Director of Research Administration

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

About The Position

The Director of Research Administration provides executive leadership for campus-wide sponsored research activities, supporting sponsored research across the university. This role involves overseeing, managing, and submitting proposals to ensure compliance with academic and research policies. The Director will offer professional advice on proposal development and negotiate terms and conditions with sponsoring agencies. Reporting to the Senior Director of Research Administration, this position manages the daily operations of pre-award and post-award compliance and program requirements, ensuring adherence to federal and state laws, regulations, and university policies. The Director will foster collaboration within the Office of Sponsored Programs and with the campus community and external sponsors. Key responsibilities include setting office-wide goals, defining team roles, assessing workload, and building a positive team culture focused on campus support and compliance. The Director will represent the university to sponsors and administrators, advise on complex risk management issues, and supervise a team of 3-4 Research Administration Managers, who in turn manage teams of 4-6 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.
Advanced 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.
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.
Experience in reviewing and submitting proposals utilizing electronic proposal submission processes and funding mechanisms employed by various extramural sponsors.
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 ensuring compliance with academic and research policies.
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 applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and university policies.
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.