Description:

Associate Director, Sponsored Programs & Awards

College of Arts & Sciences

Faculty Development

The ideal candidate for this position will be making independent decisions with a high degree of autonomy, including authority to make critical determinations related to pre-award administration.

Additionally, the position is responsible for the direct supervision of staff, further aligning it with the expectations of an Associate Director-level role.

The essential duties and responsibilities of the Associate Director, Sponsored Programs & Awards are the following:
• Lead and manage the institution's pre-award research administration functions and processes.
• Supervise and mentor pre-award staff, including training, performance management, and professional development.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to improve proposal development and submission processes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, foundation, and industry-sponsored research programs.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and submission of grant and contract proposals and, if awarded, reports to external sponsors.
• Ensure proposals and reports comply with sponsor guidelines, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate proposal and report timelines and submission strategies with faculty, principal investigators (PIs), and departmental administrators.
• Review budgets, budget justifications, scope of work, and other proposal documents for accuracy and compliance.
• Provide guidance on funding opportunities, eligibility requirements, and sponsor regulations.
• Facilitate any other required communication with external sponsors.
• Ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including Uniform Guidance, sponsor-specific requirements, and institutional policies.
• Review and approve proposal submissions for compliance with financial, administrative, and legal standards.
• Collaborate with compliance offices regarding human subjects, animal care, biosafety, conflict of interest, export control, and other regulatory matters.
• Maintain accurate records, reporting metrics, and proposal tracking data to support institutional reporting and strategic planning initiatives.
• Advise faculty and research staff on proposal budgeting, cost principles, allowable expenses, and cost-sharing requirements.
• Review complex budgets for multi-investigator, multi-institutional, and interdisciplinary projects.
• Assist with financial risk assessment and resource allocation during proposal development.
• Monitor proposal metrics and reporting related to submission activity and funding trends.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with faculty, department leadership, finance teams, and external sponsors.
• Provide high-level customer service and problem resolution related to proposal preparation and submission issues.
• Serve as liaison between investigators and sponsoring agencies regarding proposal requirements and submission processes.
• Facilitate communication among internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and successful submissions.
• Develop and deliver training programs, workshops, and guidance materials for faculty and research administrators.
• Educate staff and investigators on sponsor regulations, proposal preparation, and institutional procedures.
• Assist in the preparation, review, and submission of periodic and final reports and any other official communication to external sponsors.
• Identify opportunities to streamline pre-award operations and enhance service delivery.
• Analyze trends in sponsored research activity and recommend strategic improvements.
• Support institutional research growth initiatives and funding strategies.
• Participate in system implementations, upgrades, and process automation efforts.
• Perform other related duties and special projects assigned.

Disclaimer:

This job requisition provides a high-level job definition. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive or exclusive list of job duties.

As such, job duties and/or responsibilities within the context of this job requisition may change at the discretion the employee's direct supervisor.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree and four years of supervisory/management experience, or a combination of education and related experience.

Preferred Hiring Requirements:

• Master's degree preferred in Business Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration, or related field.
• Significant experience in sponsored programs administration or research administration, particularly in pre-award activities.
• Strong knowledge of federal regulations, including Uniform Guidance and agency-specific requirements (NIH, NSF, DoD, etc.).
• Experience managing complex proposal submissions and supervising staff.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency with electronic research administration systems and proposal submission platforms.

The salary offered for this position will be commensurate with the candidate's education, experience, and qualifications.