Associate Director, Service Center Rate Analysis & Compliance

Position Overview

The University of Kansas Office of Research advances the university's research mission by supporting faculty and staff across the full sponsored project lifecycle - from funding opportunity identification and proposal development through award management and closeout. Fiscal Affairs is a unit within the Office of Research responsible for the financial and administrative infrastructure that enables compliant, efficient execution of research-related activities. This includes setting, maintaining, and analyzing service center rates as well as compliance and oversight functions that collectively ensure KUCR meet their obligations to support service center activity while ensuring compliance requirements are met. The Associate Director of Rate Analysis and Compliance is a key operational role on the Fiscal Affairs team, working to support a cohesive and well-coordinated research administration environment.

Position Summary:
The Associate Director for Rate Analysis & Compliance provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for KUCR's service center and core lab rate setting and compliance function. This position is responsible for supervising professional staff who calculate, review, and monitor service center and core lab billing rates to ensure compliance with federal regulations, University policy, and cost recovery principles.

The Associate Director serves as KUCR's subject-matter expert on service center rate methodology, breakeven analysis, and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200 §200.468), and partners broadly with academic and administrative units - including Research Center and Core Lab Directors, department leadership, and central finance - to ensure service centers and core labs are financially sustainable, appropriately priced, and audit-ready.

Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California, Delaware, Idaho & Minnesota. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.

Job Description

45% - Service Rate Oversight, Analysis and Calculation

• Direct the development, review, and approval of service center and core lab rate models.
• Ensure rates are based on allowable costs only (e.g., salaries, benefits, overhead, supplies) and operate on a break even basis over time.
• Oversee treatment of prior year surpluses and deficits and ensure appropriate rate adjustments in accordance with 2 CFR §200.468 and University policy.
• Establish and maintain standardized tools, templates, rate-setting guides, and submission checklists to support consistent, efficient rate development across all service centers and core labs.
• Approve or recommend approval of service rate proposals and/or renewals.
• Determine appropriate corrective actions for non compliant or financially unstable service centers.
• Analyze trends in service center performance, fund balances, and rate stability; identify and escalate emerging financial or compliance risks.
• Provide strategic financial guidance on new service center or core lab proposals, rate changes, and operational risks.
• Interpret federal, state, and University policy (including 2 CFR Part 200, CAS, and related OMB guidance) and translate requirements into practical, actionable procedures.
• Maintain current knowledge of changes to federal cost principles, audit guidance (e.g., A-133/Uniform Guidance), and higher education rate-setting practices.

30% - Institutional Collaboration and Consultation

• Build positive relationships and collaborate with service center and core lab managers, department leadership and central finance units.
• Advise service centers and core labs on appropriate costing methodologies, usage metrics, and pricing structures.
• Develop and deliver training and outreach on service center rate-setting, cost accounting standards, and compliance requirements for service center operators and departmental administrators.
• Provide guidance on the appropriate classification of service centers vs. specialized service facilities vs. other cost-recovery mechanisms and advise on structural changes when units evolve.

15% - Compliance Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor service center and core lab portfolios for compliance with billing requirements, fund balance thresholds, and rate approval timelines; escalate issues as appropriate.
• Support audit readiness and respond to internal and external audit inquiries related to service center and core lab rate practices.
• Maintain documentation of rate approvals, rate study methodologies, and corrective actions to support institutional accountability and transparency.
• Contribute to policy development and procedural updates as federal guidance evolves or institutional needs change.

10% - Leadership and Supervision

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management for professional staff responsible for service center rate calculations and ongoing monitoring.
• Set priorities, allocate workload, and ensure consistent application of rate methodologies and compliance standards across the team.
• Develop staff expertise in cost accounting, federal compliance, and service center and core lab operations; create and support professional growth opportunities.
• Model collaborative, cross-functional engagement to reduce silos and advance a shared understanding of service rate compliance across the Office of Research.
• Contribute to policy development and procedural updates as federal guidance evolves or institutional needs change.

Required Qualifications

1. Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field plus 3 years progressive professional experience in financial analysis, accounting, or cost analysis, including service centers, recharge centers, or cost-recovery operations OR Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field plus 5 years progressive professional experience in financial analysis, accounting, or cost analysis, including service centers, recharge centers, or cost-recovery operations.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and federal cost principles as evidenced by application materials.
3. Two (2) years experience as lead worker and supervisory experience in a professional financial environment.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience in a research university or higher education environment, including knowledge of sponsored programs administration and F&A rate structures as evidenced by application materials.
2. Advanced proficiency in Excel or financial modeling tools as required by previous experience; experience building and maintaining rate models or cost-allocation templates.
3. Experience with or knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) as applied in higher education as evidenced by application materials.
4. Experience with ERP or financial systems used in university research administration (e.g., PeopleSoft, Workday, or similar).
5. CPA, CMA, or CFRA (Certified Financial Research Administrator) credential, or demonstrated progress toward certification as evidenced by application materials.

Additional Candidate Instruction

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

1. A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.
2. Resume or curriculum vitae.
3. Contact information for three (3) professional references.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application review begins Monday, November 9, 2026, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified