Director, Research Finance & Sponsored Programs

Presbyterian Healthcare Services

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

Presbyterian Healthcare Services seeks a collaborative, analytically driven enterprise leader to oversee research finance and sponsored programs. The role combines sponsored funding, financial stewardship, research administration, compliance, and healthcare operations, supporting the growth of research activity, grant funding, regulatory requirements, and external partnerships. The Director serves as the enterprise subject matter expert for sponsored awards, research financial administration, research billing compliance, and federal award oversight. The position works with Finance, Research, Compliance, Legal, operational leaders, and external funding agencies to ensure sponsored programs and research activities are administered effectively, compliantly, and in alignment with organizational priorities. The Director leads research finance and sponsored programs staff, develops organizational capability, and advances process improvement and operational excellence. The position may be remote for applicants residing in the United States, excluding Illinois, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Washington, and Wyoming. Hybrid work is strongly preferred for candidates within 60 miles of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with in-office presence expected Tuesday through Thursday. Presbyterian Healthcare Services is a locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system comprising nine hospitals, a statewide health plan, and a growing multispecialty medical group. It was founded in New Mexico in 1908 and has approximately 11,000 employees.

Requirements

Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in research administration, sponsored programs, grants management, research finance, healthcare finance, compliance, academic medical center operations, or health system research operations.
Experience administering federally funded grants and contracts.
Knowledge of Uniform Guidance and federal grant regulations.
Experience managing research-related financial and compliance activities.
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a health system, academic medical center, or research institute.
Research patient billing compliance experience.
Study budget development and contract negotiation experience.
Experience supporting Institutional Review Boards and research governance activities.
Workday and enterprise financial systems experience.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC).
Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC).
Certified Research Administrator (CRA).
Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA).
Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA).

Responsibilities

Provide enterprise oversight for sponsored awards, grants, contracts, and externally funded activities.
Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and controls supporting compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and organizational requirements.
Ensure proper financial management, reporting, stewardship, accounting, and financial reporting for sponsored programs.
Monitor compliance with award terms, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.
Oversee accounting structures and the integrity of financial systems and reporting for grants, contracts, and research activities.
Support compliance with Uniform Guidance and other funding requirements, partnering with Finance leadership on accurate reporting and stewardship.
Develop processes that strengthen transparency, accountability, and audit readiness.
Partner with senior leadership on organizational research strategy and growth initiatives.
Facilitate operational review and approval processes for new research activities and support coordination with the Institutional Review Board and other governance functions.
Provide enterprise guidance on research billing, study activation, regulatory requirements, financial implications, and research administration best practices.
Oversee enterprise research billing compliance activities and maintain and update Research Billing Compliance Plans.
Review research billing processes and controls, and coordinate with external consultants and internal stakeholders on coverage analysis and billing compliance reviews.
Ensure adherence to Medicare Clinical Trial Policy and applicable payer requirements.
Collaborate with research leaders on study budgets and financial forecasts; review and negotiate research budgets with industry sponsors and funding agencies.
Evaluate the financial viability of proposed research activities and advise leadership on funding opportunities and resource allocation.
Monitor performance against approved budgets and funding commitments.
Identify emerging risks related to research, sponsored awards, grants administration, and billing compliance; collaborate with Compliance, Legal, and Internal Audit on mitigation strategies.
Evaluate regulatory changes and organizational impacts, develop risk-reduction action plans, and ensure readiness for audits, reviews, and regulatory inquiries.
Lead enterprise process improvement for research administration and sponsored programs, standardize workflows, improve efficiency, and use technology and automation where appropriate.
Create scalable processes, promote continuous improvement and accountability, and reduce administrative burden.
Lead, coach, and develop research finance and sponsored programs staff; set performance expectations and accountability measures.
Foster collaboration, professional development, and operational excellence; build organizational capability and support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
Strengthen enterprise compliance, financial stewardship, reporting accuracy, research billing compliance, sponsor budget development, audit readiness, and cross-functional partnerships while supporting scalable growth of research activities.