Interim Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY•Las Vegas, NM

1d•$90,605 - $140,442•Hybrid

About The Position

The Interim Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) serves as the chief administrative officer responsible for coordinating and supporting institutional research administration, sponsored programs, grants development, compliance activities, external funding initiatives, and designated academic project funds administered through affiliated foundations and public entities. The Interim Director provides leadership, administrative oversight, strategic grant development support, and external partnership coordination for externally funded projects and research activities in support of the university’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities. The Interim Director works collaboratively with faculty, staff, administrators, funding agencies, consultants, foundation representatives, state agencies, and external partners to strengthen institutional capacity for sponsored research, grantsmanship, compliance, and program administration. The Interim Director is responsible for the administration and daily operations of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and serves as the authorized institutional representative for grants and contracts as delegated by the university. The Interim Director serves as the primary administrative authority responsible for coordinating institutional procedures related to proposal development, proposal routing, sponsored project review, pre-award administration, post-award administration, external funding development, foundation-supported academic initiatives, and research compliance coordination in accordance with university policies and applicable sponsor regulations.

Requirements

Earned master’s degree from an accredited institution.
Demonstrated experience in sponsored programs, grants administration, research administration, higher education administration, or related program administration.
Demonstrated knowledge of grant development, proposal administration, budgeting, compliance requirements, and sponsored project management.
Demonstrated ability to interpret policies, regulations, sponsor guidelines, and administrative procedures related to externally funded activities.
Demonstrated organizational, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Earned terminal degree from an accredited institution.
Experience in higher education research administration or sponsored programs leadership.
Experience with federal grants administration, Uniform Guidance, and sponsor compliance requirements.
Experience developing and reviewing grant budgets, contracts, subawards, or sponsored agreements.
Experience administering foundation-supported projects, state-funded initiatives, or public service programs.
Experience supervising personnel and managing budgets.
Experience supporting institutional compliance activities related to research and sponsored programs.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across academic and administrative units.
Experience working with Hispanic-Serving Institutions, rural-serving institutions, tribal partnerships, or community-based initiatives.

Responsibilities

Oversee all activities, operations, initiatives, and budgetary functions of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.
Provide leadership and coordination for institutional research, sponsored projects, grant development, and external funding initiatives.
Work collaboratively with the Provost/VPAA, academic deans, department chairs, faculty, and administrative units to support institutional priorities related to research, service, workforce development, and sponsored programs.
Support institutional efforts to strengthen grant development capacity and expand external funding opportunities across the university.
Work collaboratively with university leadership, faculty, and institutional stakeholders to maintain and strengthen the university’s Carnegie research activity designation through growth in sponsored programs, faculty scholarship, external funding, and research infrastructure.
Serve as the lead administrative official responsible for interpretation and implementation of institutional policies and procedures related to sponsored projects and research administration.
Provide intellectual, academic, and administrative support to the Office of Academic Affairs in furtherance of the university’s mission and strategic goals.
Work collaboratively with deans, university departments, centers, institutes, support programs, and affiliated foundations on research, grant development, academic initiatives, student support, and strategic initiatives.
Coordinate administrative oversight of research and public service projects funded by the State of New Mexico and other public entities as assigned.
Assist in administration and oversight of endowments and academic project funds housed through affiliated university foundations or supporting organizations as assigned.
Develop and maintain relationships with federal, state, tribal, local, nonprofit, and private funding agencies and partners.
Work collaboratively with faculty, administrators, consultants, and external stakeholders to identify strategic funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities and community needs.
Assist in identifying and coordinating external grant-writing resources, consultants, technical assistance providers, and collaborative partnerships that support institutional grant development capacity.
Coordinate institutional efforts related to grant prospecting, funding searches, partnership development, and sponsored project pipeline development.
Support development of interdisciplinary, cross-unit, and community-based partnerships designed to strengthen competitiveness for external funding opportunities.
Work collaboratively with faculty and administrative leadership to identify emerging funding priorities, workforce initiatives, research opportunities, and strategic grant initiatives.
Facilitate communication and collaboration between external partners and university personnel related to sponsored projects and grant initiatives.
Represent the university in external meetings, collaborations, and partnership-building activities related to sponsored programs, research development, institutional advancement, and public service initiatives.
Coordinate institutional proposal development activities including proposal routing, budget preparation, compliance review, institutional approvals, and submission processes.
Provide guidance regarding sponsor regulations, allowable costs, facilities and administrative (F&A) costs, cost sharing, and grant administration requirements.
Assist principal investigators and university personnel with technical aspects of proposal preparation, sponsor requirements, certifications, assurances, and institutional approvals.
Maintain institutional records and files related to pending proposals, sponsored agreements, funding opportunities, and designated externally supported projects.
Review and approve proposal budgets and routing materials for compliance with institutional policies and sponsor requirements prior to submission.
Coordinate internal review and approval processes involving multiple departments, schools, centers, institutes, or administrative units.
Support faculty and staff in identifying funding opportunities and developing competitive grant proposals.
Maintain and distribute institutional information related to funding opportunities, sponsor policies, grant procedures, and research administration updates.
Coordinate institutional proposal submissions on behalf of the university as authorized institutional representative.
Coordinate institutional post-award administration activities following acceptance of sponsored awards.
Work collaboratively with the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects staff, Business Office and affiliated entities to establish, monitor, and close sponsored project accounts and designated project funds.
Assist principal investigators and university personnel with project administration, reporting obligations, budget monitoring, grant modifications, and sponsor compliance requirements.
Monitor sponsored project activity and coordinate administrative oversight of expenditures, reporting timelines, and project closeout requirements.
Approve requisitions, travel requests, and other grant-related administrative documents requiring ORSP authorization.
Coordinate institutional records retention, audit support, and sponsor reporting activities associated with sponsored programs and designated project funds.
Assist with preparation of institutional reports related to sponsored project activity, external funding, research administration metrics, and state-supported initiatives.
Coordinate institutional processes related to research compliance activities including support for IRB, IACUC, conflict of interest reporting, responsible conduct of research, and other regulatory compliance activities as applicable.
Work collaboratively with compliance committees, faculty governance bodies, and institutional officials to support research integrity and regulatory compliance.
Maintain institutional records and documentation related to research compliance and sponsored project administration.
Assist with audits, monitoring activities, and sponsor reviews involving externally funded projects and institutional compliance obligations.
Coordinate training, informational sessions, and professional development opportunities related to grants administration, sponsored projects, and research compliance.
Support implementation and administration of institutional research policies and procedures contained in the NMHU Research Policy Handbook.
Oversee and manage the ORSP budgets.
Supervise personnel assigned to the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and provide oversight of office operations and administrative services.
Coordinate workflows and administrative processes within ORSP.
Assist in development and implementation of operational procedures to improve efficiency, compliance, and institutional support services.
Serve on university committees, working groups, and task forces related to research, sponsored programs, compliance activities, and strategic initiatives as assigned.
Participate in the President’s Expanded Cabinet as assigned.
Represent the university in professional organizations, sponsor meetings, state meetings, foundation-related activities, and external collaborations related to research administration and sponsored programs.
Collaborate with faculty governance bodies and academic leadership regarding policies and procedures related to research administration and sponsored projects.