Associate VP for Research Administration

As a direct report of the Vice President of Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education (VPREDGE) at Montana State University, the Associate VP for Research Administration (AVPRA) leads and manages Research Administration at MSU. As such, the AVP oversees all University policies and procedures relating to research, grant and contract administration; research and regulatory compliance; internal research award programs; and economic development. The AVPRA provides leadership in increasing total research funding, expanding the University’s reputation, serves as University liaison to external public and private sponsored programs funding agencies, and seeks and manages externally funded University-wide projects as appropriate. Sponsored Programs activity is in excess of $150 million annually. The AVPRA also represents MSU at state and national level by serving as a spokesperson and advocate for the research mission.

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Assists the VPREDGE in the development, enhancement and implementation of research services to meet the ever-changing needs of a growing and vibrant research university.
• Serves on VPREDGE Executive Leadership Team.
• Interface in a leadership capacity on behalf of REDGE with central administration, colleges and units to ensure research compliance, including the Graduate School, Procurement Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Budget Office, Provost Office, Asset Management, University Business Services, Payroll, Legal, Audit Services and Safety and Risk Management
• Oversees the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) functions including policy and procedure development relating to research, award negotiations and management (both financial and non-financial), reporting, cash management, compliance, subcontracting, and award closeout.
• Coordination of pre-award activities in conjunction with Office of Research Development.
• Directs the OSP Information Technology infrastructure and the electronic research administration portals that interact with MSU to handle proposals, awards, research compliance to ensure accurate and timely delivery of services as required by federal, state and private sponsors.
• Serves as the Authorized Organization Representative for extramural funding documents for OSP and other central offices.
• Develops and delivers research administration training and interpretation of regulations to faculty, departmental staff, OSP staff and other central offices.
• Coordinates, prepares and submits annual National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey
• Represents MSU at state and national level by participating in national professional organizations, such as Council on Government Relations, National Council of University Research Administrators, Federal Demonstration Partnership and the State of Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and Governor’s Office.