Associate Director, Sponsored Programs & Awards

Georgia State University•Atlanta, GA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The College of Arts & Sciences at Georgia State University is seeking to hire an experienced Associate Director, Sponsored Programs & Awards. This role involves making independent decisions with a high degree of autonomy, including authority to make critical determinations related to pre-award administration. The position is also responsible for the direct supervision of staff, aligning with the expectations of an Associate Director-level role. The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest college on the Atlanta Campus, home to more than 15,000 students, 550 faculty, and 300 staff members. It is a rapidly growing center within an academic setting, focused on transforming lives through research advances, career-empowering teaching, and community partnerships.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and four years of supervisory/management experience, or a combination of education and related experience.
Significant experience in sponsored programs administration or research administration, particularly in pre-award activities.
Strong knowledge of federal regulations, including Uniform Guidance and agency-specific requirements (NIH, NSF, DoD, etc.).
Experience managing complex proposal submissions and supervising staff.
Excellent organizational, analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
Proficiency with electronic research administration systems and proposal submission platforms.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred in Business Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration, or related field.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the institution’s pre-award research administration functions and processes.
Supervise and mentor pre-award staff, including training, performance management, and professional development.
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to improve proposal development and submission processes.
Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, foundation, and industry-sponsored research programs.
Oversee the preparation, review, and submission of grant and contract proposals and, if awarded, reports to external sponsors.
Ensure proposals and reports comply with sponsor guidelines, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements.
Coordinate proposal and report timelines and submission strategies with faculty, principal investigators (PIs), and departmental administrators.
Review budgets, budget justifications, scope of work, and other proposal documents for accuracy and compliance.
Provide guidance on funding opportunities, eligibility requirements, and sponsor regulations.
Facilitate any other required communication with external sponsors.
Ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including Uniform Guidance, sponsor-specific requirements, and institutional policies.
Review and approve proposal submissions for compliance with financial, administrative, and legal standards.
Collaborate with compliance offices regarding human subjects, animal care, biosafety, conflict of interest, export control, and other regulatory matters.
Maintain accurate records, reporting metrics, and proposal tracking data to support institutional reporting and strategic planning initiatives.
Advise faculty and research staff on proposal budgeting, cost principles, allowable expenses, and cost-sharing requirements.
Review complex budgets for multi-investigator, multi-institutional, and interdisciplinary projects.
Assist with financial risk assessment and resource allocation during proposal development.
Monitor proposal metrics and reporting related to submission activity and funding trends.
Build strong collaborative relationships with faculty, department leadership, finance teams, and external sponsors.
Provide high-level customer service and problem resolution related to proposal preparation and submission issues.
Serve as liaison between investigators and sponsoring agencies regarding proposal requirements and submission processes.
Facilitate communication among internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and successful submissions.
Develop and deliver training programs, workshops, and guidance materials for faculty and research administrators.
Educate staff and investigators on sponsor regulations, proposal preparation, and institutional procedures.
Assist in the preparation, review, and submission of periodic and final reports and any other official communication to external sponsors.
Identify opportunities to streamline pre-award operations and enhance service delivery.
Analyze trends in sponsored research activity and recommend strategic improvements.
Support institutional research growth initiatives and funding strategies.
Participate in system implementations, upgrades, and process automation efforts.
Perform other related duties and special projects assigned.