Director of Research Administration

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

23h

About The Position

The primary purpose of the Director of Research Administration position is to provide executive leadership of sponsored research activities campus-wide supporting sponsored research across the university. This includes the oversight, management, and submission of proposals to ensure compliance with the institution’s academic and research policy, providing substantive professional advice on the development of proposals, and extensive negotiation with sponsoring agencies with regard to the terms and conditions that govern the conduct of sponsored research. Reporting to the Senior Director of Research Administration, this position will oversee the daily operations related to pre-award and post-award compliance and program requirements. The position will ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and university policies regarding sponsored research award management. The position will foster a culture of collaboration both within the Office of Sponsored Programs as well as with the campus community and external sponsors. The Director of Research Administration must work collaboratively with other members of the leadership team to set office-wide goals and objectives, define team member roles and responsibilities across the award life cycle, and assess and track workload volume and complexity. They will be integral to building a positive team culture and keeping the team engaged with a focus on both strong campus support and compliance. The Director will represent the university to sponsors and to university administrators. They will provide advice and leadership on complex risk management issues. The Director will provide supervision, mentoring, and leadership to a team of 3 to 4 Research Administration Managers who each manage a team of 4 to 6 Sponsored Projects Specialists.

Requirements

Ability to provide effective leadership to a team of professional staff in a multi-functional, dynamic, fast-paced and ever-changing environment, including: training; evaluating and managing the performance of employees; establishing individual and team goals; providing constructive and timely feedback regarding job performance; and developing and monitoring professional development plans.
Ability to handle significant stress and a large workload.
Advanced ability to identify highly complex problems and implement appropriate solutions.
Advanced ability to rapidly review and accurately analyze policies, procedures, regulations, statutes, and complex documents and ability to interpret and explain policies, procedures, regulations, statutes and their underlying principles to a variety of audiences, including faculty, department chairs and deans, managers, staff, and external sponsors.
Advanced knowledge of research administration policies, procedures, and practices of federal and non-federal sponsors pre-award and/or post-award environment. Candidates with experience in only one of these areas must be committee to developing expertise in both pre- and post- award in a timely basis once in the position.
Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted contracting and subcontracting principles and practices, and applicable Codes of Federal Regulations (including 2 CFR Part 200).
Experience in the use, development and implementation of management information systems.
Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across organizational units and at all levels, including faculty, deans, central administration and senior institutional officials.
Highest level of professional and personal integrity.
Strong communication and customer service skills.
Demonstrated strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills.
Demonstrated ability to perform work with a high degree of accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).

Nice To Haves

Sponsored projects contracting experience.
Experience in a university sponsored research office or equivalent setting.
Experience with RAMSeS, electronic grants administration systems such as Grants.gov, Research.gov, eRA commons, Fastlane and similar Research Administration systems.
Strongly prefer experience in reviewing and submitting proposals utilizing electronic proposal submission processes and funding mechanisms employed by various extramural sponsors.
Strongly prefer experience directing and managing the proposal review and submission process; negotiation and acceptance of award terms; and management of related post-award (non-financial) sponsored research activities.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership of sponsored research activities campus-wide.
Oversee, manage, and submit proposals to ensure compliance with academic and research policy.
Provide substantive professional advice on proposal development.
Negotiate with sponsoring agencies regarding terms and conditions for sponsored research.
Oversee daily operations related to pre-award and post-award compliance and program requirements.
Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and university policies regarding sponsored research award management.
Foster a culture of collaboration within the Office of Sponsored Programs and with the campus community and external sponsors.
Collaborate with the leadership team to set office-wide goals and objectives.
Define team member roles and responsibilities across the award life cycle.
Assess and track workload volume and complexity.
Build a positive team culture and keep the team engaged.
Represent the university to sponsors and university administrators.
Provide advice and leadership on complex risk management issues.
Provide supervision, mentoring, and leadership to a team of Research Administration Managers.