Associate Director for Research Development

University of Texas at Austin

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director for Research Development will be vital in establishing a robust LRI research development program and lead the planning, development, submission, and ongoing monitoring of LRI proposals and research. This role will consult with the Director to establish a robust research development program that supports multidisciplinary research on Latino communities and research that is consequential for all communities. The Associate Director will work closely with Latino Research Institute (LRI) affiliates and other UT Austin faculty and graduate students to pursue grants which align with the UT Austin’s mission more broadly. This position will also work with the Director and Associate Director of Research to strategically lead LRI research, programs, and grant management objectives. The Associate Director will assist the Director in establishing a comprehensive grant management tracking platform that monitors all LRI grants and programs, including areas of focus such as AI, transportation, housing, education, labor participation, social engagement, public health, and safety, as well as professional development, and research and social impact of grants. The role will also work with the Director to produce metrics to articulate LRI’s success for annual and ad hoc reporting. The Associate Director will work closely with COLA and OVPR grant management teams on all pre and post grant management processes. This position will provide faculty, students and key collaborators with ongoing grant opportunities that align with the LRI mission. The Associate Director will serve as LRI’s resident grants expert and provide timely and responsive support to researchers on a broad range of funding agency and university policies, procedures, and deadlines. The role will pursue and manage institutional/center grants to support LRI core operations and activities and expand institutional objectives and initiatives. The Associate Director will notify researchers of relevant policy initiatives and changes from the university and sponsors, such as indirect cost agreements, tuition increases, UT fringe rate policy, sponsors’ fiscal policies, cost-share policies, conflict of interest policies, and funding rules and regulations. The position will consult with PIs throughout pre- and post-award phases to integrate key aspects of LRI institutional mission and strategic goals into grants. The Associate Director will develop protocol documents, documenting formal grant application submission policies and procedures for the LRI, and continually refine and update internal policies and procedures. This role will lead the LRI pre-award management/proposal process and development, identify and circulate grant opportunities concerning research of LRI affiliates and other UT Austin researchers. The Associate Director will assist LRI affiliated faculty, researchers, and other academic and staff personnel with proposal development, document and budget preparation, copy editing of proposal documents, and submission of funding applications to federal and private funding agencies. As appropriate, the role will consult with PIs to strengthen their proposals through constructive feedback on scope of work, implementation plan, timelines and other proposal aspects. The Associate Director will advise PIs about existing resources that might complement their projects and strengthen their proposals. At the direction of the PI, the role will serve as primary contact with sub-award entities during the pre-award application process and throughout the post-award period. The position will review sponsor guidelines, university and external policies and procedures to ensure compliance. The Associate Director will lead the LRI post-award management, provide oversight and ensure compliance during grant implementation, including assistance with progress reports; funding extensions; amendments, grant close-outs; facilitation of grant transfers, contracts, purchases, budget and SOW modifications, sub-award invoices, and overall expense management. The role will hold regular meetings with PIs and relevant LRI staff to monitor grant performance, establish best practices, and consider future opportunities. The Associate Director will participate in LRI and COLA staff meetings as relevant to the position and continually upgrade knowledge and skills through active membership in UT’s Association of Research Administrators, classes, workshops, committees, and other training opportunities. The position will serve as primary departmental contact for the College Research Support Office (RSO), the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), COLA and UT Foundation Relations, and the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) to facilitate timely, accurate, and complete proposal submission and post-award information requests. The Associate Director will serve as liaison between researchers and OSP; communicate with OSP reviewers, negotiators, and award administrators. This role will supervise the Academic Program Coordinator, coordinate LRI activities with the Director and initiatives, and facilitate communication between LRI and other college offices. The Associate Director will assist the Director in communicating with faculty and student researchers affiliated with the LRI. The position will work closely with the LRI’s Administrative Associate to ensure availability of timely and accurate faculty effort percentages and financial reports to PIs and stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Five or more years of grants administration experience, with three or more years at a managerial level, including oversight of: development, preparation, processing and oversight of sponsored research proposals and awards; alignment of grant deliverables to advance institutional strategic goals; and leading research development initiatives and grants training for various constituents from a broad range of experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing multi-disciplinary grant collaborations across University departments and CSUs; and with local, state, national and international community partners (subawards, contracts, MOUs).
• Demonstrated cultural competence and successful experience working with various constituents and community partners in multicultural, multi-lingual contexts.
