Senior Sponsored Program Officer

The Ohio State University

2d • $70,100 - $91,600 • Remote

About The Position

The Senior Sponsored Program Officer (SPO) is an experienced professional position that provides institutional authority, central administrative oversight, and content expertise to faculty principal investigators (PIs) and department/college administrators on pre- and post-award management of externally funded grants and contracts from federal, for-profit, non-profit, and local agency sponsors. This position is on the College of Arts and Sciences team and will be responsible for the pre-award and post-award workload related to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency with electronic research tools and systems.
• Four (4) years of experience in a professional business capacity working in information management, compliance with policies and procedures, procurement, accounting, and/or financial management.
• At least two of the four years must include direct research administration experience.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in central research administration in a university setting.
• Familiarity with Workday Financial Management Grants Module a plus.
• Working knowledge of federal or private agency sponsors, contract/grant regulations, and university policies.
• Demonstrated experience developing budgets and/or analyzing financial data.

Responsibilities

• Leading complex research administration activities for a diverse portfolio of faculty and research units, independently managing high-impact proposals from development through submission.
• Serving as an institutional authority for proposal approvals, sponsor submissions, and contract negotiations, including complex federal, international, and non-standard research agreements.
• Providing expert guidance on research compliance and regulations, interpreting sponsor requirements, university policy, federal and state laws, and industry best practices for researchers and university leaders.
• Partnering with principal investigators, colleges, and administrative leaders to support successful funding pursuits while safeguarding institutional interests and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Mentoring and developing research administration professionals, providing coaching, training, and knowledge-sharing to build expertise across the team.
• Leading outreach and education initiatives for the research community, delivering training on electronic research systems, proposal development processes, and sponsored program best practices.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost.
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays.
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions.

What This Job Offers

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