Director of Sponsored Programs Administration and Title III Programs

Stillman College•Tuscaloosa, AL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Stillman College seeks an experienced, mission-driven Director of Sponsored Programs Administration and Title III Programs to provide leadership and administrative oversight for Research and Sponsored Programs, Title III grant programs, and externally funded workforce development and continuing education initiatives. The Director ensures external resources advance the College’s mission, strategic priorities, and student success outcomes. The Director reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and works under the President’s supervision on Title III matters. The role has primary responsibility for the administrative functions of Research and Sponsored Programs, including managing staff and the full lifecycle of grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other sponsored agreements—from identifying funding opportunities and developing and submitting proposals through implementation, reporting, compliance, and closeout. The Director provides faculty and staff with information, training, and support to seek and administer external awards and maintains reporting systems for evaluations, progress and performance reports, budget revisions, and other sponsor deliverables. The Director manages the College’s Title III programs, including staff, budgets, resources, and support for activity coordinators across institutional units. The Director ensures Title III activities are integrated with the College’s goals, objectives, and ASCEND 2030 Strategic Plan. In collaboration with institutional leaders, faculty, staff, governmental agencies, foundations, corporations, workforce organizations, and community partners, the Director develops competitive funding proposals, ensures compliance with sponsor requirements, and supports responsible use of institutional resources. The role also pursues and supports externally funded workforce training, professional development, certification, and continuing education programs responsive to regional workforce needs and economic development in West Alabama. The Director develops partnerships, analyzes labor-market needs, supports credential and degree pathways, and establishes measures to assess program effectiveness and outcomes. The position includes travel in the Tuscaloosa area, Alabama, and nationally, as well as possible evening and weekend work for sponsor deadlines, institutional events, and other functions.

Requirements

Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Five to eight years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs administration, grants management, or a closely related field, including supervisory and management experience.
Working knowledge of federal grant regulations, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), cost principles, effort reporting requirements, and single audit expectations.
Experience with pre-award and post-award administration, including proposal development, project narratives, budget preparation, subrecipient monitoring, and award closeout.
Demonstrated success preparing, securing, and managing competitive grants and contracts from federal, state, corporate, and private funding sources.
Experience with Title III Parts B and F.
Experience with budget administration, personnel policies and processes, and procurement procedures.
Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and timely technical and financial reports for external funding agencies.
Ability to analyze complex information, interpret regulations, solve problems, and develop practical solutions.
Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills, including experience overseeing and tracking workflow across multiple institutional units.
Proven ability to coordinate activities among senior leadership, faculty, staff, principal investigators, external partners, and funding agencies.
Experience working effectively with senior administrators, faculty, staff, program officers, auditors, and external partners.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Proficiency with electronic grants management and submission systems, such as G5, Grants.gov, and Research.gov, and Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Broad understanding of higher education operations and sponsored programs administration.

Nice To Haves

Academic or professional doctorate, such as a Ph.D. or Ed.D., from a regionally accredited institution.
Graduate degree in Research Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
Seven to ten or more years of relevant work experience in higher education sponsored programs administration, including direct management of Title III programs.
Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential or comparable professional certification.
Experience developing or securing funding for workforce development, continuing education, certification, and professional development programs.

Responsibilities

Work with the Office of Institutional Advancement and institutional decision makers to implement a strategic framework that increases grant applications and awards.
Lead the grants and contracts development process, including identifying funding opportunities, setting timelines, coordinating proposal activities, and ensuring timely submissions.
Research and disseminate funding opportunities from federal, state, corporate, foundation, and other external sources.
Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to develop proposals aligned with institutional priorities, academic excellence, student success, research, workforce development, and community engagement.
Prepare, draft, review, edit, and submit grant applications, contracts, letters of inquiry, budgets, reports, and related documents.
Develop grant budgets with faculty, principal investigators, project directors, and the Office of Business and Finance.
Assist principal investigators and project directors in negotiating grant terms, conditions, budgets, and scopes of work.
Implement compliance processes for sponsor requirements, including effort reporting, progress reporting, procurement, and allowable costs.
Oversee post-award administration, including contract review, subrecipient and subcontract monitoring, compliance tracking, and project performance monitoring.
Coordinate and submit quarterly, annual, interim, and final reports to funding agencies and stakeholders, and assist with timely final technical reports.
Manage institutional registrations and electronic systems for proposal submission, award management, and compliance reporting.
Establish and maintain tracking systems for proposals, awards, expenditures, outcomes, and institutional funding performance.
Maintain records of progress reports, letters of commitment, and official statements of services from consultants and agencies contracted for funded projects.
Assist with disposition and accounting for equipment and other property acquired through Title III and other sponsored project funds.
Plan and deliver workshops, conferences, training, and technical assistance to strengthen faculty and staff participation in sponsored programs.
Work with the Provost, President, and institutional decision makers to ensure Title III activities align with College goals, objectives, and the strategic plan.
Prepare and submit five-year grant proposals and budgets to the United States Department of Education.
Oversee preparation and submission of the plan of operation, annual revised budgets, and other technical reports required by the funding agency.
Submit required budget revisions, Phase I documents, and Annual Performance Reports to the United States Department of Education.
Assist Title III activity coordinators with budget transfers, revisions, and financial matters in coordination with the Office of Business and Finance.
Ensure development of an evaluation system measuring institutional development and the impact of externally funded activities.
Remain knowledgeable about Title III and other federal policies, grant terms, and conditions to ensure compliance throughout each agreement.
Pursue workforce-related grants, contracts, and partnerships that create educational, training, internship, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities.
Support planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of externally funded workforce development and continuing education programs.
Support non-credit, certificate, certification, professional development, and lifelong-learning opportunities that expand educational access and career advancement.
Build and maintain partnerships with employers, workforce boards, governmental agencies, community organizations, and economic development entities.
Conduct workforce and labor-market analyses to identify employment trends and inform program development and funding strategies.
Collaborate with academic departments to establish pathways among workforce credentials, continuing education offerings, and degree programs.
Establish performance indicators and reporting systems for program effectiveness, participant outcomes, enrollment growth, employment outcomes, and financial sustainability.
Ensure workforce and continuing education programs comply with accreditation standards, grant requirements, state regulations, and College policies.
Maintain communication with the Provost, President, and other institutional decision makers to align program operations with the College’s mission, goals, and strategic plan.
Support the ASCEND 2030 Strategic Plan by securing external resources and developing educational opportunities that advance institutional priorities.
Provide senior leadership with data, analyses, and reports on sponsored programs, Title III activities, workforce initiatives, and funding outcomes.
Assist with recruitment of key personnel supported by sponsored programs and Title III funding.
Coordinate program activities to maximize use of staff and other resources, ensure cost effectiveness, and steward sponsored funds appropriately.
Remain cognizant of management systems instituted by Stillman College.
Represent the College in workforce development initiatives, professional associations, community partnerships, and economic development activities.
Promote collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement, and foster an atmosphere conducive to excellence in advancing and evaluating the College’s mission and goals.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.