Director, Research Office

Director, Research Office (Contracts & Grants Specialist)

The IUPUI School of Education is committed to examining our collective role in improving the human condition. We develop leaders, educators, and counselors equipped to critique and disrupt longstanding inequities and address the changing dynamics in urban educational contexts. Through community-engaged research, teaching, and service, we seek to positively impact youth and adult learners in educational systems and serve the welfare of communities through engagement in strategic alliances to promote equitable, just, culturally relevant and sustaining practices in teaching and learning.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Works closely with the Dean, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, Fiscal Officer, and Foundations Officer to influence research growth within the School of Education.
• Collaborates with campus offices including, but not limited to, the Office for the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) Office of Research Administration (ORA), Contracts and Grants Administrations, and Indiana University Foundation.
• Assists with identifying dissemination outlets and publicizing research productivity.
• Oversees the administration of pre-and post-award preparation and proposal submission inclusive of budget construction, coordination of administrative content, and routing.
• Identifies and assists faculty and staff in securing research grant funding (internal and external) for projects and programs that are aligned with the School of Education’s mission and assists with dissemination and publicizing research productivity. Advises and assists Principal Investigators (PIs) regarding funding opportunities through internal and external sources. Works individually with current and new faculty and staff to understand research interests to assist in identifying appropriate funding sources.
• Advises and assists faculty and staff with the development and completion of grant and contract proposals; prepares proposal budgets, reviews/edits completed applications, transmittals, proposals, and contracts for accuracy and compliance with university and sponsor requirements.
• Ensures that proposed expenditures and activities on grant applications and contracts are allowable, allocable, and compliant with all applicable university, sponsor and federal guidelines.
• Performs activities related to post-award phase of extramural funding including account management, effort reporting and approval of final financial reports.
• Performs the review and analysis of statement of accounts for errors, over/under spending, salary forecasts, and initiate actions for expenditure adjustments when necessary.
• Prepares monthly account reconciliation to analyze and monitor budgets and expenses. Initiates documents as needed to ensure compliance with granting agency and university regulations.
• Works independently and with the Associate Dean for Research to develop and implement school policies for the processing of proposals and administration of awarded accounts, ensuring that agency, university, school and departmental policies are observed.
• Acts in the absence of the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development. Serves on special projects as needed.
• Assists with placement of graduate students based on needs of School of Education, individual faculty, and project specific qualifications/skills. Supports GA acculturation within School of Education and doctoral program. Assists with efforts to secure funding to support doctoral students including graduate school programs, fellowship programs, etc.
• Oversees or produces monthly analysis reports on proposal activity, create and maintain database of renewal dates for awarded projects. Delegates or prepares clear and concise financial reports for investigators. Produces Annual Report.

General Responsibilities

• Advises faculty on long-term financial viability of department/center given multiple grants and contracts from various sources with differing project end dates.
• Locates and identifies sources of outside funding on own accord.
• Develops budget proposals and monitors the resulting awards received for academic and research projects and programs.
• Interprets regulations and guidelines of multiple programs funding with complex and broad guidelines for spending.
• Evaluates contract compliance and advises others on contractual rights and obligations.
• Requests or approves amendments to contract terms or contract extensions.
• Prepares bids or request for proposals (RFPs), including specifications and requirements; negotiates contract terms and participates in the determination of acceptable bids.
• Ensures compliance with sponsor terms, university policies/procedures and federal/state regulations.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Preferred

• Master's degree in relevant field

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 5 years of relevant experience

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Possesses a high degree of initiative
• Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents

Preferred

• Experience with IU policies, procedures, and systems 
• Knowledge of IU accounting and grant processes