored program operations.
- Experience with federal proposal and award systems such as Research.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SAM.gov, or sponsor-specific electronic portals.
- Experience with RF/SUNY business systems, Oracle, business intelligence/reporting tools, or similar enterprise financial systems.
- Experience developing and delivering training, workshops, guidance documents, standard operating procedures, or campus communications related to sponsored programs.
- Supervisory, workflow coordination, mentoring, or staff development experience.
- Experience supporting audits, internal controls, policy implementation, or process improvement initiatives.
- Professional certification or coursework in research administration, such as CRA, CPRA, CFRA, or NCURA/SRAI professional development, or willingness to pursue professional development in the field.
As a candidate seeking consideration you are asked to submit a separate statement specifically addressing how your commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has been evidenced in your career experience and professional activity, and/or community service (volunteer work, etc.), and/or professional development. (Please see Application Instructions)
Additional Information:Search Chair:
Jennifer Hill, Jennifer.Hill@oswego.edu
Visa sponsorship not available for this position.
Application Instructions:To Apply Submit:- Cover letter addressing qualifications and interest in the position
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Contact information for three professional references
- A separate statement addressing commitment to inclusive excellence, equity, access, and/or service to a diverse campus community
electronically by clicking on the APPLY NOW button.
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