Senior Associate Director of Institutional Research Funding
About The Position
The Senior Associate Director of Institutional Research Funding serves as the central operational leader for the OVPR’s portfolio of institutional funding programs. This role manages the competitive review and award processes for OVPR’s centrally managed funding opportunities which include the University Research Foundation (URF), Research Facilities Development Fund (RFDF), Health Research Formula Funds (HRFF), Discovering the Future Fund, Community Engagement Research Fund, and others, as well as ad hoc and limited submission funding programs. Operating with significant independent judgment and authority, the Senior Associate Director oversees university-wide platforms that support the research funding ecosystem—including InfoReady, Pivot, and Nature Masterclass—and leads outreach, communications, and training efforts to drive engagement across Penn’s schools and research centers. The role also carries significant analytical responsibility. The Senior Associate Director collaborates closely with the Vice Provost for Research to develop metrics, produce data-driven reports, and communicate insights about Penn’s research funding portfolio. This work involves active partnership with the Office of Research Services, Institutional Research and Analysis, Central Communications, and Development and Alumni Relations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in a relevant field preferred.
- 7-10 years in research administration, higher education, or related field.
- Demonstrated experience in grant or award administration, program management, or a closely related function in a research or higher education context.
- Proven ability to manage complex, multi-phase programs and workflows with attention to detail and accountability for deadlines.
- Experience working across organizational units and building effective relationships with faculty, staff, and senior administrators.
- Familiarity with research funding ecosystems, including internal award programs, limited submission processes, or sponsored research administration.
- Comfortable working with institutional or sponsored research data, with the ability to translate quantitative findings into clear narratives.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint required.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to write clearly for varied academic audiences and to convene and facilitate groups with diplomacy and discretion.
- Comfortable presenting data, program updates, and recommendations to senior leadership.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with research information platforms such as Pivot, InfoReady, or similar systems is advantageous.
- A working fluency with AI tools (such as Claude or Gemini) in a professional context is expected.
- Experience developing training or informational programming for professional audiences is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Leads the full award lifecycle of OVPR's centrally administered internal funding programs.
- Manages Penn's limited submission program, through which the University nominates a single applicant to high-profile external funding competitions.
- Responsible for research funding data analysis and reporting in support of the Vice Provost for Research.
- Operational lead for OVPR-sponsored platforms that support the research community across the university.
- Plays a central and driving role in how the OVPR communicates institutional funding opportunities and builds the research funding literacy of Penn's academic community.
Benefits
- Excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families
- Generous retirement benefits
- A wide variety of professional development opportunities
- Supportive work and family benefits
- A wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- Flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars
- Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children
- Retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth options
- Substantial amount of time away from work
- Long-term care insurance
- Wellness and Work-life Resources
- Professional and Personal Development resources
- Access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities
- Discounts on goods and services
- Flexible work options
- Forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia
- Adoption Assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
