Director of Research and Sponsored Programs - Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale State College•Farmingdale, NY

50d

About The Position

Farmingdale State College (FSC), a dynamic public university serving more than 10,000 students, invites applications for the position of Director of Research and Sponsored Programs. As the College embarks on a strategic initiative to deepen its commitment to faculty scholarship and high-impact undergraduate research, it seeks an experienced and results-oriented leader to direct its central sponsored programs office. The Director will play a crucial role in developing the vision, infrastructure, and culture necessary to increase external funding substantially. The ideal candidate will be a proactive partner to our faculty, helping them identify promising funding opportunities and develop compelling proposals. The Director will provide hands-on support throughout the grant lifecycle and serve as a key champion for scholarly and creative activities across campus. The Director will oversee all aspects of pre- and post-award administration, manage a small team of grant specialists, and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and service. This role is critical for scaling the University's capacity to secure and manage a larger and more complex portfolio of grants and contracts from federal, state, and industry partners. The successful candidate will be an expert in federal regulations and will work to foster a robust culture of compliance and research integrity. The Director reports to the Senior Vice President and Provost, and works closely with the Chief Financial Officer.

Requirements

Master's degree and a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored research administration in a university setting.
Demonstrated success in assisting faculty with securing external funding.
Broad knowledge of major funding sources, including federal agencies (especially NSF and NEH) and private foundations.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, with a strong customer-service orientation.

Nice To Haves

Terminal degree (PhD, JD, etc.).
Certified Research Administrator (CRA) designation.
Supervisory experience.
Experience implementing or managing electronic research administration (eRA) software (e.g., Cayuse, Kuali).
Experience conducting outreach to funding agencies on behalf of the university to promote faculty research, develop relationships, and identify opportunities.
Experience creating training programs for faculty and staff.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Collaborate with academic leadership to develop and implement a strategic plan for growing the College's portfolio of sponsored research and programs.
Operational Management: Direct the day-to-day operations of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), including supervising professional staff, managing the office budget, and optimizing workflows through the use of electronic research administration systems. Serves as SUNY Research Foundation Operations Manager on campus.
Faculty Development & Support: Proactively identify and disseminate funding opportunities from federal, state, foundation, and corporate sources (e.g., NSF, NIH, private foundations) that align with faculty expertise.
Pre-Award Services: Lead team to provide expert guidance and assistance to faculty and staff in all aspects of proposal development. Provide final institutional review and approval for all external grant and grant-related contract applications.
Post-Award and Financial Management: Provide comprehensive oversight of post-award functions, including award negotiation and acceptance, subcontracting, financial reporting, effort certification, and award closeout. Ensure compliance with federal regulations, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance).
Strategic Collaboration: Partner with the President, Provost, and academic deans to identify and prioritize strategic funding opportunities. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with federal program officers, foundation representatives, and industry partners. Works closely with legal advisors, including SUNY Research Foundation Central Office, on issues and opportunities, including technology transfer, collaborative research agreements, and program audits.
Compliance & Training: Coordinates with SUNY Research Foundation in assuring all mandated procedures and policies are followed. Develop and deliver workshops and training for faculty on grant writing and research ethics, academic misconduct, pre-award budgeting, etc.