• Experience building positive working relationships with federal agency and foundation program officers to support faculty with interpreting and adhering to sponsor guidelines.
• Ability to work in a environment with sensitive and confidential information.
• Demonstrated self-starter with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficient use of MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Adobe Professional.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accuracy and pay close attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a "high volume" office in which there are multiple deadlines.
• Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree in social science, humanities or related field.
• Demonstrated excellence in a University position that supports researchers.
• More than five years of experience in pre- and post- award research administration.
• Experience managing interdisciplinary campus wide, national and international regranting, fellowship, seed funding and pilot programs for UT Austin students and faculty, and scholars external to the University.
• Experience with design, implementation and evaluation studies and community-level research.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA).
• Familiarity with University policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of UT Austin’s financial and/or research management systems.
• Experience working with high volume grant proposals.
• Experience in using NSF’s Research.gov, NEH’s eGMS Reach, FLUXX, Grants.gov and/or Cayuse, and other electronic research submission systems.
• Advanced organizational skills.
• Multilingual, Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Consult with Director to establish a robust research development program that supports multidisciplinary research on Latino communities and research that is consequential for all communities.
• Work closely with Latino Research Institute (LRI) affiliates and other UT Austin faculty and graduate students to pursue grants which align with the UT Austin’s mission more broadly.
• Work with the Director and Associate Director of Research to strategically lead LRI research, programs, and grant management objectives.
• Assists the Director in establishing a comprehensive grant management tracking platform that monitors all LRI grants and programs, including the areas of focus (e.g., AI, transportation, housing, education, labor participation, social engagement, public health, and safety), professional development, and research and social impact of grants.
• Work with the Director to produce metrics to articulate LRI’s success for annual and ad hoc reporting.
• Work closely with COLA and OVPR grant management teams on all pre and post grant management processes.
• Provide faculty, students and key collaborators with ongoing grant opportunities that align with the LRI mission.
• Serve as LRI’s resident grants expert and provide timely and responsive support to researchers on a broad range of funding agency and university policies, procedures, and deadlines.
• Pursue and manage institutional/center grants to support LRI core operations and activities and expand institutional objectives and initiatives.
• Notify researchers of relevant policy initiatives and changes from the university and sponsors (e.g., indirect cost agreements, tuition increases, UT fringe rate policy, sponsors’ fiscal policies, cost-share policies, conflict of interest policies, funding rules and regulations).
• Consult with PIs throughout pre- and post-award phases to integrate key aspects of LRI institutional mission and strategic goals into grants.
• Develop protocol documents, documenting formal grant application submission policies and procedures for the LRI.
• Continually refine and update internal policies and procedures.
• Lead the LRI pre-award management/proposal process and development.
• Identify and circulate grant opportunities concerning research of LRI affiliates and other UT Austin researchers.
• Assist LRI affiliated faculty, researchers, and other academic and staff personnel with proposal development, document and budget preparation, copy editing of proposal documents, and submission of funding applications to federal and private funding agencies.
• As appropriate, consult with PIs to strengthen their proposals through constructive feedback on scope of work, implementation plan, timelines and other proposal aspects.
• As appropriate, advise PIs about existing resources that might complement their projects and strengthen their proposals.
• At the direction of the PI, serve as primary contact with sub-award entities during the pre-award application process and throughout the post-award period.
• Review sponsor guidelines, university and external policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Lead the LRI post-award management.
• Provide oversight and ensure compliance during grant implementation, including assistance with progress reports; funding extensions; amendments, grant close-outs; facilitation of grant transfers, contracts, purchases, budget and SOW modifications, sub-award invoices, and overall expense management.
• Hold regular meetings with PIs and relevant LRI staff to monitor grant performance, establish best practices, and consider future opportunities.
• Participate in LRI and COLA staff meetings as relevant to position.
• Continually upgrade knowledge and skills through active membership in UT’s Association of Research Administrators, classes, workshops, committees, and other training opportunities.
• Serve as primary departmental contact for the College Research Support Office (RSO), the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), COLA and UT Foundation Relations, and the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) to facilitate timely, accurate, and complete proposal submission and post-award information requests.
• Serve as liaison between researchers and OSP; communicate with OSP reviewers, negotiators, and award administrators.
• Supervise the Academic Program Coordinator.
• Coordinate LRI activities with the Director and initiatives.
• Facilitate communication between LRI and other college offices.
• Assist the Director in communicating with faculty and student researchers affiliated with the LRI.
• Work closely with the LRI’s Administrative Associate to ensure availability of timely and accurate faculty effort percentages and financial reports to PIs and stakeholders.

Benefits

• Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager