Executive Director, Research and Sponsored Programs

California State University•Allen, TX

About The Position

Directs the operations of the Research and Sponsored Program (RSP) Office. Supports Academic Affairs in fostering a culture of research, scholarship, and creative activity by collaborating with faculty and academic leadership to expand engagement in sponsored programs, strengthen research development pathways, and align research initiatives with institutional priorities. Works with faculty to develop competitive proposals for external and internal funding staff development opportunities in grant writing and grant management. Ensures compliance in contract and grant administration with executive orders, state, federal mandates, and other regulations. Supervises, evaluates, and mentors RSP staff. Communicates data on grant and contract activity. Leads bi-monthly meetings with post-award and Advancement staff to review grant status. Communicates with faculty members and other stakeholders to match sponsored project initiatives with suitable funding opportunities. Ensures CSUCI and its principal investigators are eligible to submit to appropriate funding opportunities. Offers and coordinates periodic training on various research administration topics. Oversees the pre-award proposal administrative review (PAR) process and consults with pre-award staff and principal investigators (PIs) on compliance requirements. Meets with PIs and pre-award staff during proposal development as needed to provide technical expertise on budget and solicitation analysis. Oversees current processes for training and transitioning principal investigators and administrative support staff to the post-award administration of sponsored projects. Oversees subawards and subcontracts. Reports to the Interim Vice Provost those grants, contracts, and PIs that may be out of compliance with reporting requirements or policies. Oversees processes for award acceptance, contract language development, contract negotiations and execution, and post-award processes. Develops and maintains relationships with external sponsors. Reports to the Interim Vice Provost questions and concerns regarding institutional commitments and policy exceptions. Reviews proposed sponsored project budgets during PAR process and recommends for approval or revision. Implements existing and new policies and provides solutions for complex problems and issues pertaining to research and sponsored programs administration and budgeting in accordance with federal policy and CSU and Cl guidelines. Serves as a designated Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) for electronic submission of grants and contracts on behalf of CSU Channel Islands. Performs highly specialized and complex administrative activities to support campus wide electronic grant submissions to external sponsors. The role will actively support CSUCI’s commitment to inclusive excellence by embedding equity-minded practices across all areas of the work. They will participate annually in professional and/or leadership development opportunities that strengthen their ability to promote educational equity, access, and student success—particularly for historically underserved and marginalized communities—at CSUCI and in the broader educational landscape.

Requirements

A master’s degree and a minimum of five years of experience working in higher education as part of a central grants and contracts administrative unit, or a state/private grant-making entity, or an entity that received significant grant support.
Must have experience submitting proposals for grants, contracts, and research.
Experience in grants, contracts, and sponsored programs compliance is required, along with experience in strategic planning and policy and procedure development and implementation.
Significant experience working with computers, databases, word processing, spreadsheets, email, Internet, and software including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Experience with managing research and sponsored programs in higher education, a public entity, or a non-profit environment, including working with upper-level administration, faculty, or other key stakeholders such as donors, sponsors, or program officers.
Experience with interpreting policies and sponsor provisions (private, state, or federal) and applying them to monitoring and administering grants/contracts.
Working knowledge of how to develop complex project budgets.
Must have knowledge of Sponsored Programs Administrations and familiarity with web-based financial and grants management systems.
Ability to work cooperatively and sensitively with individuals from diverse cultures, ethnic groups, lifestyles and backgrounds.
Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in confidential or sensitive situations.
Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures independently and to organization and prioritize tasks appropriately with attention to timelines.
Ability and willingness to learn new skills and quickly absorb new information.
Ability to investigate and analyze problems, understanding the broad perspective and anticipating the impact on other areas.
Must have excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively present ideas and concepts and be able to be consultative and a consensus builder.
Must have the ability to develop policies and procedures, budgets and budget justifications, and contract language.
Must be able to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with sponsors, faculty, students, and staff from many campus departments.
Must be able to work with initiative, independence, and as a member of a dynamic team.
Prolonged periods of sitting and extensive keyboarding are required.

Responsibilities

Directs the operations of the Research and Sponsored Program (RSP) Office.
Supports Academic Affairs in fostering a culture of research, scholarship, and creative activity by collaborating with faculty and academic leadership to expand engagement in sponsored programs, strengthen research development pathways, and align research initiatives with institutional priorities.
Works with faculty to develop competitive proposals for external and internal funding staff development opportunities in grant writing and grant management.
Ensures compliance in contract and grant administration with executive orders, state, federal mandates, and other regulations.
Supervises, evaluates, and mentors RSP staff.
Communicates data on grant and contract activity.
Leads bi-monthly meetings with post-award and Advancement staff to review grant status.
Represents CI at semi-annual meetings of the CSU Research Advisory Council.
Communicates with faculty members and other stakeholders to match sponsored project initiatives with suitable funding opportunities.
Ensures CSUCI and its principal investigators are eligible to submit to appropriate funding opportunities.
Offers and coordinates periodic training on various research administration topics.
Oversees the pre-award proposal administrative review (PAR) process and consults with pre-award staff and principal investigators (PIs) on compliance requirements.
Meets with PIs and pre-award staff during proposal development as needed to provide technical expertise on budget and solicitation analysis.
Oversees current processes for training and transitioning principal investigators and administrative support staff to the post-award administration of sponsored projects.
Oversees subawards and subcontracts.
Reports to the Interim Vice Provost those grants, contracts, and PIs that may be out of compliance with reporting requirements or policies.
Oversees processes for award acceptance, contract language development, contract negotiations and execution, and post-award processes.
Develops and maintains relationships with external sponsors.
Reports to the Interim Vice Provost questions and concerns regarding institutional commitments and policy exceptions.
Reviews proposed sponsored project budgets during PAR process and recommends for approval or revision.
Implements existing and new policies and provides solutions for complex problems and issues pertaining to research and sponsored programs administration and budgeting in accordance with federal policy and CSU and Cl guidelines.
Serves as a designated Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) for electronic submission of grants and contracts on behalf of CSU Channel Islands.
Performs highly specialized and complex administrative activities to support campus wide electronic grant submissions to external sponsors.