Director, Sponsored Programs - Research Administration

Galveston, Texas, United States

New

Executive - Research

UTMB Health

Requisition # 2406307

Job Description:

Supports the research mission of the institution through the implementation and oversight of customer-focused services facilitating the submission of applications, receipts and negotiation of awards and proper fiscal management. Provides leadership in the management and continuous improvement of all Pre-Award activities for externally sponsored activities. Ensures all staff and research community are aware of regulatory changes affecting their grant program. Serves as UTMB’s Administrative Official for all grant and contract interfaces with Sponsors. This position is an active member of the Research Administration Leadership Team and a member of research operations and compliance committees. Responsible for maintaining a professional environment that promotes compliant business policies and procedures and works with research faculty and staff in a supportive partnership.

Scope: Institution wide

Essential Job Functions:

• Provides day to day leadership of the operations of the sponsored programs office.

• Responsible for submission of all applications to external Sponsors.

• Responsible for negotiation and acceptance of all extramural funding.

• Responsible for negotiation and acceptance of research agreements including NIH subawards, federal contracts, state subawards, foundation agreements and letters of intent.

• Develop, monitor, and report significant metrics/key performance indicators to Associate Vice President for areas of responsibility.

• Assists the UTMB executive leadership in the development of metrics. Oversees the production of the reports that provide the data.

• Serves as institutional authorized official for communications with extramural Sponsors.

• Maintains in-depth knowledge of external sponsor regulations and acts as a liaison between the office of sponsored programs, departmental administrators, and faculty investigators to interpret and communicate policies and procedures or specific agreement terms for institutional implementation.

• Serves as institutional expert on grant administration, agency rules and regulations relating to compliance issues.

• Directs the implementation and communication of policies pertaining to sponsored programs administration, identifying training where needed.

• Review and revise business processes to ensure best practices are in place and that appropriate internal controls exist.

• Oversees the staffing and operations of the Pre-Award research administration function to ensure applications conform to institutional, state and/or federal guidelines and deadlines as well as the staffing and operations of negotiation and execution of research contracts and subawards.

• Supervise professional staff, including hiring, training and performance appraisals, discipline, and termination.

• Develop staff to provide the highest quality sponsored programs services to faculty and department administrators, and ensure staff competency, professional and personal development through sound performance management practices.

• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide ongoing performance feedback to staff, handle personnel issues including hiring, scheduling and corrective actions.

• Evaluates staffing levels and develops projections to meet operational needs as part of annual budget process.

• Interpretation of federal, state, and institutional policies specific to sponsored program administration.

• Develop, update, and maintain institutional policies to provide assurance of compliance with institutional and UT System policies, sponsor guidelines and Federal and State laws pertaining to sponsored programs administration. Ensure compliance with new federal and state policies.

• Interacts with other UTMB entities and executive leadership in support of sponsored program activities.

• Collaborate with leadership in project set-up and grants and contracts accounting to ensure smooth transition of awards.

• Collaborate with other UTMB research areas to resolve cross-functional issues.

• In collaboration with Information Services, develop and maintain information systems that support the office of sponsored programs.

• Ensure timely, accurate responses to sponsored programs related inquiries from customers at all levels of the institution.

• Drive continuous improvements for quality and effectiveness of central research administration services. Track issues, make recommendations, and collaborate with the Associate Vice President for Research Administration to formulate resolutions to problems.

• Foster and perpetuate a research administration culture of customer service capability, empowerment, and success that is distinguished by high quality proactive oversight.

• Manages development of operational budgets.

• Manages special projects as assigned by the Associate Vice President for Research Administration.

• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.

• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of sponsored programs administration and grant submission systems as well as the regulations governing grant administration, compliance, processing, and reporting.

• Experience in reviewing federal subawards, agreements and contracts

• Critical management skills and ability to lead and develop personnel.

• Demonstrated experience in managing and streamlining systems; basic research and clinical research program development; and international contracting among academic and industrial institutions.

• Ability to develop, prioritize and accomplish realistic goals.

• Ability to recognize potential and mentor future leaders.

• Effective problem-solving skills.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a high degree of professionalism in dealing with staff at all levels of the institution.

• Knowledge of Federal grant regulations such as the NIH Grants Policy Statement and the NSF Grants Policy Manual.

• Ability to read and interpret grantor guidelines to assure compliance.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to communicate with individuals at all levels within the institution.

• Strong organizational and planning skills with ability to manage multiple projects.

• Ability to build and maintain complex models to support Executive Leadership decision making.

• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 to 10 years sponsored programs experience with increasing responsibilities in an academic medical center with at least 2 years of experience in contract negotiation for various types of sponsored program agreements and at least 3 years of supervisory experience.

• Knowledge of key compliance requirements as contained in 2 CFR 200.

• Knowledge of priorities, procedures, and the policies of funding agencies, such as NIH, NSF, DOD, and NASA.

• Experience with other funding sources such as foundations and industry.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Compensation