Title: Director of Award Management
Employee Classification: Director, Sponsored Programs
Campus: University of North Texas Health at Fort Worth
Division: HSC-Div of Rsrch & Innovation
SubDivision-Department: HSC-Div of Rsrch & Innovation
Department: HSC-Office of Sponsored Programs-390030
Job Location: Fort Worth
Salary: Commensurate with Experience
FTE: 1.000000
Retirement Eligibility: TRS Eligible
Department Summary The Office of Sponsored Programs, a department under the Division of Research and Innovation at UNT Health, provides pre-award, post-award, and contract services to support faculty and other investigators while promoting compliance with federal and state agencies, private sponsor agreements, and UNT Health research policies.
Position Overview The Director of Award Management provides operational leadership for the University's post-award research administration function, ensuring compliant and efficient administration of sponsored awards from award acceptance through closeout. This position oversees the daily operations of the Post-Award team while partnering closely with the Assistant Vice President of Sponsored Programs to implement strategic initiatives, improve business processes, and promote operational excellence across the Office of Sponsored Programs.
The Director serves as a subject matter expert in federal, state, institutional, and sponsor regulations governing sponsored programs and provides leadership in financial stewardship, compliance, risk management, and customer service. The position collaborates extensively with principal investigators, departmental administrators, Research Financial Services, Research Compliance, and institutional leadership to support the University's research mission.
Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of related experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and oversee complex post-award operations.
- Strong cross-functional communication and collaboration skills with stakeholders.
- Expertise in regulatory compliance, financial oversight, risk mitigation, and process improvement.
- Skilled in strategic planning, performance management, data analysis, and policy development.
- Proven ability to solve complex problems, implement operational improvements, and support organizational goals.
Preferred Qualifications - Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs or research administration.
- Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
- Experience leading post-award operations for a complex research organization, including oversight of high-dollar, high-risk sponsored award portfolios.
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification preferred.
Required License/Registration/Certifications - None required.
- CRA certification preferred.
Job Duties - Directs and oversees all post-award administration activities, including award setup, financial monitoring, prior approvals, award modifications, reporting coordination, closeout, and sponsor communications.
- Provides leadership, coaching, and performance management for post award staff while fostering a collaborative, customer-focused culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
- Partners with the AVP to develop strategic priorities, operational goals, performance metrics, and service standards for sponsored programs administration.
- Ensures compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional regulations including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), FAR, DFARS, UGMS, and sponsor-specific requirements.
- Champions operational excellence by leading process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, strengthen internal controls, improve customer service, and reduce institutional risk.
- Develops, implements, and maintains policies, procedures, guidance documents, and standard operating procedures supporting post-award administration.
- Oversees institutional post-award compliance activities including award monitoring, financial risk mitigation, audit support, and corrective action implementation.
- Collaborates with Division of Research Teams and other institutional partners to ensure seamless administration throughout the sponsored project lifecycle.
- Utilizes data and reporting to identify trends, monitor workload, evaluate operational performance, and recommend process improvements.
- Serves as a resource for complex sponsored programs issues requiring interpretation of sponsor regulations and institutional policy.
- Assists with planning for departmental staffing, organizational development, succession planning, and future operational needs.
- Represents the Office of Sponsored Programs on institutional committees, cross-functional initiatives, and sponsor engagements related to post-award administration and research administration operations.
Physical Requirements - Communicating with others to exchange information.
Environmental Hazards - No adverse environmental conditions expected.
Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:00a.m - 5:00p.m.
Driving University Vehicle No
Security Sensitive This is a Security Sensitive Position.
Special Instructions Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted.
Benefits For information regarding our Benefits, click here .
