Director, Research and Sponsored Programs

Job Title
Director, Research and Sponsored Programs

Agency
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Department
Research and Innovation

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Corpus Christi, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

Description:

The Director of the Office of Sponsored Research Administration (OSRA) position within the Division of Research and Innovation at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi serves as the main contact for the research administration. The Director position manages a team of approximately 7 direct and indirect reports. Oversees proposal development and is responsible for the general management and oversight of all the University's proposal submissions for sponsored programs. Oversight includes both pre-award and post-award activities. This includes the oversight of proposal submission, management of awards, and training and development of the research administration team. The Director interacts and collaborates with campus leadership, faculty, staff, department business managers, and the Division of Research and Innovation, among others, to assess and improve research administration (RA) resources and to ensure compliance and adequate RA coverage and effectiveness. Additionally, the Director serves as a resource for faculty and staff in regard to research administration. Utilizing extensive research administration knowledge, the director works with faculty and research teams to help develop sponsored proposals and manages the post-award needs of the portfolio, and assists faculty and staff in navigating new research administration tools and systems.

Responsibilities:

Training & Mentorship:

• Designs and develops reference materials for research administration team and customers.
  
• Develops and coordinates standardized research administrators' orientation programs, including one-on- one onboarding and mentoring with new research administration staff.
  
• Manages the development path and/or career ladder for advancement of team based on appropriate competency demonstration.
  
• Acts as liaison between administrators and senior leadership regarding professional development issues; provides regular updates to and collects feedback.
  

Pre-Award - Proposal Development and Submission:

• Coordinates as appropriate with Sponsored Research Services and The Texas A&M University System.
  
• Facilitates and oversees the application process via proposal review, approval, and submission; tracks deadlines to ensure timely submission of proposals.
  
• Furnishes advice, guidance and oversight to pre-award team and departmental grant coordinators and managers.
  
• Actively monitors resource assignments and makes adjustments as necessary.
  
• Develops and implements strategies for communicating and monitoring compliance with the University, and extramural research administration policies and procedures for proposal development and submission.
  
• Provides regular proposal metrics to leadership and maintains proposal information and prepares scheduled and special reports, and analyses as necessary.
  
• Reviews, approves and signs grant applications on behalf of the University.
  

Post-Award - Award management:

• Actively manages the award lifecycle and makes adjustments as necessary to accommodate workloads for post-award team.
  
• Actively monitors resource assignments and makes adjustments as necessary.
  
• Provides regular award metrics to leadership and maintains account information and prepares scheduled and special reports, and analyses as necessary.
  
• Ensures understanding of the current fiscal performance of studies and identify areas of concern that need resolution; advises faculty and principal investigator on budget adjustments and revisions necessary to meet the sponsor requirements.
  
• Oversees the management of budget, reporting and compliance timelines through the lifecycle of the grant or contract; communicates as appropriate to research and department personnel.
  
• Ensures post-award staff effectively and efficiently manages awards throughout the award lifecycle from project set up to close out.
  
• Establishes sub-recipient financial and reporting requirements; coordinates issuance of sub-agreements.
  

Leadership in Research Administration:

• Remains current on developments in policies and processes relating to research administration; provides proactive outreach and communication to faculty and administrators on new policies and procedures and updated sponsor guidelines;
  
• Acts as a resource for any compliance questions and issues using existing knowledge, experience and available resources (e.g., sponsor regulations, University policies) for supporting and/or providing guidance within the campus research community;
  
• Reviews and defends classification of expenditures and awards based for the indicators for Reporting Restricted Research Expenditures.
  
• Serves as the point of contact and leader for the office for audits.
  
• Maintains financial records per the institutional document retention guidelines.
  
• Provides oversight of negotiation and review of subawards, contracts, agreements, including relevant research agreements and memoranda of understanding, ensuring appropriate review of licensing and intellectual property rights;
  
• Develops a strategic vision and a continuous improvement plan for the Office of Sponsored Research Administration.
  
• Communicates effectively and collaboratively with Division and University leadership, OSRA staff, and external and internal stakeholders
  
• Manages special projects and initiatives as identified by senior research administration leaders.
  

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business or related field.
  
• Ten (10) years of related experience in research administration and grants management. Experience with risk monitoring, policy implementation and/or managing a team of research administrators.
  
• Strong background in research administration and accounting.
  
• Experience in managing compliance with federal government grants and contracts and ability to interpret and apply university and sponsor policies and procedures.
  
• Proficiency with proposal review and electronic proposal submissions.
  
• Ability to analyze complex situations, identify workable solutions, and make appropriate determinations based on regulations and the relevant policies.
  
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
  
• Commitment to maintaining a productive and supportive research environment while providing mentoring and assistance to staff.
  
• Ability to deliver presentations to the research administration community as well as the faculty community on relevant research administration topics.
  
• Experience in institutional processes and policy and procedure development.
  
• Thorough knowledge of information systems supporting research administration.
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven setting.
  
• Good leadership, judgement, and decision-making skills.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certificate of Research Administration (CRA)
  
• Doctorate in related field
  

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.


To apply, visit https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMUCC_External/job/Corpus-Christi-TAMUCC/Director--Research-and-Sponsored-Programs_R-035915

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