Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Director

Universities of Wisconsin • Menomonie, WI

29d

About The Position

The University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, is seeking its next leader to help grow the University’s research enterprise. The Director of Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) will help support and promote cross-disciplinary research and scholarship, aligned with the university’s tenets of applied learning and research, business and industry collaboration, and career focused learning experiences. The position oversees research and sponsored project administration activities that have institutional recognition and scope; provides oversight for grant lifecycle components including administration of sponsored grants, associated agreements, and grant related contracts; and represents the institution to external and internal stakeholders related to research and sponsored projects policy, procedure, budgets, strategic planning and resource decisions. UW-Stout is seeking a director with experience with federal and philanthropic grants, an entrepreneurial mindset, and strong organizational management and communication skills. The Director will lead a collaborative, service-excellence oriented team and be responsible for ethical conduct of research, research compliance, and administration of university grant-related contracts and agreements. It is expected that the Director will help drive increases in UW-Stout's externally funded grants/grant-related contracts and agreements, in partnership with campus stakeholders. A direct report to the Provost/Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, the Director is a full-time annual appointment. The anticipated start date for this position is June 1, 2026. Official UW Title (Code) / Job Description SC048 / Research Administration Director Inst (B) Working Title: Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Director

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in management or supervisory capacity
• Knowledge of and experience with all aspects of research and sponsored program administration and the award life cycle, pre- through post-award
• Knowledge of and ability to apply principles and regulatory framework of the Office Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance
• Familiarity with electronic research administration tools (e.g. Research.gov, Grants.gov, eRA commons, etc.)
• Demonstrated success working with funded programs, specifically those sponsored by federal and/or philanthropic agencies

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree
• Demonstrated strategic leadership
• Three or more years of demonstrated leadership experience in higher education grants management, ethical conduction of research, or similar functions in higher education
• Demonstrated experience managing the development and submission of funded extramural and intramural applications
• Demonstrated success working effectively with a diverse pool of principal investigators, faculty and senior campus leadership, as well as a broad range of other internal and external stakeholders
• Certified Research Administrator
• NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators) Sponsored Project Administration Fundamentals, or equivalent training

Responsibilities

• Leads, coordinates, and drives growth in externally funded programs to ensure a viable and sustainable research enterprise, in partnership with external and internal stakeholders
• Oversees pre-award and works with the Business Finance Services post-award position regarding research administration activities to ensure compliance with UW-Stout and Universities of Wisconsin budget management protocols related to tracking, accounting and reporting, in addition to Office Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance for respective federal funding agencies
• Facilitates an efficient pathway for externally funded programs through the entire sponsored program lifecycle
• Develops, conducts, and administers training initiatives for faculty, staff, and other stakeholders in areas related to research administration
• Ensures a smooth transition from pre- to post-awards for principal investigators
• Collaborate across the Universities of Wisconsin, including the WiSys Research Development team
• Serves as a liaison to internal and external leadership and stakeholders.
• Advises principal investigators, leadership, and central grants administration, interacts with granting agencies regarding policy interpretation, and provides recommendations for successful outcomes
• Directs and coordinates staff, systems, and procedures related to the processing of sponsor supported grants, and related contracts and agreements
• Measures, forecasts, and reports on externally funded programs as requested
• Ensures research integrity as the university’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO), including assisting investigators with development and review of proposals, and routing proposals for appropriate University review and approval before submission to sponsors
• Coordinates with principal investigators and research accounting to ensure post-award requirements are met in a timely manner
• Negotiates terms of grant contract awards with external sponsors
• Supervises student research funding awarding and dissemination efforts
• Work to advise faculty and staff regarding potential grant seeking development efforts
• Establishes, implements, and maintains policy and procedures for sponsored project administration
• Follows Federal Acquisition Regulations and provides information, as requested, for Single Audits regarding UW-Stout’s use and compliance associated with an awarded grant
• Interprets research policy for faculty, staff, administrators, and other university stakeholders
• Facilitates internal or external audits of grants and contracts
• Oversees institutional compliance related to sponsored grants and contracts
• Supports compliance with export control
• Supervises staff responsible for the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and other research ethics and compliance activities
• Manages campus conflict-of-interest reporting procedures, export controls, and other research compliance processes and reports
• Serves as liaison to various research compliance and grant related committees as assigned; assists researchers with protocol improvements when necessary
• Assists investigators with reports and protocol updates during the post-award period
• Exercises supervisory authority, including staffing, budgets and office operations, including full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• Fosters professional development opportunities for ORSP staff
• Coordinates communications and operations with other relevant campus units
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• The Universities of Wisconsin provides an excellent benefits package including participation in the Wisconsin State retirement plan, demonstrating our commitment to the diverse needs of our employees.
• Employee Benefits: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/
• To calculate the estimated value of your total compensation, use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator | Employee Benefits (wisconsin.edu)

What This Job Offers

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