Executive Director Research Administration-Office of Research Admin

University of Tennessee • Memphis, TN

3d

About The Position

The Executive Director of Research Administration leads institutional research administration from funding opportunity through award acceptance and serves as the University’s Authorized Organizational Representative. The role holds institutional signature authority for proposal submission and award acceptance and maintains the written delegation governing how others may exercise that authority. The Executive Director shares end-to-end service accountability with the Executive Director, Sponsored Award Financial Services, under the joint oversight of the Vice Chancellor for Research and the Executive Vice Chancellor.

The position sets office priorities, service standards, and performance expectations across proposal review, agreements, research security, systems, and data. It oversees institutional policies and procedures for proposal submission, award acceptance, and agreement execution; develops staffing and workforce capacity; and advises institutional leadership on regulatory changes and the administrative implications of research strategy. Other related duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration Science, Health Administration, or a related field; transcript required.
• Four years of progressively responsible sponsored research administration experience, with previous job-related supervisory experience; alternatively, a master’s degree and two years of progressively responsible sponsored research administration experience.
• Knowledge of federal regulations governing extramural funding, including the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and standard federal research terms and conditions.
• Expert knowledge of proposal submission, award acceptance, and research agreement practice at a research-intensive institution.
• Knowledge of research security, export control, and foreign influence requirements affecting federally funded research.
• Knowledge of electronic research administration systems and the data required to manage a research portfolio.
• Skill in leading professional staff and building capability across a decentralized campus community.
• Ability to exercise institutional authority under time pressure and document the basis for institutional decisions.
• Ability to build and sustain a shared operating model with a peer office under a separate reporting line.
• May occasionally be required to work weekends and evenings.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the Authorized Organizational Representative and maintains the written delegation instrument governing proposal submission and award acceptance authority.
• Establishes office priorities, service standards, and performance expectations across proposal review, agreements, research security, systems, and data.
• Owns end-to-end service standards in partnership with Sponsored Award Financial Services, including proposal turnaround, agreement cycle time, award acceptance to setup, and closeout.
• Establishes and maintains the award abstract and handoff protocol to ensure consistent interpretation and communication of award terms.
• Maintains an organizational capacity model that aligns proposal and agreement volume, portfolio complexity, and staffing needs.
• Leads workforce development, including career ladders, position level determinations, professional development plans, and promotion recommendations.
• Resolves cross-office matters through established escalation and accountability processes.
• Develops, implements, and maintains institutional policies and procedures governing proposal submission, award acceptance, and agreement execution.
• Develops recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain highly qualified research administration professionals.
• Recommends adding positions when a driver remains above threshold, and consolidating portfolios and holding vacancies when a driver remains below threshold, with notice to the Vice Chancellor.
• Advises institutional leadership on regulatory changes and the administrative implications of research strategy.
• Maintains institutional currency on federal, state, sponsor, and accreditation requirements affecting extramural funding.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive