Executive Director, Office of Grants and Sponsored Research Development (GSRD)

Winthrop University • Rock Hill, SC

6d

About The Position

The Executive Director, Office of Grants and Sponsored Research Development (GSRD) provides leadership and managerial oversight for the Grants Office staff and operations, ensuring a high level of service to the campus community. This role involves developing proposal budgets, writing budget justifications, and reviewing grant applications for compliance with university policies, state laws, federal regulations, and sponsor guidelines. The Executive Director oversees the entire grant application process, including electronic approvals, records maintenance, and proposal tracking. They act as an Authorized Organizational Representative, submitting and administering federal grant applications and signing official grant documents. This position also serves as a liaison to funding agencies, resolves issues during research development and pre-award processes, and reviews/processes grant and contract awards, modifications, and extension requests. Additionally, they prepare and administer subawards, serve on the Research Council, and make funding recommendations. In research development, the Executive Director identifies funding opportunities, cultivates sponsor relationships, disseminates information to the campus community, and provides technical assistance and training to faculty and staff. Administratively, they supervise the Compliance Coordinator, complete annual reports, update website content, develop operational procedures, and compile proposal data for reporting to university leadership.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in business, public administration, research discipline, social science or other appropriate field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in research administration at an institution of higher education with in-depth knowledge of grant administration (pre- and post-award) practices, processes and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in research administration at an institution of higher education with in-depth knowledge of grant administration practices (pre- and post-award), processes and procedures.
• Experience with Grants.gov, NSF FastLane/Research.gov, eRA Commons and other online grant submission portals.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion within higher education.

Responsibilities

• Develops proposal budgets and writes budget justifications.
• Reviews all grant applications to ensure compliance with university policies and procedures, State of South Carolina laws, federal regulations and sponsor guidelines.
• Ensures applications are formatted, packaged and submitted according to sponsor requirements.
• Oversees grant application processing, electronic approvals, records maintenance and proposal tracking in university systems.
• Serves as an Authorized Organizational Representative to submit and administer all federal grant applications and signs official grant documents on behalf of the university.
• Serves as liaison to funding agencies to resolve questions or challenges that arise during research development and pre-award processes.
• Reviews and processes grant and contract awards, ensuring accuracy and compliance while coordinating award setup and tracking within university financial systems.
• Reviews and coordinates all award modifications and grant extension requests, working with sponsors to obtain award amendments.
• Prepares, administers and approves all subawards with partner institutions and sponsors.
• Serves on the Research Council, reads and scores all applications, participates in application review sessions and makes funding recommendations to the Provost.
• Identifies potential funding opportunities and cultivates a portfolio of federal, state and local sponsors, companies and foundations to support research, training, creative activity, professional and program development and institutional infrastructure needs.
• Disseminates funding opportunities to the campus community regularly.
• Meets, collaborates and stays engaged with members of the campus community to discuss and remain aware of their research, creative and programmatic interests and funding needs.
• Provides technical assistance to faculty and staff by designing and presenting research development and pre-award administration training activities that cultivate interest and increase knowledge and skills.
• Assists faculty and staff in the development of competitive proposals to external funding agencies and fosters an environment that supports the campus community’s pursuit of external funding.
• Assists in writing grant applications as needed.
• Provides leadership to and managerial oversight of Grants Office staff and operations to ensure a high level of service to the campus community.
• Supervises the Compliance Coordinator, who is responsible for administering the Institutional Research Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Biosafety Committee.
• Completes GSRD’s annual Continuous Improvement Report and Plan.
• Updates website content as needed.
• Develops and maintains GSRD operational procedures.
• Writes and updates guides and handbooks.
• Supports internal committees to ensure compliance with rules and policies for research occurring on campus.
• Compiles proposal data and provides periodic reports to the Provost, Deans and Board of Trustees.
• Generates effort reports quarterly.
• Hires and trains staff.

What This Job Offers

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